Your Ideal age for Children?

[nat_84]

Me and my friends discuss this quite often..

those of u that dont have kids what would be your ideal age to have them?

I'm 21 and think that 26 is a perfect age for me... i just think that by then i'll have a good stable job and my own place, although earliest would be 24.

Those that do have kids, what age did you have them?

[dot.hawkes]

I had my eldest when i was 26, I had been working for ten years by then and infact it was the greatest upheaval of my life! Even greater than when i married at 22 and moved 250 miles from home. I suddenly had a different focus and I found it very hard. I then had my second child 3 years later and it seemed much less of a change. by the time I had my third child at 32 i was more of a mother than a career woman and returning to work was harder.

[caz21]

ha ha nat, We are very similar today!

I'm 21 and my perfect age would be 25 to get married and 26 to have my first child with a two year age gap between them!

That gives me three and a half years to snare a bloke into marriage!! LOL!!

[4getmenot]

when I was younger I'd have said 25. I'm past that now and no-one can determine what the future holds or plan their life to a t. No normal person anyway.

[CLOWN TICKLE]

Met my wife at 27, married and a father at 28, always considered it a lucky number

[~posy~]

i'm now 26, i'm married and i have a 5yr old and a soon to be 3yr old (it's his birthday on saturday).
i'm not sure there is a perfect age to have kids, it's all down to when you feel ready

[loobie]

I actually think it's really hard these days because everything is so expensive. I reckon 26 is about the age I want kids but it could be very different in reality. I'm nearly 24 now and am hoping to get a mortgage with my boyf next year. We want to get married which costs money and kids cost a fortune. Us youngsters have it hard, cause all I can see in the future is us struggling with money. Getting on the property ladder is almost impossible, and I have to get there before I even think about having babies!!!

[nat_84]

We are!! What star sign are you?!

So caz21... if you got pregnant now? do u think you'd be able to handle a baby?

I dont know what i'd do! The thought scares me to death.

In a way im like...i'm on good money and i reckon i could but on the other side... i'm like... whoa - im no where near ready.

[PinkFizz]

I had my first child the week before my 21st birthday and I found it very hard,especially as she never slept.Then I had my others at 23,26,and 32.I would now love a child with b/f but at the age of 38,although I now have the patience,and support,I feel that time is no longer on my side.

[caz21]

I'm a Sagittarius! What about you?

If i got pregnant now i'd keep it for sure! (i'm broody as it is) Its just not ideal, i'm not settled still live at home etc. But i'd cope if i had to, and admire others that do!

I'm sure there is no ideal age, all the same!

[Curryfarty]

I had my first at 19 and second at 21. I thought I was a great Mum, but when I had another at 32 I realised that I was still a kid myself. Everyone is different, but personally, I would say approx 30 is a good age. You have enjoyed your youth and are still enjoying it, but with a much more mature head on your shoulders. Also, you are much more laid back. My little one gets away with things my other two didn't, simply because I know that some things just don't matter anymore. However, you cannot take away the fact that some people are great parents whatever age they are, and you might be one of them.

[nat_84]

Congratulations on bringing up a child at 21 years old pinkfizz. Mustve been difficult.

I'm not saying there is a perfect age, but just asking when people feel for them it would be a perfect age. I know somethings happen unexpectedly in life, beyond our control but i think all women and men go through a phase when they're growing up and wonder when they would love to have kids.

[nat_84]

nice answer curryfarty, and well done you.

I really admire women that carry and bring up children well.

If i got pregnant, first i'd ask for my mums advice (i know my boyfriend want kids anyway - he's 24 going on 25) and then probably ask a friend for her advice.

If i did get preggers i'd definitely move out of my parents (which i should have done by now anyway!) and move in with my fella.

Caz21 - im a Scorpio.

[Jenarry]

there's 2 ways of doing as far as i can see.live your life for few years...going out,holidays,nice cars,etc then start thinking about babies. or do it when you're fairly young but you'll prob have to make more sacrifices because of finances and responsibilities and wait to do travels,nice cars etc bit later on.i always thought i'd have a baby around the age of 25 whereas i've actually just had my 1st at 34 and i couldn't be happier.perfect time for me.mainly cos i gave myself enough time to find my mr right and i've done everything i wanted to do.

[Supernick]

My plan at about 18 was to get married at 27 and kids at 28. That seemed perfect to me at the time, but now, at 26, it seems like the worst idea in the world. Stick me down for 30 to be married, and kids at 31-32.

[fee-is-me]

Without being a grouch about it, there is an alternative... not to have them.

Some people choose not to.

:0)

[nat_84]

Of course fee-is-me.

My boyfriends Aunt has never married or had children and ive never met such a lively, out-going, happy woman in my life.

She's like a 21 year old - the way she talks about men especially.

[Miss Zippy]

The 'perfect' age is different for everyone. Some people from a young age know that their main goal in life is to get married and have children but I've never had that sense of purpose and have always been very career and travel focussed. For my husband-to-be and me, having children is something we'll do if we get the urge and if we're ready to make the lifestyle sacrifices that would go with it. If I had to put down a 'perfect' age for me though, I'd say around 38.

[angel-cake]

I don't think you know the perfect age until you are ready to have one.

[alijangra]

Im 27 and feel I am still far too young, and I guess too selfish, to have a child at the moment. I love my life the way it is. No maternal urges kicking in yet!

[joby1]

number 1 is 19, number 2 is nearly7, number 3 is nearly 4, After the day I've had with the two youngest, I would say just don't bloody bother.