In your opinion, is 26 "young" to have a first baby?

[Anonymous]

We started trying at 26. I had been a lawyer for 2 years at that point at the same firm. So glad we did try then, because we had fertility issues. Low fertility. Imagine that at 26! I had my daughter at 28. And of course, my firm thinks I was a baby having a baby. And once the midwife scolded me for drinking flat Coke (per the ER nurse's suggestion for my hyperemesis,) and she thought I was a teen mom! I also
Look young. But, not a big deal. I love being a "young" mom! What's really funny is that I'm from Atlanta, so all my friends are done having kids by 28. They're also lawyers, pharmacists, having babies in med school/residency etc... so, you can totally have your career in order well before your thirties if you plan it right. No financial help from my parents either before anyone assumes that.

[Anonymous]

I think it depends on the person. When I was 26, I was too young. I had just graduated from grad school and started my first real job. I had already met my husband, whom I married at 27, but we were still trying to figure out how to juggle owning a dog, let alone raising kids. We didn't start trying until I was 34 and didn't conceive until 37.

[Anonymous]

Yes. Very. But who cares? I don't think it's a criticism when people say it. Just a reaction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We started trying at 26. I had been a lawyer for 2 years at that point at the same firm. So glad we did try then, because we had fertility issues. Low fertility. Imagine that at 26! I had my daughter at 28. And of course, my firm thinks I was a baby having a baby. And once the midwife scolded me for drinking flat Coke (per the ER nurse's suggestion for my hyperemesis,) and she thought I was a teen mom! I also
Look young. But, not a big deal. I love being a "young" mom! What's really funny is that I'm from Atlanta, so all my friends are done having kids by 28. They're also lawyers, pharmacists, having babies in med school/residency etc... so, you can totally have your career in order well before your thirties if you plan it right. No financial help from my parents either before anyone assumes that.

Atlanta is a less educated city and women have babies at a younger age. Your friends may be educated but they were simply going with the status quo of having babies in their 20s.

[Anonymous]

It's young but who cares. I am 26 as well with a 6 month old. People mistake me for the nanny all the time. I'm not sure if it's because I look young for my age or my baby is mixed race. It doesn't really bother me. Congrats!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We started trying at 26. I had been a lawyer for 2 years at that point at the same firm. So glad we did try then, because we had fertility issues. Low fertility. Imagine that at 26! I had my daughter at 28. And of course, my firm thinks I was a baby having a baby. And once the midwife scolded me for drinking flat Coke (per the ER nurse's suggestion for my hyperemesis,) and she thought I was a teen mom! I also
Look young. But, not a big deal. I love being a "young" mom! What's really funny is that I'm from Atlanta, so all my friends are done having kids by 28. They're also lawyers, pharmacists, having babies in med school/residency etc... so, you can totally have your career in order well before your thirties if you plan it right. No financial help from my parents either before anyone assumes that.

Atlanta is a less educated city and women have babies at a younger age. Your friends may be educated but they were simply going with the status quo of having babies in their 20s.

Done by 28?! Yeah right. I live in Atlanta as well. Most women start having children at 26-28!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We started trying at 26. I had been a lawyer for 2 years at that point at the same firm. So glad we did try then, because we had fertility issues. Low fertility. Imagine that at 26! I had my daughter at 28. And of course, my firm thinks I was a baby having a baby. And once the midwife scolded me for drinking flat Coke (per the ER nurse's suggestion for my hyperemesis,) and she thought I was a teen mom! I also
Look young. But, not a big deal. I love being a "young" mom! What's really funny is that I'm from Atlanta, so all my friends are done having kids by 28. They're also lawyers, pharmacists, having babies in med school/residency etc... so, you can totally have your career in order well before your thirties if you plan it right. No financial help from my parents either before anyone assumes that.

So they had babies while in law school or pharmacy school or during their first real job? That sounds dumb.

[Anonymous]

News flash. You should be thinking of winding it up by 30, not just starting to think about it. It is this extended adolescence thing thats fueling this. No, you don't have to travel around the world, buy the huge house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:News flash. You should be thinking of winding it up by 30, not just starting to think about it. It is this extended adolescence thing thats fueling this. No, you don't have to travel around the world, buy the huge house.

Wrong. Smart women make sure they are set in their career and are on track for retirement and home ownership before having kids who are extremely expensive.

[Anonymous]

Had my first one at 25, second at 28. Watching my peers struggle with kids in college at the same time they would like to retire.
The secret is to do this while you are young and broke so you won't be later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:News flash. You should be thinking of winding it up by 30, not just starting to think about it. It is this extended adolescence thing thats fueling this. No, you don't have to travel around the world, buy the huge house.

Wrong. Smart women make sure they are set in their career and are on track for retirement and home ownership before having kids who are extremely expensive.

Really wrong. It's the house thing that's killing this generation. You want it all right away. And...retirement? That is a joke when you are 59 to 62 and you have kids in college. No retirement happening until late 60s ....if you are lucky.
Please don't tell me about how expensive kids are....we all did it.

[Anonymous]

What's expensive? Fertility treatments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:News flash. You should be thinking of winding it up by 30, not just starting to think about it. It is this extended adolescence thing thats fueling this. No, you don't have to travel around the world, buy the huge house.

Wrong. Smart women make sure they are set in their career and are on track for retirement and home ownership before having kids who are extremely expensive.

Really wrong. It's the house thing that's killing this generation. You want it all right away. And...retirement? That is a joke when you are 59 to 62 and you have kids in college. No retirement happening until late 60s ....if you are lucky.
Please don't tell me about how expensive kids are....we all did it.

I was 25 when I had my first son. I was three years out of grad school, we both had good jobs with career tracks, and owned our home. We lived below our means and have saved well for retirement and for college for our three sons. It can be done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:News flash. You should be thinking of winding it up by 30, not just starting to think about it. It is this extended adolescence thing thats fueling this. No, you don't have to travel around the world, buy the huge house.

Wrong. Smart women make sure they are set in their career and are on track for retirement and home ownership before having kids who are extremely expensive.

Smart women do it right so they have their stuff together before their 30s .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:News flash. You should be thinking of winding it up by 30, not just starting to think about it. It is this extended adolescence thing thats fueling this. No, you don't have to travel around the world, buy the huge house.

Wrong. Smart women make sure they are set in their career and are on track for retirement and home ownership before having kids who are extremely expensive.

Really wrong. It's the house thing that's killing this generation. You want it all right away. And...retirement? That is a joke when you are 59 to 62 and you have kids in college. No retirement happening until late 60s ....if you are lucky.
Please don't tell me about how expensive kids are....we all did it.

That doesn't make any sense. I didn't want it all right away, which is why I waited to have kids! I wanted to continue to focus on my career and saving money.

I save around 50k a year towards retirement and will have my house paid off in my 40s. Did I mention I'll have a pension? Oh and I set aside 1k a month towards college.