Balancing Passion & Obligation

For me “Being Childfree” was very clear choice, propelled by both passion and obligation.?

I knew, I could not be happy if I do not pursue my passion and a child does demand time and energy. The same time and energy that I would like to use achieving my passion. I was not ready to give any quarter there. Also, with equal proportion came obligation.

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I am the only child of my parents. I lived in another state pursuing my career which is my passion. My mom's health was always a cause of concern. She had a tendency of getting ill and hospitalized. And often, I rushed to them and took care of them without affecting my work. I could balance it very nicely. Now add another variable to the equation. It would be off the rails.?

A scenario often ran in my mind, what if, my mom and my child was ill at the same time and both needed me. How would I prioritize? Would I be fair? It may look far-fetched to a lot of people. But I never wanted to have that impossible choice. I could never have forgiven myself for choosing one over the other.?

My parents were initially sad about this decision. They even tried telling me that they were okay if I prioritized my child. Then, it is all my decision, my choice and I refused to prioritize anybody over them or my passion.

I do not compromise on time or effort in my job, and I carve time out to pursue my writing. Time, that would otherwise be impossible to take out if I had responsibilities of a child.

Before the wedding, I told my partner that I would be Childfree. To my utter surprise, he said, “I am relieved. I don’t want to be bogged down by a responsibility of a child. I hate being tied down”. It been 12 years, since that day and there is not a single day, any one of us has not exclaimed, for any reason, “This is the best decision we took in our lives.”?