Speaking of How Old You Are...

18, 21, 28, 34, 35

Waiting until you are "ready" for me would have been like waiting until you could afford it.

In the end it didn't really matter if I was ready for them, they were ready for me!!

I was 20 and 23 with my first 2 and WAY TOO YOUNG. I thought I was on top of it and prepared, and it took me until almost 30 to really realize that I wasn't as prepared as I thought. I had number 3 at 30 - and was much more together and patient, followed by number 4 at 39. While I was prepared and patient, it was much harder to be so tired and run down at 39.

I had my girls at 20, 24 and 30. The first one was a little unexpected considering I had just been told I may not be able to have children. Guess the doctors were wrong :-)

This is funny! My first one was at 25, my baby at 34. With my first one I felt like and I was THE YOUNGEST mommy in his class - always! Now he is in the 8th grade and I sit on parents' meetings next to all gray-haired (colored,of course), botoxed, liposuctioned and sculpted by personal trainers mammas in their 50s! Fathers look like they are one step from retirement, I swear! So hard! Everyone gives me looks like - what is she doing here? Are you in the right classroom? Primary school is in the other building...

Funny thing, with my younger one - I am, again, one of the youngest moms! My peers are in their 40s! But I have more friends and common ground with that crowd. Go figure!

I guess it depends on the area and other factors but it looks like women are having children later in life across the board. I am happy that I had by kids when I had them, I will get to see them grow old, I will spend time with my grand babies and I hopefully will be in the right mind and without an artificial hip doing that!
Being young parent puts tons of pressures on you because you have to go through your own growth/education/career and to raise a child. The two do not always mesh well and very conflicting at times. That is the hardest part. Older parent has more time, means, patience but at the same time if you start too old you may be too used to it just everything being about you and the switch may not be easy to be a caregiver to a little guy or a girl. I am more relaxed with my younger one but I have nowhere to rush anymore like I did in my 20s. With my older one it took 8 mo for a Judo instructor to figure that I am his mother not a sister! So, I guess, you cannot go wrong with having kids at any age.
It is up to you what you do. Good luck!

My daughter just had her third baby at 30. She was 20 and 23 with her first two. She said she is enjoying this baby so much more. She feels more confident and on top of things.

Added: She's better able to pay more attention to the baby's needs. With the first two she was still trying to figure out how to meet her own needs.

I am almost 26. Had my son at 24. Yes, I was ready as much as a new parent-to-be can be anyway. We were trying and were in a good position to become parents. Please don't feel like you're getting "old." I know plenty of people my age without kids! Our friends are 28 and 34 and just had their first. We have another couple friends that are 28 and 30 and no kids yet. My best friend is 26 - no kids, not married. Another close friend is 27, no kids, just married. Sounds like you are ready as soon as you have the go-ahead medically so enjoy the experience!

Wow!! I am so amazed at how many people had kids in their early 20's!!! You probably hate it when people say this but..... you are still a baby!! So don't feel old or like it's too late for you. Maybe it has something to do with geography? Where I live, most people have their kids when they're in their 30's. I actually had mine at almost 29 and just turned 31. And I considered that young! I was the very first of all my friends to have a baby. It actually was really hard, because my friends were still doing happy hour on Friday and I was, well, sitting at home with a crying infant. A lot of moms (me included) tend to become close friends with their children's friends. What that has meant for me is that most of my close friends are 5-10 years older than me, because they had their kids later. I guess you're in the opposite situation. So don't worry!!! Enjoy your "me time" while you can. Once baby is here it's all about baby - for a LONG time (not that it's bad, just saying!!)

I had my first at 28, second at 30, third at 32. I'm 33 now. And I'm done :) I don't know if anyone's truly "ready" for kids. I feel like I'm always winging it. Before I had kids, I was talking to my Dad about it and he said if you wait until it's a good time to have kids, you'll never have them. Of course he was joking, but I know what he meant. You ARE still young. I bet you're going to have some wonderful stories of your own ;)

You're a baby! I had my first daughter 3 weeks before my 29th birthday. 2nd daughter at 30 and my son at 33. YOU HAVE PLENTY OF TIME!

Good luck with your next pregnancy and I'm sorry to hear about your loss. I'm sure you'll be a great mom - it's great that you want to have kids so much :-)

I had my first, and so far only, at 39. So no, you're not behind, I am! LOL :)

I was 27 when I had my son. 29 when I had my daughter, and 31 when I had my second daughter. I felt pretty ready for it. I'm 32 now and I know a lot of people that are the same age as me or older that don't have kids.

