Age when you had your first child?

dreamofnurse · Dec 10, 2005

21

r_janice · Dec 10, 2005

So you all agree that finishing school before starting a family is the best choice? (This is my own question, paper was a hit!!!)

I started my pre reqs for nursing school when my daughter was 3 weeks old (a week after my 19th birthday). I took a year off after graduating high school and got pregnant, then decided I need to figure out a career for myself FAST! So to make a long story short, I wouldnt be in nursign school if I didnt have my daughter. She put my life into perspective and became my driving force. I will agree that it would be a WHOLE lot easier if I went to school before I had her, but its cool I love my life the way it is!!! :specs:

SharonH, RN · Dec 10, 2005

#1- 22

#2- 29

Emotionally I was in a better place with the second one but physically the pregnancy was harder on me the second time. If I had it to do over I would have waited for the first one.

MarieD · Jan 14, 2006

Here's one for you!

1st age 17

2nd age 18

3rd age 39

All from the same marriage - There are 20 years between my second and third children - the first two were boys and I wanted a girl - lucky for us the third was a girl

sugabuga · Jan 16, 2006

Way to go Marie! An inspiration to us all!

mcmannrn · Jan 16, 2006

#1 at 25 and #2 at 29, worked great for me especially with the last one as I wanted my children grown and on their own while I was still young enough to enjoy my life. At 41 I went to school and changed careers, from Executive Assistant for VP at a large Engineering firm, to an RN. Now that I am 53 (for a few more months) my husband & I travel and enjoy life and I love my nursing career. We particularly enjoy the part of life when we can lock the door & turn off the lights and go to bed at 8:30 pm just because we are tired and want to.:rotfl:

Kwality · Jan 16, 2006

I was 24. Start a family when you are ready.

LandDRN · Mar 13, 2006

1st-23

1st live birth-24

2nd -28

meredesam · Mar 13, 2006

I was 41 (am 43 now) and i would say that the best age is really when you're ready - I'm just glad I was ready before my reproductive window closed!

If I had known how wonderful kids are, AND if my life had been completely different (regarding money, right partner(s), etc.), I would have started at 20 and had one every 5 years!

Since I did a lot of other things in my 20's and 30's - traveled, etc., I don't feel resentful at the sacrifices I am making now to be a parent. When my sister had her babies at 19 and 21, she was very jealous of my freedom and independence, because she never got to taste her own.

LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN · Mar 14, 2006

1st-19

2nd-21

Would recommend waiting untill,have made it through school first.

landonsles · Mar 14, 2006

First at 22.

Second at 29.

There was a definite difference in my parenting at 22 and 29. I don't think it was that I already had a child b/c it was like having a 1st all over again. I think it was that I had more life experience under my belt that made it easier to deal with all the hard aspects of parenting.

(Not knocking those of us who had kids early, just saying that for ME I preferred being older)

christymwinn · Mar 14, 2006

My 1st--25

2nd--28

It worked good for me. I waited on purpose until I KNEW I was ready b/c I knew I had to devote myself. And no, I hadn't finished school either. I had my LPN before both of the kids, but I went back after my 2nd. It was a rough year, but I picked out my schedule around my kids. I am 32 now and I love that I am still feeling "young enough" to lots of things with my kids.

Christine