To the model with 117 reasons for not having kids - you're missing the point

"If you wrote a list of all the things that could go wrong before embarking on a new adventure, you’d never want to do anything."

An Aussie model created a storm in a teacup after sharing an Instagram post revealing why she doesn’t want children a few days ago.

The extensive list of the 117 points (which could only be written by someone who doesn’t have kids because who the hell has that much time?) features reasons like “They poo inside of you,” “Flying can be almost impossible with kids,” and “Your nipples can reach the size of dinner plates.”

As many of us do, I jumped into the comments section of the infamous post to see the controversy unfolding.

The exhaustive list is a plethora of ‘could be’s’ that is possible to be written about absolutely anything in life if you look at it with a glass-half-empty view.

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"It's going to be awful"

It got me thinking about a recent conversation I had with a relative. 

His wife is eight months pregnant, and when I asked her how she was feeling, she looked me dead in the eyes and replied, “I am terrified to give birth.”

I did my best to reassure her, telling her that whilst childbirth is probably the most physically and mentally demanding thing you’ll ever do, it’s also the most incredible.

Her response? 

“It’s going to be awful.”

I tried once again to calm her nerves, but it was pretty clear she had her mind made up that the experience was totally out of her control and things were only going to go one way - badly. 

I'd like to pretend I wrote 117 reasons I didn't want to be a model, but I lost interest at 27.

Some things are impossible if you make it impossible

I flew to France with a nine-month-old baby and can tell you it is possible. I went into the journey neither pessimistic or optimistic but as a realist. The glass isn’t half empty or half full; it’s a glass of water. 

I went into childbirth with an open and curious mind and embraced everything that came with it, epidural and all.

If you approach becoming a mum with the attitude that your life is over, you’re mistaking your nipples as crockery, and you’ll never sleep again, then chances are it’s going to be a pretty awful experience. 

My hubby and I not only survived the 24 hour flight, we had an amazing trip after it.

Being a mum isn’t for everyone

I know motherhood isn’t for everyone, and that’s a woman’s prerogative. If you don’t want kids, I will truly salute you.

If you’re comfortable with your decision, it shouldn’t matter what others think or the ideologies they try to enforce onto you.

You don’t need to justify it in 117 reasons or less.

Motherhood is a state of mind

I like to think of motherhood as a state of mind that rolls with the punches and embraces the absolute chaos that has become your life.

But if you remember that, it’s actually pretty amazing.

If you wrote a list of all the things that could go wrong before embarking on a new adventure, you’d never want to do anything.

Life comes with risks, but that doesn’t mean you need to spell every single one out.

Originally published as To the model with 117 reasons for not having kids - you're missing the point