I'm sorry about losing your pregnancy. That must have been very hard for you. I'm sure everything will work out for you and you will be holding a little baby in your arm sooner than you know. In the meantime, enjoy your sleep, and having a clean house :) Good Luck!

I was your age when I had my son. Yes, I was ready. I have a good friend at work that got married at 20 and had her 1st at 21. My best friend was 29. Don't put any added pressure on yourself. Have fun trying when your body is ready again. Good luck!

I'm 35, my husband is 40. I was 28 and 31 when I had my girls! I was late for my friends, but am one of the younger moms at our co-op preschool. The people who wait a little longer have more patience and money =) Good luck conceiving and carrying your precious angel soon!

I was 23 when my daughter was born and had just turned 25 when my niece started living with us.

No, I wasn't ready. When I got pregnant with my daughter I was panicked. I wasn't able to emotionally and spiritually able to care for myself, let alone another human being.

I wasn't ready but I became / become ready. Motherhood, for me, is a constant learning process. It's in that process that my own sense of perfection is found.

The way I look at not being ready is this: I've often been given more than I can handle or more than I am ready for. The point isn't to be prepared to perfectly handle all potential calamity / joy, or to always know how to do things before hand, but to meet life in the present and be willing to learn and grow from my experience. For me, there is great opportunity in each present moment, especially in agony. My purpose, at this point, is to simply try to be willing to live in the opportunity - to see opportunity and love.

Anyhow, sorry, I sidetracked.

I was likewise unprepared to raise my niece. Her spirit was broken out of her when she reached us. Most of my old tools failed me and after a time, I found I was not coping well. It was a very, very difficult first 9 months. The most difficult period of my life so far. She is bright again, whole. She laughs with authentic joy and is healing beautifully.

I've not parented my children perfectly, but it seems that the power of love has far greater power than I ever would have imagined. My children are gorgeous little people. Although unplanned (by me), both came at exactly the right time. Exactly. I would not change it for the world. I had lots of plans about how and when I was going to have babies. Thank goodness my plans got to take a back seat to opportunity and love.

I am the youngest of most of my closest friends to have children. That's okay. We each have our own path to follow.

My deepest condolences on your loss. I am sending big healing wishes your way.

We had our first one when my wife was 19. We had our 8th when she was 34. I am 4 years older than she is.

The younger you are when you have kids, the younger you will be when you have grandkids.

Good luck to you and yours.

You're neither too old nor too young.
I had my first at 35, my second at 39, and I'm currently pregnant with my third at 42.

I'm sorry for your loss.

Okay, I'm having a bad pain day so I'm going to work this backwards. I'll be 37 on Thursday. My eldest just turned 11 in September. My middle will be 9 in November. My youngest turned 6 years old this past February.

Now, I know plenty of women who became mothers younger than I, and plenty who became mothers older. I know several now who are my age and are just becoming mothers for the first time or are starting over again with their "second family."

I think part of what you're feeling in "feeling behind" is that you're still mourning the loss of your pregnancy. Comparing yourself to your friends and other people your age isn't going to help those feelings. You are where you are in your life and you just have to trust that you are where you need to be, where you're supposed to be. No one else's stage in life has anything to do with where you are in life... except for your partner.

You're still very young and have so much time to start your family. You're not behind at all. Just take time to pamper yourself, heal yourself, and mourn. I would also talk to a therapist if you can. A while back, I couldn't stop thinking about my own pregnancy loss even though I ended up getting pregnant shortly after so as a memorial I kept a special private blog to get out all of my feelings and thoughts. I was the only one who had access to it. It helped immensely.

