sarasquares

iTrader: (1)

you can still do that. these days being a bit older shouldn't hold you back. we live longer than we used to, and push bikes and trainers have come on quite a lot in recent years

lozgti

Suppose like Dave says...at least they keep us fairly fit chasing them.Bit fast these liitle uns

davyboy

The problem with waiting until later, is that what happens if "things" aren't working? Say you are 34....Give it another few years trying. 36.

Try IVF.....after 4 trys and £20k later you could be skint and 40, and women are not good at producing eggs at that time.

Food for thought.

sarasquares

iTrader: (1)

its very possible to have kids in your 60's with a bit of help. you can even have an ovary transplant now. i think if parents are willing to take the risk of leaving it till later knowing that the chances of a natural pregnancy are slim then older parents will continue getting older

davyboy

Of course everything is possible.....it's just gets very difficult.

Just spending money on IVF is no garantee it will happen.

sarasquares

iTrader: (1)

surrogacy knows no age limits. thats a bit scary thinking that a generation of kids will grow up without their parents

davyboy

...and there is a reason why womens bodies stop "working" so to speak.

Nature knows best sometimes

....However, science keeps moving on and not all impacts are thought about!

kingofturds

iTrader: (1)

Only 1 for me, maybe more for me depending on the financial situation. The ironic thing is the more kids I have, the better off I would be not working

yoza

I am now 41, my son is 4.

I did all my living from 16 to about 35, then I hybernated for a bit, then I got pished didnt get off at Edge Hill, and Ben arrived.

Anyone who says its easy, its great, I love it, I have no regrets, I wouldnt change it for the world.......lies.

The change in life is hard to come to terms with.

Or maybe its just me.

I would say 30% of it is great, and 70% is a grind.

rob878

Thankyou Yoza, for that single i will buy you a pint. I have this theory my mates have been talking up having kids just so i end up in the same situation they are.

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

I was 25 when the first arrived, had two more by the time I was 29, glad its out of the way as I wouldnt fancy having little ones the older and grumpier I get, plus I am about the youngest dad year on year in the school, cos its a private school they all tend to be successful older blokes with younger wives, whereas I am younger but a comparative underacheiver.

scoobybubbles

I was 15 when i had my 1st!!! (wild child idiot and all that) Gary arrived 4 days before my 16th birthday! I thought i had the mind of a 20 year old at the time, and felt the proudest mother of all in the ward of women that seemed to be in there 30's ........... I would concider myself to have been a good mother then as i think i am now,

I had my last child Lottie when i was 31 and some how felt that , that was how old i should have been when i was holding my 1st baby in my arms! Crazy life!
But hey i have 4 wonderful kids ranging from 3and a half to 18, and i wouldnt change any of it for the world!



Well maybe a holiday to the bahamas!

I dont think there is ever a right or wrong time, its what ever suits at the time!

T x

john banks

We have so far (34 & 35) chosen to have a cat rather than a baby, hopefully will end up the long term situation as well. The cat (if you rescue an adult one) comes home, looks around, knows how to $h17 and eat on day 1, meows, cuddles, plays and sleeps. 99% good, 1% bad.

The popular arguments against not having kids don't ring true with me, no evidence of any difference in happiness once they've left home, but considerable deficit in quality of life whilst they are at home compared with not having kids. Since we have no need for further population in a world of limited resources and since we had no burning need personally, hopefully it won't happen ever.

Meantime, I'm willing to put up with the little terrors destroying my office when they are ill and try to fix them, but I'm so relieved when they leave Most seem to have a window between about 5 and 10 where they are OK. Lucky/well brought up ones are OK beyond 10 as well, whereas others are just demonstrating mens rea.

97TURBO

We had our first while in our mid 20's and considering a 2nd now. I would'nt want kids too late in life, as i want have my mid-life crisis without the baggage of having family to provide for

Luke

What about at 46? too late?

i reccon i am more relaxed and ready to be a Father .My mates who had kids young got all out of shape as they seemed to want to continue clubbing etc and still having too much fun.

