I hope to succeed in explaining why I just do not want to get married or give birth. If you find something here offensive, or you do not agree with something, it is doubtful that I care. I do not plan to change my mind about my decision, and I suggest that you do not try to change my mind. Call me insensitive if you wish, but I assure you that that will do no good.

So, without further ado, I present to you why I do not want a husband or children.

I am selfish. Yes, it is true, and I obviously will not hesitate to admit it. I am not interested in considering others' feelings, needs, or wants. I wish to only have to be concerned about myself, because, quite frankly, I am enough for me to worry about. Also, I cannot find it in myself to commit to the saying, "What's mine is yours and what's yours is mine": I do not like to share my belongings. While I am not reluctant to admit selfishness, I would certainly falter when it comes to having to make sacrifices for others, such as a spouse or children.

I do not want the responsibility. This reason sort of goes hand in hand with my first reason. It is not that I do not consider myself capable of handling the responsibilities associated with marriage or kids, rather I simply do not want them. For instance, when one has a child, one must feed him, clothe him, put him through school, etc. Those obligations are not appealing to me. And, since I hope to have a career as a veterinarian, I doubt that I will have what I would deem sufficient time to take care of such things.

I do not want to experience pregnancy. It just does not seem like an enjoyable, worthwhile activity. There is the whole baby kicking thing, and the morning sickness thing, and the inability to see one's feet or sit down thing. And the actual process of giving birth. Yeah. Because I want to push something like a watermelon out of a hole the size of a golf ball. I know that I could adopt if I wanted, but I do not want to, so that, as they say, is that.

There are too many uncertainties. A husband might be unfaithful. A child may have behavioral problems, a learning disorder, or a birth defect, or he may turn out to be a complete terror. I do not need the burden of a problem husband, and I am sorry to say that I do not know if I would be able to handle or give sufficient love to a child with any sort of "flaw," so to speak.

I am impatient. I become frustrated and extremely angry very easily. I would not be able to deal appropriately with a husband or children if they did not understand me, or I did not understand them. I tend to hold grudges, too, and I like using the silent treatment.

I am obsessive about organization and neatness. I am what some would call a "neat freak." I like it when things are organized and neat, not when things are in a haphazard condition. There is a very good chance that, if I were to marry, or especially have children, specialized arrangements would have to be relinquished. And, as I stated before, I would probably not make sacrifices, though particularly with organization and neatness.

I am fiercely independent. I suppose this would go along with my second reason. I do not like to have others depending on me. I find that, for the most part, I do things best when I do them alone. In fact, I prefer being alone.

I am a misanthrope. Another fact to which I do not mind owning up: I hate people. That means everyone, with the exception of a few family members, even those whom I have known for a long time, who might call me "friend," to whom I act considerably civilly. I would rather have dogs, cats, frogs, horses, and what have you than a husband or children, because, in most cases, I enjoy spending time not with people, but with other animals. Furthermore, it is a goal of mine to maintain some sort of menagerie, and, consequently, it is probable that I will not have enough time for a family.