At what age did you decide you wanted children? At what age did you have your children?

Question

I'm 23 and don't feel that I will ever want my own children. Don't get me wrong, I love kids! I look forward to my siblings having kids so that I can be the cool aunt who mentors them.

People tell me that my feelings will change over time but so far I have no desire to raise my own children.

Answer 1

I'm not sure if you're expecting right now but even if you are and you feel you won't ever like/want having/raising your own child, don't worry too much. Your feelings will definitely change by the time you see your baby. More so when you see your baby in pain or hear her/him crying - your heart will definitely melt and instincts will tell you what to do...
I knew I was immature when I was carrying my first child, was then 21YO. But everything changed after going through a hard labor and giving birth to him. The joy of delivering him or experiencing him coming out of me naturally is unexplainable. He's now 5YO and I can still remember how good it felt when he came out of me. If I remember it right, I had tears at the same time I heard his first cries...

Answer 2

I "always" knew I wanted kids. I got married late (33) and had a baby right away and she's now 18 and I've never looked back! There's no question that 23 is very young to "decide" whether or not to EVER have kids. Many people don't feel the urge to have a baby until they are in love and want so badly to share the parenting experience with that person. Others (like me) are real baby people and adore babies and just want one. Plenty of people don't particularly like "babies" but, want a child or children and deal with the baby stage as something to go through to get to have children. There's no question that sefishness and parenting do not mix. I led a very self-centered life for many years (all of my 20's) and enjoyed being single and relatively carefree. It was a wonderful way to live! But I knew that I also wanted a family someday. I would say that you should focus on yourself right now and figure out what you want out of your own time and your life. If someday in the future you want to have a child -- you have lots of years ahead of you to do so. No need to grapple with this question so fully right now, as far as I can see.

Answer 3

At age 19. College life seems to be going nowhere, I was more focused on my LOVE life and starting a family with my significant other. At age 20 I had my first child. Now at age 27 I am about to have my second. It's the life I chose and I couldn't be any happier. As a wife and parent.

Answer 4

22 when I started, basically just went off the pill, whatever happened happened. 27-29 two years of fertility treatments. 34 when the doctors told me to give up all hope and suggested a hysterectomy. 36 when I unexpectedly conceived and 37 when she was delivered into this world.

Answer 5

I wanted to be 26 ish. I am not 18 weeks preg and will be 23 lol....so a few years earlier than i expected, but not big deal. Yes, your feelings may change

Answer 6

I knew I always wanted kids and tried when I was 29 turning 30 and had my son when I was 30

Answer 7

Decided really wanted to at 27 and had a baby at 28 (not quite a year later) be careful what you wish for ;)

Answer 8

My sister always knew she DIDN'T want any kids. Now she cant wait to have them with her fiance one day. I think when you find that perfect person, you might change your mind. But you might not. Don't worry over it, just enjoy each day.
I knew i was born to be a mother, had my daughter at 23.

Answer 9

i wanted to have children at 30 and had one at 31

Answer 10

that's completely fine if you don't want kids, being a parent is certainly not for everyone. i've always known since childhood that i wanted to have kids, and my first was born when i was 21 years old.