Understanding Marriage

I understand the concept of marriage. I understand the promise that is made. I understand the legally binding contract that is signed and I understand why most people feel the need to sooner or later get married. Marriage symbolizes commitment to your significant other. It says that you are committed to the person you are with enough for both sides of your families to gather in one place and drink too much while you exchange vows and diamond studded hardware and eat the worst, and most expensive, cake you’ve ever had.

I’m not complaining about any of that. I hope one day my family and friends can gather around and witness me “taking the plunge.” Hopefully my wedding will be more fun than most and the bridesmaids won’t be dressed like individual fruit tarts. What I don’t understand is the rule that requires marriage and child bearing to go hand in hand.

I don’t want people asking me upon the return from my honeymoon, “When are you guys going to have children and start a family?” First of all, right now at this moment I already have a family. I have a wonderful girlfriend and two dogs that behave better than most people’s children. Secondly, after letting my parents own the first 18 years of my life, I’m not really ready to give it right back to some children. Like it or not, if you have a child, your life belongs to them now and forever. I’m just starting to enjoy having my life as my own and am not looking to give it back up anytime soon. I’m not sure why we are all programmed to think that life is a bunch of points set in a series.
School – Job – Marriage – Children – Retire – Grandchildren – Die.
Is it really that appalling that I don’t ever want children? Why am I the odd one out? I’ve seen the video of childbirth and it was…memorable to say the least. But don’t call me a weirdo for not wanting to see a live performance. And yes, the “wife” agrees.