[yehudit]

I really came into my own after motherhood. It makes you a warrior!

Ain't it the truth, hon.

I also think I understand my parents and grandparents a little better, and I now understand that there is nothing I could do to make them stop loving me fully and completely. So even if we disagree on occassion they still love me no matter what, same way I love my kids come what may.

[Shadowfaerie]

I certainly hear where you're coming from, my mother told me not to have children for years, my father convinced me not to go to college for the things I'm good at because there is no money in it.

Sometimes though people want you to be like them because they're happy in their lives, doing what they do, and when they see you aren't they're worried that maybe you're unhappy, so they offer advice. I know that I've asked my sister when she's going to have or adopt children and she told me she's not interested. I really just assumed because that makes me happy it could only make her more happy, but I've come to realize that's just not for her. And sometimes there's nothing you can say to make an extrovert understand that, they just have to realize it themselves. Stay firm and polite. I think you would be surprised what us "bossy" extroverted people think of that, I always wish I could be more like that, more composed, more mature, more firm in my own beliefs.

All the best~