21 and 23 when my kids were born (i'm 24 now). None of my friends have kids yet, so since becoming a mom i've had to branch out more and find Mom friends and I tend to be the youngest in the group. I like having them young--i seem to have more energy than my older mom friends and I'm also pretty excited that I'll only be 40 when my youngest is graduating from High school! That means we will finally get to do all the fun traveling and what-not that all of our friends are doing now while we're still pretty young! My only real regret in having them young is that my husband and I really didn't get much time to just be a couple once we were out of college. He graduated and we got married a week later, then our boy was born shortly after. We are looking forward to our kids getting a little older so we can actually go on frequent dates and be a COUPLE again--not just a parenting team. Good luck with your future pregnancy, you are going to be an amazing mama :)

You are at the right stage to have a child, but i also find it quite young in todays times. You will have plenty of children in due time, but stay young at heart no matter when they come. I was 36 when I had my son and 38 when I had my daughter. I look the youngest in my group of moms due to good eating habbits, not smoking, or drinking. I do have my glass of wine and my beer two-three times a week. I'm a water drinker and enjoy working out or going for long walks. I've never done botox, or had any major hair issues. I try to stay natural in every possible way, but certainly not as New Yorkers call them a "granola girl". I do apply SPF 50 on my face, with blusher and mascara. That's about all. Go out and have a good time with hubby. Believe me, once the children come along, it's a never ending job. Take advantage of life as a couple. Best wishes.

32, 33, 35. I didn't know anyone your age in my circle who had children. When I joined a new mothers' group, the youngest mother was 24, the average age was 32.

I am 36- got married when I was 27. I was 31 when I had my son and he was a complete surprise. I don't think I was even remotely ready for a baby. My husband and I were just doing our thing, and a baby never crossed our minds.
I just had my baby girl last year. I also suffered a miscarriage between them. However, I think everything turned out like it was supposed to. Same will be true for you. You have plenty of time.
Happy baby-making! :)

Don't put yourself on a time schedule..enjoy this time with your husband..it took us 6 years to have our first little one after we got married..and I am so glad that we had that time together before we switched gears from a couple to a family!!
I was older when I had my children....
Daughter #1..I was 26
Daughter #2..I was 32
Daughter #3..I was 35
I was ready to be a Mom..and now I am enjoying the heck out of being a Grandma!!!
My condolences on the loss of your little one..it is always so painful..only someone who has lost a child in pregnancy can truly understand. Take time to recover from the loss, relax and don't put yourself on a time schedule..you have a lot of life left to live!!

I'm 42 and had our daughter when I was 36. Almost all of our friends had kids around the same time we did, we're all late bloomers, lol. Which is great because all the kids are around the same age and it's really fun to hang out together. My husband and I were married 8 years before we had our daughter. Looking back, that was a fantastic way to go for us and our relationship is rock solid. I wouldn't change a thing.

4 girls. I was 22, 23, 25, 27. We married at 20. Both of us are 30 now.

I wasn't ready for #1. LOL:) We sure did MAKE ourselves ready quickly!

We DEFINITELY have the opposite with us... most of our friends (that are our age) haven't even settled down at all, still single. We are friends with people within variety of different age groups. Most of the friends that have kids close to our age are easily a decade and a half older than we are.

1st son at 26. I was NOT ready to be a mom but dove headfirst into it! I had the pleasure of being a single mom
2nd son at 29. I wanted him so bad and totally thought I was ready for it. Boy, having two was not at ALL what I thought it would be. It was a very hard transition for me.
3rd daughter at 33. I had been asking my husband for years to have her and finally did at 33. I had a horrible recovery and never could have planned for all the things that happened.
I don't think anyone is ready for kids. Each one has it's own personality and can be easy peasy (like my first) or really tough, like my third. You are still VERY young mama. Plenty of time to enjoy the husband. Kids totally change the kind of relationship you have with your significant other.
L.

I find it hard to believe myself..but I was barely 16 when my daughter was born. Married in Myrtle Beach SC 7 days before my husband left for Vietnam. It all came very natural to me..can't recall any problems. She was born Dec 19, 1972..and nine years to the day..my son was born. They both have the same birthday 6 days before Christmas. I wish you so much luck..mine are so much joy to me these days..I'm 55 now.

23 (in grad school), 24 (20 months apart), and 27. I would not have wanted mine sooner, but I was happy with starting when we did. We had been married for almost 3 years. If we have more I would hope to have the last two around 2 years apart again.

We have a lot of friends who are our age and single, or our age and in a relationship but not married yet, etc. We have a few who have children or are married without children, but not a lot. I don't think it is weird either way, but I liked having mine earlier. (I did not go to college expecting to ever have a boyfriend and certainly did not expect to be married my junior year, so life is often not what we expect it to be!)

I had my first one a month before I turned 23 and the second one 2 months before I turned 24. Neither were planned but they are the most awesome gifts I've ever received.

