When my husband and I were dating, people asked, “When are you getting married?” When we got married, they asked, “When are you having kids?” After our first child was born, they asked, “Do you want another?” And now that “another” is here, they want to know if we’re done or if we want more.

Despite how I may feel about being asked such personal questions (depends on the day and my mood) I’ve come to accept that in our society, wondering “what’s next?” is the norm.  We’re conditioned from the time we are tots to strive for the goal, pause for a brief applause, and then move on to the next thing. In adulthood, we seek raises and promotions, always looking for the lawn with greener grass.

I don’t think being motivated to raise the bar is inherently good or bad, but for someone like me (people pleaser, approval seeker) “what’s next?” can leave me feeling like what I have isn’t enough. In the early stages of my career, it sent me down a path that looked better on paper than it felt in my heart.

When well-meaning people ask if we’re done having kids, I tell them I’m not ready to make a final decision on that. I don’t feel a void. I’m not trying to win a contest. What I have is “enough.” So yes, maybe we’re done. But, then again, maybe not. We've had two healthy babies, with two early miscarriages in between. While I have a say in the matter, I’ve accepted some aspects of reproducing are out of my control.

Right now, I’m simply fascinated that I’m half-way willing to do it again—endure the discomfort of pregnancy and post-birth recovery, the sleep deprivation, and the postpartum hormones that make me question my sanity.

My husband says all jobs come with a PITA (pain in the, uh, you know) factor. And being a mom is no exception. When you sign up to be a parent, you’re committing to a laundry list of undesirables-- long hours, a perceived lack of appreciation, and low (read: no) pay. Feel free to add your own gripes and frustrations here.

The parenting PITA factor is huge.

Yet, I live for this work. I’ve fully accepted the ups and the downs. The benefits and the overtime.  Becoming a mom has helped me set the standard for everything else I aspire to-- I'm able to better determine the things that deserve a priority position in my life and the things that don't. So give me a life-long contract, no outs. No need to read the fine print to see what’s next. Toss me a pen. I’m in.

Bio: Angie Mizzell is a writer living in Charleston, SC. Her essays have been published in Skirt! magazine and the Post and Courier. Follow her blog at www.angiemizzell.com and connect on Twitter @angiemizzell.