An awesome survey was conducted by ForbesWoman and TheBump.com to find out what women feel is the ideal age for having children. At 24, I certainly was viewed as being "really young" when I gave birth to my first child. But was I? 59% of the survey respondents who had children after 35 wish they had been younger. Well, four days of wanting a baby is apparently all it took. Nine months later, we welcomed our little boy into this crazy life. A coworker gave me the best advice, "it will be hard in the beginning because you're young." There are many times I need to remind myself of this - that, hey, I'm only 26. Yes, things are a little harder when you have to feed another mouth, diaper a butt, and pay for childcare. It's been 15 months, and we're seeing the light. My career is taking off at just the right time and I already have a baby- so I need not worry about that "interfering."
What are your thoughts on this survey? How does it make you reflect on your own decision to have a baby?
6 comments:
I was 25 when I had my first. I worked after her, I worked (same company, different office and position) after my second at 28, and when I had my third at 30 I left the office and haven't worked out of the home since. I didn't have much of a "career" anyway.
I'm happy with the age I was when I had my first child (27). I graduated college at 21, started my career, went to graduate school at night and earned my Master's Degree at 26. I stopped working when I became a mom, but I don't regret giving up my career at all. Motherhood is much more rewarding! I had my 2nd child at 29 and my 3rd at 33. I'm 34 now and I can't imagine starting a family after 35...energy levels definitely start waning in your mid 30s.
I was 33. I didn't want to wait that long, but life just happened that way. I actually wish I had been younger, because now I want another one...and at 34, I'm already almost too old.
I was 27. Did it affect my career. Uh yes! With a year off for mat leave, for which I am so thankful, you can't help but fall behind! So worth it though!
Well, obviously, I was a young mom. I was 20 when I had my daughter and 22 when I had my son. If you had asked me then, I thought everything would be difficult. That I would never get to where I wanted to be because I had to always put my kids first. Well, fast forward four years later and my career is thriving. I'm the social media manager for a billion-dollar organization and my freelancing is picking up as well. I think it ultimately comes down to your mindset. If you think you can have a successful family and a successful career, then you can. It doesn't matter if you are 23 or 43.
As you read my post, you know my story. :) I found the survey really interesting and this was such a great topic to disucss!
Post a Comment
Go ahead, let it all out...