I was talking to this acquaintance during a mutual friend’s birthday brunch. We were talking about our respective timelines when it comes to our love lives. I’m 22F so I said since I am single now, I hope to be married by 30 and I can start my family then. She looked at me like there was egg on my face. She said “why wait so far to start having babies? Marriage is a bigger commitment anyways, I’d start having babies around 24-25 then y’all can get married later”. Inside, I was rolling my eyes but I kept a straight face and just said “yeah yeah, I guess” then changed the subject. But that conversation really bothered me as I know there are a lot of women who believe this FALLACY.

Can someone help me understand why a lot of women believe this? I’d be petrified to be pregnant by a man who didn’t want to marry me. It just doesn’t compute to me. Like I’m so serious….I have no problem going to the abortion clinic if my birth control methods failed. Marriages aren’t a guarantee but that commitment let’s me know that he’s ready to take care of ALL OF ME and be responsible for any humans that I bring into this world. I simply would never feel at peace if I had a baby with a boyfriend. Hey, I know it works for some but I’m finding that those cases are the EXCEPTIONS!!! I hear a lot about relationships breaking up after children arrive. In a marriage, there are consequences if you decide to abandon your spouse and children. So, how is marriage a bigger commitment? Why have a child (FOREVER COMMITMENT) with a person you don’t want to marry (FOREVER COMMITMENT with an exit option + financial protection)?

NOTE: I understand not ALL women want marriage, those women are excluded. I’m talking about women who eventually want marriage but have kids before the marriage hoping it would lead to marriage.