Should we be pressured to have children?

As a woman, I often feel pressured by various women figures in my personal life to have children. Before about a year ago, I was 100% sure I wanted children, I knew how many I wanted and I thought I had it all planned out. However, recently with more people around me having children I have realised how much you have to give up, and quite frankly I'm not sure I want to give certain things up. I'm only 20, surely I'm allowed to be selfish and go out when I want, order pizza when I want, spend too much money on clothes and not have to worry? Well, when you enter parenthood that changes, you have someone else to look after, it's not all about you any more. And don't get me wrong, I love children. I have 4 nephews and a niece and I love them to pieces. But I'm not that sure I want one of my own any time soon. 

That being said, I have realised the immense pressure women are put under to have children when they are in a long term relationship. 

I'm quite open in my views, I don't think everyone should believe the same as me. But I have my own opinions and I'm proud of them and if someone asks my opinion I'm quite open to saying it. So, when I said I wasn't sure I wanted children, to be told "you have to have children, you can't have a life without them" I was taken aback. 

Surely, it's my body, my life and my relationship with my partner. Surely no one else should be allowed to say whether or not you can or can't have children. Surely, it's down to you and your circumstances? 

I believe that having a child out of pure want, with no way of supporting them isn't right. And surely having a child just because you think babies are cute, or because you don't want your partner to leave you isn't right either? And surely having a child just because you want someone to look after you when you're old isn't right?  Babies turn into toddlers, toddlers turn into children, children turn into teenagers and teenagers turn into adults. All along the way, these tiny humans have rights, feelings and needs. 

Personally, right now it would be silly for me to have a child. Sometimes I think I would love children, I love my partner and have a lot of care in my body to love a tiny human. But alas, I am a student nurse, living in a bedroom in a house with other adults, I have no money due to being a student, I'm selfish, and I'm not married (not that you need to be married to have children it's just my own view). It would be selfish of me to have a baby right now just because babies are cute and because I feel like I need to fit in with all my other peers who are having children at a young age. 

I think what I'm trying to say, is that no one should tell anyone whether they can or cannot have children. You only get one life, and you're living it right now. Instead of worrying about what others think of you, and whether they want you to lead a certain life, just live your life how you want to. I can't think of anything worse than laying in bed when I'm old saying " I wish I had done...". I want to lay in bed saying "I'm glad I...". And I think this applies to all aspects of life, not just having children. 


That's all for today, I think I've added enough controversy to the internet for today. 
Bye! x