97TURBO

Yeah it is hard to cope with at times, i agree, it changes your life. Come the weekend you dont have the freedom of going where you want, when you want kind of thing. You come home from work shattered but instead of lying on the couch with a beer you have to play/entertain for your kid(s).
However in my experience i would say its 80% great against 20% not so great.
Anytime my daughter is smiling or laughing i know its been worth it all the way.

hodgy0_2

started at 30, knocked out 5 in 10 years - just about perfect timing and number, absolutely love it

scooby(puppy power)

im 36 and my eldest is just turning 16 youngest is nearly 13, at the time when we had the eldest and the youngest, i wished that it had happened later but now its great, in a few more years we'll be able to go out without the need for a babysitter etc.

I've got a mate at work whos 44ish and now starting to think about his first, he already got a dodgy hip and knee, so i think he should have started a bit earlier by the time his kid(s) want to got to the park he'll have a zimmer ffs.

Anyway each to there own but im happy we had them earlier now but at the time i would have waited if i'd had the choice (not till my 40's though prob mid to late 20's).

mbc

had mine at 23, 26 and 31, eldest now 10 youngest nearly 2, wished id had them closer together say a year and a bit apart.

i would think its harder having them later on, not sure why but we certainly find the latest one harder juggling work etc.

no matter when you have them its very rewarding eh cant understand those that never want kids, they bring you so much more happiness and joy than any sh1tty career or job can

Jay m A

iTrader: (2)

I'd say its a complete change - different chapter of life no turning back.

Its especialliy hard if not planned for, in fact thinking back even if planned to the nth degree the complete direction change comes as a shock that you cannot predict and you merely have to adapt to.

I still think back to the good old days, it was great then but I'm too old for that, fond memories yes but sod that. Of course we've sacrificed disposable income and quality time but thats the choice you make.

John, regarding the over population of the planet, do you think the world would be a better place 5 generations later if the whole westernised world stopped producing? I agree there are too many humans, but thats a direct result of the planet being overdue an asteroid or a super volcano, plus of course science diluting the gene pool

eggy790

iTrader: (20)

i think younger is better, kid at 20 .. when your 40 there 20..

you go throught he prime of life together! teens these days dont talk to their parents, i kno i didnt, at least you can be more of a friend and 'cool'in a sense if your younger. they'll talk to you \nd come to you a lot more with problems and as you know the teenage years are your make or break years

Mitchy260

It's easy, it's great, i love it, i have no regrets, i wouldn't change it for the world.

I cant believe that you would regret your child and that you would go back and change things as that is basically what your post is suggesting I wont delve any deeper than that, but i suspect that was Karen Matthews outtake on children too

My outlook on having a child...25yrs old, good environment, house, job, wife, cars etc.......90% great, 10% not so. (10% is only because of restriction to freedom, and possibly extra costs and worry)

More to life than going down the pub with your pals and getting leathered, not 18yrs old anymore

I dont understand people that dont want children to be honest, i think they are a tad strange

As to the original question....I would say mid 20's would be perfect time all the way upto mid 30's. Any earlier and your missing out on your younger years, any later, then you are fighting against your biological clock and your kids may end up getting bullied for having grandparents instead of parents

I had a girl in the same class at me in primary school and her parents were in their late 40's, early 50's back when we were 5yrs old. I grew up with her and she always had the **** taken out of her all the way through school for her parents not being as youthful as the other parents. ''Here's your gran and grandad Claire''

We have remained friends throughout, anyway to cut a long story short, fast forward 20yrs, she is now 26, her father died of cancer last year aged 72, and her mother has a terminal condition that is likely to kill her by the end of this year. Claire is 5 mths pregnant and due to be married in the spring. There were plans to move her wedding forward but her mum is bed ridden terminally ill. Her parents decision to 'leave it late' has not only affected their lifes, Claire has suffered with this all through her life as will her children who will grow up without grandparents.

Your 50yr old dad is hardly going to go and have a kick about with you in the park either.

23-35 is the perfect age range i would say.

Mitchy260

2 words,

Old
Alone

sarasquares

iTrader: (1)

no pressies for xmas