The good, the bad and the ugly about having kids in your 20s/early 30s/mid-late 30s and 40s

[Anonymous]

Mid 30's - perfect time. Not relying on grandparents, as they are useless (lazy frankly). If you are basically a responsible and self sufficient individual, you will do fine at any age. Money is a factor, as children are expensive (at any age!).

[Anonymous]

Mid-20s. No regrets as we were physically, financially and mentally prepared. As much as one can be without having a clue what parenthood is actually like!

[Anonymous]

I just had twins at 54. It's all good. Our careers are fine, we have help (au pair). Our families are useless, and would have been at any age. Really, no downside.

[Anonymous]

I don't know -- mid-thirties here, and definitely the financial stability is a huge plus. I would totally not have been ready to have children in my 20's on many levels...wasn't even thinking about it then. I was pretty surprised about how fast my body bounced back. I'm really in better shape than ever.

[Anonymous]

Started at 28 & 29 and that was the perfect time for us. Both had graduate degrees and several years on the job. We love to travel and got to do plenty of it. We started trying during a trip to South Asia - it was the last big trip I wanted to have done before we had a baby. We were financially comfortable and had bought a townhouse in a great school district. No regrets here!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just had twins at 54. It's all good. Our careers are fine, we have help (au pair). Our families are useless, and would have been at any age. Really, no downside.

Congrats! That's great! I had my first at 41 and my second (surprise) at 42 / almost 43;

I'm different in that I wasted my twenties married to a dork ass and finally divorced him at 30 then spent five years finding myself / dating; married again right at 36 and only started thinking about kids at 39

Yes, I'm tired, but I am much more patient and have more financial stability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just had twins at 54. It's all good. Our careers are fine, we have help (au pair). Our families are useless, and would have been at any age. Really, no downside.

Wow! I want to hear more about you!

[Anonymous]

I think the bouncing back after babies is down to genes and habits more than age. I had mine in early and mid 30s, and each time, was down to less than I weighed prebaby because of breast-feeding by 3 months. I've always been a healthy eater and lover of exercise so didn't struggle with that. I don't think it would have been much different if I had waited until early 40s.

[Anonymous]

I had my first child when I was 27. I always wanted to have a first kid before I turned 30. I wanted to be done breeding by 35. I have succeeded so far. I am 39, have three children and don't plan to have anymore. I will be in my 40s when my kids are finishing HS and moving to colleges. I never wanted to spend my 40s running around looking for preschools and my 50s and 60s filling out college applications. I am already tired when all of them go to bed

[Anonymous]

breeding?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the bouncing back after babies is down to genes and habits more than age. I had mine in early and mid 30s, and each time, was down to less than I weighed prebaby because of breast-feeding by 3 months. I've always been a healthy eater and lover of exercise so didn't struggle with that. I don't think it would have been much different if I had waited until early 40s.

Yes and no. I had my children at 38 and 44. Body bounced right back at 38, but it's been much harder this time. Even before I got pregnant, I was suddenly starting to feel myself aging. The skin is just not as elastic at 44, either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had my kids when I was 24 and 26 (twins at 26). Obviously this is extremely rare around here, and when I had my children we did not live here, we lived in an area where we were much more the norm. The biggest con at the time was lack of money. My husband was still a medical resident, and I was a nurse, trying to squeeze in night shifts during the few hours my husband actually was home. We got by, but the year we had 3 under 2 was sooooo tight financially and emotionally! However, it was a short term problem and we knew that going in. The biggest pro was the energy we both had. Sleeping 4 to 5 hours a night was plenty, I truly never felt exhausted. (now at 40 I get exhausted if I don't have at least 7 hours of sleep!) I also like that my mid forties and beyond are going to be filled with lots of couple time and traveling. I did go through a period in my mid 30s where I was afraid of an empty nest so young and thought about having another, it never happened but sometimes I wish it did, not too often though.

OP here. I LOLed re:teen mom. I've had people call me a young mom and I think you've got to be kidding-only here. Just want you to know I secretly admire the 20 something moms as much as I do the 40 somethings. I admire you for the bods that snap back, but also for being so laid back and having it all together. If I ever made a 20 something mom feel like a teen it's all jealousy I assure you . Now please give me some of your energy!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just had twins at 54. It's all good. Our careers are fine, we have help (au pair). Our families are useless, and would have been at any age. Really, no downside.

CONGRATS!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just had twins at 54. It's all good. Our careers are fine, we have help (au pair). Our families are useless, and would have been at any age. Really, no downside.

CONGRATS!!!!

To be clear that's a you go girl congrats not a sarcastic congrats. Now as I said to the 20 something mom please give me some energy because you all have more than I do!

[Anonymous]

Mid thirties. If I had done it earlier, it would have been with a different man, and he wasn't the right one.