Married at 28. Tried for nearly 6 years.
Had baby #1 at 33; baby #2 at 36. Am now 37.

I know the feeling you are talking about. I've now accepted it. It was strange picking up a tutoring student in middle school with a baby in the backseat - knowing the other moms there were picking up THEIR kid. :)

I love being an "older" mom. I feel more experienced in life and KNOW what I want for my kids. It gave my hubby and I some growing up time together before we put kids in the mix (not by choice....infertility).

It also makes people think I'm a lot younger than I am!!! Not a bad feeling at all! :) Best of luck to you and your husband. It can be a very trying time trying!

I had my first at 20- I was on birth control and had a huge surprise! Even though I was young, I was responsible and my hubby(then boyfriend) and I slipped right into parent roles and loved it. I had my 2nd and 3rd(twins) at 26.

I had my first daughter at 21(not ready AT ALL)
my second daughter at 27(completely prepared)
pregnant with my son......im 30!(not ready.AT ALL!)

and im done!

We started trying to conceive when I was 32 but it took till I was 36 to have our son.
A lot of the people I graduated with from high school had kids soon afterward so they have grand children by now.
I enjoyed traveling and working on my career before settling down to have a child.
Different timing works for different people.

24 & 27.

Honestly I think you are heading towards the "perfect" age - young enough for energy but old enough for wisdom.

I have a younger cousin who had her two at 36 & 38, so she has infants/toddlers and I have teens. I'm jealous of her (though I wouldn't trade my teens for anything)! I just wish I had more . . .

Good luck and I wish you all the best. You *will* get there!

I was 32. I just wasn't ready until I was about 30. Most of my friends now are older than I am so you're in great company! I'm sorry for your loss. I miscarried at 28 and felt it was exactly what was supposed to happen. Had a ritual for myself and knew this being wasn't supposed to be baked yet. Odd, but we all make sense of it the best we can.

I haven't read any of the other responses but age has nothing to do with when you start having babies. I was almost 22 when my first was born and had my son after I turned 24. All my class mates from highschool or old friends all have 4,5,and 6 yr olds. I was one of the last in my class to have a baby.

If it makes you feel any better my moms best friend from high school(she is now around 42) and she has almost 4 yr olds and she loves it. Good luck with trying again. I believe the longer you wait the better off you are. Just my opinion though.

I too am sorry for your loss. I was 19 when I had my son and HECK NO I wasn't ready! I mean I was in the fact that I was a good mommy and never neglected him or anything, but it was hard having a kid that young. I don't know how teen moms who are like 15 do it! I don't regret a minute with my kid, but I do wish that I would've waited until I was 26!

Best of luck to the conception and birth of your own little miracle!

My son was born just after my husband's 30th birthday and just before mine. My daughter was born just after my husband's 33rd birthday and just before mine.

I don't think you can ever really be ready for anything that you haven't experienced before. Being a parent is so life changing in so many ways that you can't really fathom until you are living it. Good and bad. It is just exponentially different. It is also different for different people. Husband and myself just can't imagine still wanting to go out and party. But some parents do. We also can't imagine wanting to go away with "the guys" or "the gals" for a week to do anything... we'd rather spend it as a family. But not everyone feels that way. And that feeling can change as your kids mature too.
The thing is, that you will grow into it. I think that is why we don't have memories of our very early childhood, lol. We were purposely made not to remember the age when our parents were going through the steepest learning curve, HA!

I had my kids when I was 18 (single), 21,22 (husband #1), 29 & 30 (husband #2).

All of them were surprises :) none were planned. My oldest was the most shocking one especially still being a Senior in High School. But I still proudly walked across the stage and graduated being 5 months along :)

I always said I would not want to have any kids at 30 or older ( I suppose being young 30 seemed old lol)... But Im so glad that I had one at 30 and after 4 boys, that's when my little girl came along.

.

I am sorry for your loss.

