thoughts on class discussion about family

One thing we discussed today was how raising a family is full of self sacrifice. To be perfectly honest I don't like children and I don't know if I want to have children, but when I consider my future it always includes me as the mother of a nulclear family. Family has always been the center of my life, I have a great one which I love very much. I cant imagine my life alone, and perhaps the reason I see my future as having children in it is becuase I fear being alone. I have watched the self sacrifice my mom has made to raise her family, and I am not sure I am willing to give that much of myself up. I want to be able to pack up and leave, or just go to dinner and not have to find a babysitter. I see all of my friends having children in thier future, and I would'nt want to be the only single one of my friends. I am not that selfish of a person, I am always there if someone needs me, but I value my alone time, something that would be virtually impossible if I was a mother. I am a real person, with needs, goal and desires, something that i never though of my mother having until recently. I am amazed at how i treated her, I basically thought she was my slave. Now when she cant do something for me because she is out with her friends I am more understanding. With age I know my priorities will change, and maybe having a family is something I will truley desire, but for now my focus is myself and my maternal instincts are lacking.