I adore babies. I'll admit I get a bit wistful when I see a tiny baby in someone's arms. But it's a fleeting feeling. I was like a third parent to both of my step siblings and while I love them very much, the whole ordeal has made me realize I don't really want to be a parent.
Even if I wanted to have a child, there's another reason I can't.
I'm not willing to bring a child into this world for fear of one day losing them to one thing or another. I have seen parents lose their children and the pain they have suffered. I've seen my elderly grandmother lose her oldest child (my aunt, 61, who was like a mother to me) to cancer earlier this year and it completely broke her. I couldn't handle the loss of my child like that. The idea of my child suffering through something with no relief in sight breaks my heart. And even if there weren't natural causes taking them away from me, there's always the deranged lunatic at school shootings or a careless driver. I really don't want to upset anyone but these reasons are real and frightening enough for me.
Besides, I'm in nursing school at the moment, so if I decide to go the OB/Maternity route, I'll be surrounded by babies. Lots and lots of babies!
That'll take care of my temporary baby fix.