Everyone's circles are different. I was the first of my local friends at 34. All of my old college roommates /still great friends who live in different states beat me by a couple of years. One of them had their second after my only. I personally am very glad I waited until hitting 30. I had a lot of fun through my 20s and now I don't feel odd describing a fun Saturday as going to playground, bike ride and children's museum and staying in that night and watching a movie as my little guy is asleep upstairs. I think in my 20s, I would have a little issue with that being the extent of my fun Saturday and miss going out. Again, everyone is different. I am one of those who is afraid to have a baby after 35 so I am mom to a ‘one and only.’ He is fabulous and I love him more than words could describe and I am truly content having him in my life..but occasionally I still get the selfish urge for the second and have to talk myself out of it. My SIL is only 25 and she admits she is not ready yet. My brother is 30 and very ready. I always tell him to relax and let her enjoy her 20s. I tell her I totally understand where she is coming from..and admit that although I am glad I waited until 30s, in hindsight, I should have tried around 30 so I could have had 2 before 35 if that is what I decided I wanted. Good luck with whatever you decide. No matter your age when you have your first, your life will be changed forever.

My husband and I married at 26 and decided we wanted to wait till we were 30 for kids. Well, 30 came and we weren't ready. At 32 we started trying and had our daughter at 33. We're now expecting our second in January and we are 35.

We were definitely ready to be parents when we had our daughter. That was the whole point in waiting. We did all those things we wanted to do, travel, sleep late, have an active social life, spend time together.... So when we were ready we were really ready. We definitely wouldn't trade our decision for anything. We feel like we had an opportunity to do everything we wanted before we moved on to the next phase of our lives. Definitely no regrets!! :)

I'm sorry you're feeling lost in the baby shuffle. It's tough when you decide you're ready for a baby you're READY!!!! What you're going through just plain sucks (to be frank). We had a miscarriage before our first and then another before getting pregnant with our 2nd. I know the feeling. My advice is to do your best to embrace it. Sleep late, spend lots of time on your hobbies, with your mate, your friends, travel, do whatever it is you like to do and do it like it's the last time you'll do it. Of course you'll do those things once you have kids but it takes a little more effort and some things you may decide to put to the wayside for a while. Your little one will come. One way or another you'll be a mom and you'll be ready for it :)

Wow....better learn now to never compare yourself or your kids to anyone else or any other kids!

I had my first (and ONLY) at 39..and that was PERFECT for us. :)

I acquired my daughter (adopted her with no notice from my sister) when I was 27 my husband was 30. I felt really young at the time because I hadn't even given kids a thought at that point.

Hi L.,

I'm so sorry about your miscarriage. I've been there.

I was 32 when I had my first daughter. Thirty-five with my second. I understand your feeling of being behind but when it's right, it's right. God knows what He is doing. Believe it or not, I have a lot of friends my age that started having children about the same time I did. Just like in anything else, understand that patience is a virtue.

God bless,
M.

I was 24 when my daughter was born. It was great not to still be a 'child' myself.

I hope you have a wonderful pregnacy once the time is right for you!

I was 28 when I had my first, and 34 when I had my second. Yes, I was ready, but I was glad I wasn't a younger mom. I would have loved to have another baby, but it wasn't in the cards. I'm sorry for your loss, and hope you have a baby in your arms next year at this time.

I got married at 25 and had my first child at 28. I feel that is pretty average for this day and age. I wanted to start trying right away, but at the time I did not have any medical benefits at my job, so two years later I had the benefits, plus our own place so we were definately ready at the point. I had baby number 2 at 31, and baby number 3 at 33. I'm 34 now and I have several friends that are the same age as me, and are just now pregnant with their first.

I came off the bcp when I was 25, hoping to get pregnant. Over 2 years and a miscarriage later I had my first daughter a couple months after turning 28 and had my second at 29, just weeks before my 30th bday.

Good luck in December!

Wow -I guess in my social circle and where I live, everyone that we associate with just about waits until their 30s. I was 36 and 38 (on purpose) when I had my two. I did not want children in my 20s and hopefully if I had HAD to have them then, I would have stepped up, but I just was not ready to be a parent. Many of my friends (and these are couple friends) decided not to have kids at all, but the ones who have are like me -all in their 30s and late 30s and a few in their 40s. You certainly aren't behind!

My husband and I were 22 when I had our son.

We were kind of ready, but I think it was more of a do or dont situation. My husband was getting deployed and so we had a serious discussion about it, and decided that we wanted a baby, kinda just in case thing. Sad, and hard decision, but I would rather have a piece of him in a beautiful baby then not at all.

Engaged at 20, BAM 2 months later we were pregnant..we were not ready. Had him at 21, married 3 months later. Pregnant again 4 months after we married, had her at 22. The third will be born in a few months and I am 25 now.

