When you first followed me, and I scanned through some of your articles, I'm like I think I found my Medium twin. I wish I could clap for this 1000s of times. This article is so good that I wish I wrote it myself. I've decided to be childfree for years, but in recent months I've been experiencing an uptick of guy friends wanting me to be the mother of their kids. I'm like where in the hell is this coming from? Am I putting out a mating call that I'm unaware of haha? I'm literally putting in zero effort, and they chase me down like I'm their last opportunity to procreate. I'm like there's so many women that want the same thing you do, get with them and I'll be the supportive friend! Lol. I literally have medical issues and I'm like the last thing on my mind is being your wife buddy. I wish them well on their journey but it's not for me. I make it clear that I'm staying in their friend zone and if they like me, I ask them to reconsider, lol. I make a better friend, supporter, cousin and auntie. I'm painfully self aware and just keep it 100 with everyone in my life. Due to some experiences in my life, and putting my trust in other people too much at different periods, I'm better off by myself. I literally got burned multiple times. And the people and relationships in question were so ungrateful, unappreciative and according to quite a few childfree groups I'm in, I got the closest preview of what being a wife and mother was like without being there. I'm not gonna be in a situation where I lose my identity, damage my mental health, front appearances like you're happy and you're just putting up a facade for social media. And take on everything without zero help, I started to see those gender roles play out and said Alesha, wait a minute. And when I hit rock bottom, the help everyone claims that was there never existed. I went down that road of trying to be everything to everyone in my 20s and it's a mistake I won't make again. And when you pull yourself out of that place by yourself, there's no turning back. It's me owning my mistakes and no longer putting the keys of my happiness in anyone's pocket. I mind my own business and stay in my lanes. And thriving because I found my silver lining that works for me. You writing this makes me happy you followed me first, I'm glad someone out there understands how I feel. I'm not religious by any means, but thank God you exist.