Interesting Study on Parental Happiness....

meredithcarole

I thought this was interesting:

"The study, conducted by researchers with the London School of Economics and the University of Western Ontario, relied on data from longitudinal surveys conducted in Germany and the United Kingdom that measured parents' life satisfaction after having a child. (It did not examine cases of adoption, miscarriage or stillbirth.)

The research was published in the October issue of the journal Demography.

Parents who obtained higher levels of education, and who had children when they were age 35 or older, experienced the strongest gains in happiness around the birth of a child. Some of these parents continued to enjoy elevated happiness levels -- relative to before they had children -- for up to 18 years.

Younger, less educated parents, however, did not fare as well.

People who became mothers and fathers between the ages of 23 and 34 experienced increased happiness around the birth of a first or second child, but by one or two years later, their happiness had dipped back to baseline levels or below. People who became parents in their teens generally experienced overall declines in happiness."

Radiantly

Wow that is interesting! I've often thought it would be cool to be a young parent and be finding independence now at 37 but every time I hear myself say that I realize that I'd rather have had my youth and be a wise parent. Wise and not take out frustrations on my kid(s) and be able to give them love. Plus be further in my career if I take a break.

CML11

I was so not ready for a child in my twenties. I was focused on school, my friends and traveling. In some ways I'm so happy that I lived and did all the things I wanted to then.
The only thing I would change is I wish I would've met DH like 5+ years ago so we could have those years together just us.
But I like that we have our careers set and are financially stable. That's always been really important. Now we are ready for babies!

Nikolie93

I have always thought this was the case, thanks for sharing!

lcwed

That is an interesting article. I think I would have liked having kids earlier. Mainly because I could have had more. I would have loved to have 3 or 4. Now I'm hoping we can make it to two and am so thankful for the one we have. Of course to have kids earlier, I would have had to meet my husband earlier for that to happen. There is no one else I would want to have as the father of my kids. I feel the same as @CML11‌ I wish I had more years with DH.

Nikolie93

I also wish I had found my husband earlier so we could have started trying before I was 37. I don't think I would have wanted a child before 30 though.

MySallyGirl

I didn't marry until I was 30 and DH 34.  I would have liked to have married younger just to have more energy for kids.  Also, like others said, maybe I would have had more kids as well.  Both DH and I think having 4 kids would've been awesome, but not now that I'm 35 and he's almost 39. 

Davie813

Hmmm.  I think the study makes sense.  I really wasn't (emotionally, financially, lifestyle-wise) ready to be a parent until I was ~35.  Not that it particularly mattered, as I didn't meet anyone I was interested in reproducing with until I was 37.  I think there are big advantages to having kids at a more seasoned age.

Then again, I wouldn't advise waiting quite as long as I did.  I never wanted a big family, but the trouble I'm having TTC #2 is not something I'd wish on anyone.  I sometimes wish I'd met DH in my early 30s, but who knows--maybe we wouldn't have liked each other then...

jbwed1

I look back now and laugh at what I once thought was the 'ideal' age to have children. What a mess of a parent I would have been at that age. I think some people thrive having children earlier, with tons of energy and spark. I feel like I have that same energy now, but with the ability to conserve it when I need to and a greater understanding of relationships and priorities. My husband and I have had a TON of time to ourselves, which has been wonderful...and we feel established as a grounded team now.

boymamaco

Love this article ! thanks for posting!