Complete without children?

© Odile Jacob

Can a woman ever be complete without being a mother?
She can make herself very happy dedicating her time to other things rather than children. It's ridiculous to say that women are made to be mothers, especially when certain women no doubt regret having children but can't say so. Being a mother is such a big constraint on your life that it takes a lot of strength to say "No, I don't want children." Most women who have children are under the illusion that their children will be perfect, which is never the case! 

Is maternal instinct just a myth?
It's an aberration of female animals: the female looks after her young while she's lactating then ignores them when her milk dried up. But being a mother isn't an instinct. A woman's attachment to her child builds up day by day. Being a mother doesn't necessarily come naturally. Most women do everything they can to be a good mother.