Was married @ 31 and had my ____@____.com of my friends had children around the same time. Fewer had children while in their 20's. As a doula and childbirth educator, I see the full spectrum of ages. The youngest client I had was 18 and the oldest was 43. Some people are more ready than others. My belief is that one of the most important things in life is flexibility. That includes timing and raising children. Enjoy this time with your husband, nourish yourself in all ways. Good luck on your journey.

My husband & I were married for 5 years before our son was born. I was 28 & until I became pregnant I continued to say I wasn't ready! Our 1st daughter was born when I was 30 & our 2nd daughter when I was 33. My best friend had her first when she was 18 & was not ready. It seems like a lot of people I grew up with started early. All in the right time - hope you guys are able to conceive when your body is ready & the next pregnancy goes smoothly for you.

So sorry about your miscarriage. They're very common, yet create so much heartbreak when it's actually your own. Wishing you the best for the future.

I had my first child at 38, and second at 42. Hubby and I were married ten years before we tried. We feel more tired at this age, but also wiser.
=)

Best of luck!

I had her when I was 27. My guy turned 36 that year. It was all new and a shock to me. I didn't think I could get pregnant (PCOS), so I think half of me was ready because I always wanted to be a mom, and half of me wasn't because I had totally thrown the idea out of my head.
Surprisingly people thought I was old when I got pregnant. Everyone around me was already done having them and I just got started. We have 1, I am 29, and want more (hopefully)...sometime in the next couple of years..so I will be in my 30's and my guy will be in his 40's.
Pay no attention to it!! =)

I had my kids at 23 and 25. Both little girls we were married at 21 and had planned on waiting about 2 years to have our first, she was due on our second anniversary, but was a few weeks early. :) I had no idea how well we had it planned. They are 25 months apart.

My husband and I were 27 with our first, and 31 with our second which will be born hopefully in the next week or two. :) We have a lot of friends who started after us, some before and a few around the same time. It's best to remember that you're starting your family when it's best for you. I have felt like some people I know think we had children too young, but we were married 4 years before the first was born and we were ready. Some friends started earlier, but then they'll have kiddos out of the house earlier. We planned both pregnancies. Good luck to you (and remember to make the most of "trying!")

I was 36 and 38. My only wish is that we started sooner so we could have 5 of them, but I am so glad I waited. I didn't meet my hubby till 29. He is my perfect match. I loved that I got to spend my 20s playing and traveling. I don't think I was ready for the staying at home, true responsibility of 24-7 care of other human beings till I was 30.

Being a parent is hard work. Enjoy being childless. Save every penny, take an extravagant trip, and then worry about settling down with babies. They are amazing, the most amazing things, really, but it's important to have other experiences too, and babies can make that really hard.

I'm so sorry you lost your little one. That makes sense how you feel old and young. You definitely have plenty of time to have more children..and I hope this next time you are able to end your pregnancy story with a little one in your arms for you to raise and tell your stories about. (((hugs)))

These are the ages I was when they were born:
Baby 1 - 24 years
Baby 2 - 28 years
Baby 3 - 30 years
Baby 4 - 32 years
Baby 5 - 33 years (born two weeks ago!)

As for being ready..is one ever truly ready?! With each child, we knew it would change the dynamics and there was always the wondering if we were ready and if we'd be able to handle it. Then the baby arrives whether we were truly ready or not, and so far, we've been able to handle it. But there was always a part of us that wasn't fully convinced we were ready prior to the baby arriving:-) With baby #5 here, I find myself wondering how I'm going to manage two babies (my one just older is 15 months), as well as my other three. Right now I have plenty of help..will I survive once the help is gone! :-) I'm sure I will. I'm sure you'll do great when your baby arrives.

Wow you got a lot of responses but I thought I would still share mine. I am 31 now. I had my first at 21, my second at 25, my third at 29, and am currently pregnant our fourth (due in March). Looking back I see that my husband and I were not ready to have children starting at 21. I was still in school and my husband had an ok job at the time. It took me 8 year to finish my B.A because of having children. When we had our second we were in a better place. There were a few of my friends that starting having children when I did but most waiting till they were around 26, 27 to start. So where now I am on #4 most are on #2. One of my good friends who is 32 is just now having her first. So where it may seem like you waited it was probably for the best and when you look back on it you will see that things worked out for the best. Don't rush these things. Hope everything works out for you and your husband.

