To think I'm the shelf and will never get married or have children?

[saveyourtearsforthepillow]

I'm 26 almost 27 .... all my friends but about 2 are either married or have a long term partner and quite a few have children now.

I just don't think it will happen for me.

It seems to happen so easy for some people. Which I know it probably doesn't but ..

I almost feel embarrassed by it.

Young "age".

I felt the same way at 26. All my friends had partners or were married and it was rubbish. I was bored and I thought I'd be single forever. I moved away and made a new set of friends through work - they were all mostly single and I had the time of my life. I met DH when I was 29. I'm not suggesting you have to do something as drastic, but there are plenty other single people out there. Broaden your horizons.

it feel;s awful when you are single and don't wa\nt to be but honestly at your age I really wouldn't worry I was terminally single at 31 met dh married within six months and pregnant six months later.

I think it's a tricky one, OP. On the one hand many of the above posters are right in saying that you're most attractive when you're confident, you should make the most of your youth, etc. BUT on the other hand, I'm the same age as you and what I WANT to do now is be married and be a mother - that is my main goal at this specific point in my life and I don't think there's any shame in that. If I were in your position I'd be a bit (unreasonably!) annoyed with people telling me to travel, progress my career, date unsuitable people, etc, however well-meant, because the thing is, I've done my fill of those things (at least for the time being!) and now I want to 'settle'.

I'm married and currently planning a first baby (fingers crossed) and I can totally understand the gut feeling of wanting to be a mother. I don't think it's at all unreasonable to feel that way and to admit it to yourself as a primary goal at this point in your life - as long as you don't find yourself settling for twats in order to achieve it.

I'd suggest doing your best to be happy and fulfilled NOW, as people have suggested above - and at the same time making a concerted, planned effort to achieve what you want in terms of a good relationship and a potential family. One of my friends recently turned 30 and decided that, by his 31st birthday, he wanted to have put a solid years' worth of effort into meeting someone. He treated it like a part time job - going on online dates, accepting invitations, making the effort to chat (he's very shy) and now he's very happily dating a lovely woman who he met online.

Good luck!