How old where you when you thought you would start your family? And how old were you actually?

phelpsam · May 2011

I always pictured in my mind going to college getting out, marrying some hot cowboy! LOL And having a few kids before I was 30. Well I'm 31 and my first LO is on the way. I'm not married to a hot cowboy either. Actually even though I refer to him as my DH I'm not married at all!! Life didn't turn out exactly how I though, but I'm very happy!!

ColoradoAlly · May 2011

Good question! I always thought I'd get married at 25 and have my first baby at 27. I did get married at 25 (which I think of as so young now!), but I'll be 30 when the LO comes.

HappyHealthyGlo · May 2011

I kind of though along the same lines as you. College, Marriage, Baby by 24. And that has ultimately been the result but since most of my friends are still childless it does feel a little weird to be the only married mother at "girls night". Heck, I'm the only married girl at "girls night"!

jnealet · May 2011

I never had a true timeframe but I also never was 100% certain that I would get married and have kids. When I was about 26, I promised my mom I would get married within 10 years, which I did and throwing in 2 kids since in that 10 year timeframe is just a bonus.

kristalovesjared · May 2011

When I was a little kid, I thought I'd get married at 22, have kids at 23. People in their 20's seemed so old!

In college, I thought I'd probably get married at 28, kids at 30... I had never had a serious bf at this point.

Met DH last quarter in college, got married at 24, had DD 1 at 26 and I'll be 28 when this LO is born.

RedCamaro · May 2011

I really didn't have much time to think about the marriage part. I married my prom date (we were engaged by that time....not a shotgun wedding). I got married when I was 18, turned 19 the month after, and DH was 21. Everyone said we were too young to get married and that it wouldn't last. It will be 9 years next month, and while we've had some bumps, I can't picutre life without DH. As for kids....there was no time limit since we were so young. However, we got pregnant while TTA and I had DD when I was 23. Yes, we were young, but not stupid. Think in the long run I would have liked to have my kids closer together in age, but I can't change that now!

Nikkoli110 · May 2011

I always thought I'd be 22 when I got married, and 24 when I had my first. I didn't get married until I was 24, and now I'm 27 and will still be when we have our 1st.

ericaley98 · May 2011

I guess I never really thought about a specific time line, I just assumed I'd get married and start having kids in my 20's. Got married just shy of 27 and just turned 29 last week. My mom had me when she was 27 so I probabally though I'd get married around 25 and start having kidns at 27 so I'm a little "behind" but not much! I think its hysterical when speaking to some older ppl who can't believe I waited "so long" to have kids, like I'm an old lady.

kellyjg123 · May 2011

I pretty much started when I figured I would (late 20s- 28). Honestly though I wish I had started sooner. DH and I were married for 4 years when we had our DS and we shouldn't have waited that long.

I feel old now after 3 years of sleep deprivation (my son had lots of health issues which led to very big sleep issues)! When the twins are born I will be 32 and I am glad our family will be complete b/c I can't envision dealing with sleepless nights (with newborns) for many more years!

allieatlanta · May 2011

I never thought I'd get married and have kids, or never really wanted to at least...both things kind of happened by accident. I'm 25 and doing both in one year!

emilyj77 · May 2011

When I was in high school and then college I figured I'd go to college and marry my high school sweet heart and we'd have kids pretty soon after that. But thankfully we broke up while I was still in college.

After college I figured I'd just meet someone and still have kids in my 20's. By my 30th birthday I was still single, but shortly after I met DH we got married and waited 1 year to start TTC because I believe that time together is so important to our relationship. I'll be 34 when LO is born.

katie0919 · May 2011

I thought for sure I would be married soon after college, with a kid on the way by 25...no later than 27. Turned out, when I had the opportunity to marry my wonderful college boyfriend, I panicked. He was great, but I just felt too young. I had a ton of fun, dated around, had my heart broken, and got everything out of my system before laying my eyes on my DH when I was 25. I met him at work and thought he was the best looking man I had ever seen. We began dating when I was 27, married when I was 30, and I will be 32 when lo is born.

Things always seem to happen for a reason!

Kit15 · May 2011

I guess when I was little I figured I'd do things the same way my mom did and be married at 23 and have my first at 25.

Things happen though. Between PCOS and the dating period I had with my husband with no signs of engagement (I was really caught off guard when he finally proposed), things were always fluctuating. I actually got married about a year earlier than I predicted (age 24) and we've having our first about a year earlier than we originally planned (age 27).

lkf041 · May 2011

My timeline was college (22), get married (24), have a baby (26).

I did finish college at 22 but got married at 25 and had my first baby at 26. I had my second at 28 and will be 29 when this LO comes. I always wanted to be done having kids by 30 but not sure this is our last so who knows.

vanessa11411 · May 2011

When I was 14 I always told my self I didn't want ot get married and I didn't want any kids.