I was 30, 33 & 38 when my 3 were born. We were married when I was 24. I'm a couple years older than my husband. I am glad we waited. I could not imagine trying to have a child living in the tiny one bedroom apt we were able to afford before we could finally buy our 2 bedroom townhome (still small but more than double the size of that first apt). We didn't have to clean out the change jar just to get by until the next paycheck. We had time to be a couple. I don't know if I would have been really ready if we'd had a child sooner. We would have made it work of course somehow. I now have a 2 year old and I'm about to turn 41 next month and I love it! It will all happen sooner than you think. There is no rush just because the calendar says you're so many years old. Hang in there!

i had my daughter at 18

Oh you are at the perfect age to have babies! I had mine at 20, 22, and 24..and would have waited longer if I had planned any of them. But my husband is the father of all 3 and we just celebrated our 7th anniversary..so it's okay. I'm so sorry for your loss. I can't imagine :(. My older sister is 30 and still childless, but she plans to have them kind of back to back in a couple of years. Don't stress on age. They will come when they come :).

I was 33 and I would not have been ready before 27 no matter what.
I had my own issues to deal with and I needed to put myself through college.

I didn't even get married until I was 28! I had my first child at 31 and my second at 33. You are NOT behind at all, but if it makes you feel any better, I felt the same way by the time I got married and had kids. Almost all of my close friends had kids by then and I felt like an old maid. But, I'm actually glad I was older because I don't think I was ready to be a Mom at a young age. I had a lot of growing up to do. I wouldn't change a thing! :-)

Wishing you the best. I'm sorry to hear about your miscarriage. I had one before I had my first child also and it was very hard. I miscarried the day before Thanksgiving. We had planned on telling everyone about the pregnancy on Thanksgiving as our "what we were thankful for". Very difficult time, so I feel for you. Hang in there! It will happen in God's timing!

I was 31 by the time DD was born and most of my cousins and my sister were 30-32. Have kids when you are ready to have kids. You have time.

I was 24 and 27 when I had my girls. We were as ready as we could be. Children are surprising no matter what age you have them.

Holy responses!
Obviously, I didn't read them all, but here's my $.02
I didn't get married until I was 28, didn't have my first until I was 31. My husband is 8 years younger than me. I've had two more children since and I'm only 35. Catch up? Maybe, but mostly I just felt like it was time to have our kids when we did. My two best girlfriends got pregnant our senior year in high school. Their kids are in high school now, and my oldest is 4. It is a little weird, but everyone's experiences are different and help them grow in different ways. Don't compare your situation to others you know. That sort of thinking only leads to bitterness in the end.
I don't think age is a huge factor in the ease of pregnancy, either. I had an easier time than friends of mine that are ten years younger.
Don't worry about it. The Lord will give you children when it is the right time for you to have them.

I was 29 with my first and 31 with my second.

My younger sister is 28 now and isn't planning on having kids for at least another year.

You will do great! Good luck!

I had my one and only child when I was 23. I was ready for it and I am not planning on having any m ore.

I was 28, 32, and 36 when having our kids. We were married 4 years first. My husband wanted to have time to enjoy each other before we introduced kids. I would have had them a year earlier, he wishes we had waited another year. We were as ready as we could be. I had friends with kids that were 6 or 7 by that point and other friends that weren't even married yet. You have plenty of time and whenever you have them it will be right for you. If I had to pick the one I was most ready for though, I would probably say the one I just had at 36.

I'm so sorry for your loss. I was 22 with my first. I thought I was ready but I didn't have a clue how much work it was and I didn't have that great of a support system. That made it hard. I was 27 with 2nd, 32 with 3rd and I will be 36 with the 4th. Being older has brought me some wisdom but having kids has also taught me a few things.

I had my kids really young. DD at 21 (I turned 21 three months before she was born) and DS at 22. They are 16 months apart..it was very hard for myself and their dad at the time but now I wouldn't have it any other way. I am the youngest mom by about 10 years in our circle of friends but I am much more mature than people my age. Everyone that I know waited to have kids and they enjoy it just as much as I do!! You should have them when you are ready and be fully prepared for all the changes that come with babies :) they truly are a blessing and I wouldn't change any part of it!!

I was 18, 19, 24 and 26. Still dont feel done at 34, but know that i am :(

I had my daughter (that we lost) 2 weeks before my 33rd birthday. I had my son at 34 and 4 months. You aren't behind but I know how you feel - most of my friends have kids in college when I still have a 3 year old!!!

