DEAR HARRIETTE: I had a child in my teens. He is now on his own, and I am nearing 40. I have a great husband and five amazing dogs. I get told, "Time is ticking!" and that I should have children, but I have no interest in raising another child. I am just fine with my dogs. I think it's incredibly rude for people to give me unsolicited advice on how to live my life. My pets are my children now, and my son is an amazing and independent man. How do I deflect these comments pressuring me to have children? -- Not a New Momma, Detroit
DEAR NOT A NEW MOMMA: You need to talk to your husband. This is really an issue between the two of you. If he wants to have a child, then the two of you must work through that and decide together if it's something that you would like to do. Honestly, you should have talked about that before you married, but without question, you should address it now.
As a united front, the two of you can handle anyone who has questions about your family. When people make comments about you having a child, you can pivot and let them know that you and your husband -- and dogs! -- have a happy life. By the way, if you ever change your mind and have a baby, that's great, too. Life is fluid. Go with it. As long as you and your husband are on the same path, you will enjoy the journey.
(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)