If I hear one more time....

If some says any of the following comments to me again, I might react badly:

• You are so young, you are only 22.
• Why would you want to graduate early?
• Don't rush to have kids. 
• Slow down, enjoy life.

So to all of those people who think these things about me.

• I'm motivated. If you don't like it... it's probably because you AREN'T. That's really not my problem. And if you think that I'm about to stop being motivated because I'm passing you up in life, well sorry. That's not who I was raised to be.
• School isn't hard for me. Treating kids, doing my job, participating in the balancing act of life... is challenging for me. I like to be challenged. So if you want to know why I will have my master's before I turn 23, know that it's because I can't wait for the real challenges. Not to mention school is expensive... enough said.
• About kids. Just stop. Stop judging me for wanting to have a baby. Stop acting like I need to wait until I'm 30. If you are reading this and you have kids... how many of you actually waited until 30? And if you still think I'm crazy, how many of you have MULTIPLE chronic disorders that cause miscarriage.  How would you like to have that weighing on your heart? My guess is, not many of you. And if you do, you probably didn't know about them prior to having kids. So stop judging me. It's our decision. William's and mine. And when we are ready we will. But don't tell me your advice like "you know how I feel"or "you have been in my shoes". I work with children with heart wrenching developmental disorders. And I have finally seen what an immense blessing that they are. However, as part of my education I an immensely informed about prevention of these disorders. You can bet I'm going to be aware of those things when thinking about my future family. Just because kids are world-changing, life-altering, money-consuming beings doesn't mean you should put them off. 
• As a culmination of all of the above and response to "slow down, enjoy life.' I ENJOY MY LIFE. I LOVE IT. It's not easy. It's not all roses and butterflies. But honestly I wouldn't change it. I'm learning to embrace the unknown and be informed but not controlling. Life is a whirlwind. And you know what... life is short. 

So when my life starts to fall apart... I'll let you know. But for now... I'm a 22 year old that is 3 months from a master's degree, married to a wonderful man, living with several chronic medical conditions and not afraid to stare motherhood in the face when the time is right. What is so wrong with that?