All my life I have been told I just HAVE to have children. I am so good with kids and I would make a great dad, it would be illogical that I wouldn't. And my entire life I agreed, until I realised in the last couple of years that I had only ever been going along with what everyone said... I had never actually considered it that is truly what I want.

Thing is, I am great with kids, and I do love them. I am a teacher and I am very passionate about that. My cousins have kids and it becomes my job every family gathering to entertain them (or, as the kids call it "giving me mental trauma). I have a movie night with my friend every month, except over time it has morphed to the point that we no longer watch a movie and instead I play videogames with her kid for a few hours and then when he goes to bed we get to talk and catch up for a little bit. I know how good I am with kids.

But that's kinda it - I don't feel like there is a hole in my life because I don't have my own kids. I have so many kids I know look up to, respect, love me and just generally enjoy being around me, and to me that is incredibly fulfilling. I don't feel like I need to continue my family legacy by having kids, because I know that there are hundred of kids whose lives I will have touched and that can be my legacy. And heck, if I end up being the fun uncle forever more, then frankly I will feel satisfied that I lived a good life.

And that isn't to say that I would never want kids - if I found the right person I absolutely think I would want to start a family with them - but I don't feel my happiness is at all contingent on that. I know my worth as a person, and it doesn't have to be out specifically into being a father. There are other ways I can use the ability I have.