What You Must Do Before the Mommy Years.(things for single women to accomplish)(Brief Article)

While you're still flying through life solo says best-selling author a Naomi Wolf it's essential that you attempt the following five things.

* I remember exactly what I thought when I first found out I was pregnant. Well, luckily, I traveled a lot when I was younger, because now I will have to stay put...for who knows how long. As I was soon to find out, having a baby drastically changes your life. Women often expect that having their own family will complete them. But I now know that the best preparation for motherhood--for giving so much of yourself away--is to have plenty of self to give. Here are five things I believe women should by to do while they're still childless, free agents.

1. Live alone. Having a good sense of self means being a person you know well and like a lot. One of the best ways to achieve this is by living alone--no roommates, no lovers, just you. When you live by yourself, you learn how to enjoy your own company. Living alone can also be a lot of fun, as you please yourself with every meal you eat, every color of paint you choose, and every book you read.

2. Roam around the world. Now is your chance to go wherever you have always dreamed of going. Don't let finances deter you; it can be cheaper to travel light in many parts of the world than to live for the same amount of time in an American city. Traveling challenges your mind and body, gets you out of your routine, and gives you a wonderful store of memories to look back on.

3. Build a nest egg. The biggest shock new mothers face today, especially those women who were self-supporting in their 20s and saw their relationships as being fairly equitable, is the sudden loss of power they often feel postbaby, much of it financial. So grow your own money while you can. Invest every month in the stock market, starting as young as ...