To many people, there is nothing more precious than a child. From their big smiles to their tiny hands and feet to their wide-eyed innocence, most adults go gaga over children. While most people find a certain magic in children, I unfortunately do not get as excited when I am around children as most people do.

Many have asked me why I feel this way. What is it about children that I do not enjoy? Why do I not light up when I see a young child? What is there not to like about children? – Good question. I could never really describe what it is or why I do not enjoy children as much as the next person, I just know that I don’t see the joy of children that others do.

I can’t say I have not been around any children in my life. My family has certainly placed me around my share of babies. My sister and my first cousins were born around fifteen years before me so when I was around ten or eleven – they were having babies. So while I was growing up, my family was growing. Since I have been born, almost ten children have been added to my family. As for me having children – my mother has always known not to expect any grandchildren from me.

Take it from me that it is not easy to go through life feeling the way I do. Some of my friends, my family members – and especially girlfriends – have not been too happy that I do not have a desire to have children.

Recently, I think I have realized why I have no desire to have children – because with my record of past relationships – I was always afraid of having a child with someone and then breaking up with them.

When a couple breaks up, they usually, after a while, stop speaking. But when there is a child involved, they have to stay in communication with each other every single day for the rest of their lives whether they want to be together or not. That makes it very hard for the couple to move on with their own lives – and it makes it even harder on the child. The child will have to face their parents living apart, arguing, and using the child as a pawn in their own arguments. Believe me, I have seen this happen and I’m sure you have too – and it’s not pretty.

I know that is a poor excuse to not want a child, but that’s how I feel. I mean, could you imagine if I had a child with the girl that threw all of my stuff away? No matter my feelings for her, no matter how much hatred and anger I have towards her, we would have to be in each other’s lives every day forever. Think of the enormous strain that would have on her life, my life – and the child’s life.

So no offense to all of the parents out there, but to me, I would have to meet the right person before I decide to bring a child into this world.

So I guess I had better get used to children – because Sandy wants three.