I just turned 23 when I had my first, 25 when I had my second. Was I ready? I thought so, now that I know what it's like I don't think I could ever really be ready for it. Raising children is a lot harder then I ever imagined, but I love it. Good luck and I'm so sorry for your loss.

I had just turned 23 a month before having my son, and I will be almost 29 when i have my daughter.

I just saw this and I wanted to assure you that you are not behind at all.

I am 37 and we just adopted our first child (newborn) 5 months ago after years of infertility.

I am sorry you miscarried! It is hard.

I got married a month before I turned 24, had one baby at 25, (14 months after we got married), one baby at almost 27, one baby at 29, and the last one when I was 34. (I'm now 54... my baby will be 20 in November!)

Also, hubby is 5 1/2 years older than I....

22, 24, 29, 32, 38 =) I'm still not ready!! ;)

I am sorry for your loss. It's in part your surroundings and your peers that you feel this way. Not one of my friends had children in their 20s and it never occurred to me to think about it - none of us got married until we were in out 30s. Mostly careers/school first. I had my one (and only) when I was 40. Ready, not sure I was ready but I adapted just fine. The only reason I can think of to have had her earlier was so that I'd have time to have another, but I am lucky to have had one precious healthy little one. it will work out for you too. Best of luck!

it's just you darlin..if you had a different sent of friends/coworkers/classmates you might not even notice. and i'm sure your miscarriage doesn't help (so sorry about that). i was 29. and there were four of us in the office all having our first babies..and i was in the middle! 1 was a year or two older, one five years older, one 2 years younger than me. we were all oldies :)

I was 27 with #1, and 30 with #2. I feel I was the perfect age!

First I want to say I am sorry for your loss. I was 26 when I had my first daughter, 31 with my second daughter, and 33 with my youngest daughter. Honestly, I do not feel I was ready to become a mom at 26, but it has worked out well.
Good Luck to you!

yeah alot of people i know are having kids are 18, 19, but they weren't ready for it & it has destroyed their relationships with their partners. i was 25, almost 26, when i had my son. i was ready....more so then i would have been if i were younger.

I was 22 with my first, 30 with my last. All were surprises!

I'm sorry for your loss and hope that you and your husband are blessed with your own bundle(s) of joy in the future. Best wishes to you!

21 and just turned 26. I have to say I'm glad I had my first at 21 and hated how long it took for my second to arrive. Now that I know more about fertility I encourage a lot of women I know to move their child planning forward because one can never be sure and if you start earlier you have better odds if there are problems.
I just turned 37 and we have been ttc since our second was 1 yr old. Sadly nothing has happened and no issues can be found. We just aren't getting pregnant. Go figure.

I was 27 and 11 months when I had my son (so basically 28).

I married for the first time at age 30, had our first at 32 and second at 35. =)

I had my first baby when I was 26 and my second when I was 27. I don't know that anyone is ever completely "ready" ;) but for me personally I felt like it was better for me to wait until I was in my mid twenties. :)

I had my first at 26, my second at 29 and my third at 31. And in my group of friends, MY oldest is THE oldest. They all waited a bit longer to have kids. I have friends (late 30s and early 40s) with kids who are JUST NOW starting pre-k or Kinder. So you're still very young and have plenty of time.

Married at 25, then babies at 26, 27, 28, 31. Yes, planned that way.

25 and 29- I am 29 now and I have several friends without kids or who just had their 1st. I think you have pleeenty of time. I sometimes wish I was a little older when my first came along, but he wasnt planned.

I am 31, had my daughter at 28.

My husband and I married when i was 33. I had the first a month before my 37th birthday and the second at 36.5. My younger brother has 7 grandchildren! His first child was born when he was 18.

My first at 25, my second at 27 and I will be 31 when the third is born.

My *plan* was to start at 23, and be by done by 30. ha!

My first was at 24 and I just had my second 1 month ago at 31.

Hi, L.:

Have you heard of peer pressure?
If you want to explore getting a child
to help you through the anxiety of not
having one, look at the
United Methodist Family Services in your
area to find out what options can be
available for you and your husband.

Good luck.
D.

I was 29 with the first one, and now 32 with the 2nd (due in Feb). You're at a great age to have kids, the potential complications just increase once you hit 35. With 9 yrs to go, you have plenty of time. Best of luck to you and your husband in starting your family this winter!