By Norma
When I was a teenager the expectation was that it was alright to get an
education but this was to occur while you were waiting to get married.
The marriages and engagements started by the end of high school and
later, most of the women in my nursing class were engaged by the time we graduated. I came close! My fiancé wanted to get married right away,
but I wanted to get my degree. Since he did not want to wait, we
parted.
I was a enthusiastic pupil and had always been encouraged by my
parents to study. This was not the norm amongst my peers! My relatives
continued to ask about boyfriends, engagement parties and weddings
were a nightmare of veiled looks and questions.
The next big question was - didn't I want children? This did have
me questioning my own motivation. But... I guessed that if I did
marry, children would likely follow. But... did I really want that? I
have felt judged, particularly as time went on and I didn't marry or
have children. I could sense that behind the questions looks there were
other thoughts- is there something wrong with her since she can't get a
man? Is she just too picky?
Feminism, MS magazine,and the "the pill", were front and center
during my 20's and 30's. In some ways that made my situation more
tenable. At least there were discussions and forums on marriage and
motherhood and I didn't have to feel so alone being single and
childless. There were other women out other women like me! There were
even women brave enough to admit that motherhood was not for them.
I have had my share of relationships, some brief, some long term.
My common law marriage has lasted 25 years. Marriage was not an issue
for either of us and we were beyond the parenthood age when we met. My
career in Nursing has spanned 46 satisfying years. I have reached the
age of 70 sans marriage or offspring.
Oh my!