I got KU when I was 19 to a guy I didn't really know. I was young and dumb. I thought after some time that I wanted to marry him. Thank god that didn't happen because I'd be divorced. Im now 26 and just got married in January and expecting baby #2. It's been crazy and my life didn't turn out like how I expected it to. I ended up marrying the love of my life who I've known since I was 16 and had a big ol crush on. Looking back though, It made me who I am and I am incredibly thankful for my life. I will not be having any more kids after I hit 30. I plan on getting a tummy tuck.

boobearmama · May 2011

Same as you. When I was younger, I always wanted to be done having kids by 30. I'm 32, will be 33 when LO comes.

I call my partner, DH too, just to make things easier on the boards. We will prob get married at some point, but right now nesting and growing a healthy baby are the priority. I never had any idea who I would end up with, I dated all across the board. My guy is "the boy next door"... a friend from growing up that I got re-acquainted with a few years ago. We dated in 8th grade for a few weeks. Cute story.

tnleigh · May 2011

I never planned on getting married or having children. I was happily single well into my thirties until I met the man who would be my DH. After two years of dating we got married on our third year anniversary. Now a year and a half later we are expecting our first baby. I'm 37, DH is 39! Neither of us has ever been married before or have any other children.

HokieLaw · May 2011

I honestly never had a plan for having kids. I thought I might someday, but I never planned on when.

My LOs will be born when I am 32. I got married at 28.

jjswife08 · May 2011

I always thought I'd get married and have babies by the time I was 25 - well I didn't meet DH until I was 26 and here I am at 32 about to have my first LO. So, not quite as I planned but much better!

zebrastripes · May 2011

Me and my hubby had big plans of going to college, graduating, moving to the big city, making big bucks, and then starting our family. Instead, I dropped out of college with 80 something credits when I was preggy with my daughter. My husband still has not attended college yet. He is planning to go next year when he is out of the National Guard. We live in a small town with a population of about 20,000 people(maybe 25,000).I am a stay at home mom and my hubby makes decent money with no degree but we definitely are not rolling in the dough lol. And here we are with a 3 year old daughter (will be 4 when the baby comes) and pregnant with our 2nd child. Crazy how life has a diff plan in mind than you had planned. But I would not have it any other way.

Lindsaylovesdogs · May 2011

I was always set on having my first kid at 28. I turn 29 today, so I'm happy I'm pregnant or I would have been disappointed...it took us a long time to get pregnant.

rachaelski · May 2011

I never had any specific timelines, I wanted to have a kid before 30, for practical and fertility reasons. I am 29, and will turn 30 when my LO is 4 months old.

If my mom had her way, I would have been married with babies right out of HS...midwest mentality. Though she's happy now that I am a successful professional and will now be a momma!

Liz1485 · May 2011

I didn't want to get married or have kids at all, then I got married at 19. I still didn't want to have kids but DH always said he wanted to start when he was around 26. He will be 27 in July so we got his goal. If I wanted to have kids I always said I wanted to have them in my 20s so my kids wouldn't be the ones with old parents. I had a friend in high school who's parents were in their 50's. However, I would like to be done having kids before I'm 35 at the very latest. I was an only child so I want to at least have 2. I hope we get the 1 boy and 1 girl before I turn 30. Also having kids while DH is still in the army is nice and he can retire in his 30's.

hmstrait · May 2011

RedCamaro:
I got married when I was 18, turned 19 the month after, and DH was 21. Everyone said we were too young to get married and that it wouldn't last.while we've had some bumps, I can't picutre life without DH.

YAY, I didnt want to sound crazy but I got married at 18 (my husband and I knew we wanted to since we were freshmen in highschool). Everyone told me it was a huge mistake when I got married (I was a year ahead in school so I got married after my freshman year in college). We could never be happier, I wouldnt ask for anything else.We planned to have kids at 27 because I wanted to finish school, be stable, and we wanted to travel and all the good stuff that comes with being married and getting to know your SO. God had other things in mind. Im 19, I will be 20 when the baby comes. When I found out I was pregnant I was a tad bitter because I wasnt ready and I wanted to finish my goals but now that I look at it, it happened in God's time. My husband has a very successful business at 20 years old and I dont have to work but I want to (to keep myself busy). I still have the opportunity to do all the things I want and I have a wonderful family that believes in us. Im getting more and more ready every day. I have always been a little bit ahead and was the smart kid in class so I sometimes hear negative things from school friends about getting married and having a baby so young but nothings wrong with it if we can afford it and we are stable and prepared to be parents. We are, my husband and I are so excited.

Ready4life · May 2011

Somewhere in my 20's. I just wanted to be finished having kids by age 30. I'm 27 now and on # 2. I think this will be my last one, so it went as planned. Now if only I can convince DH that 2 is enough...

sea3668rn · May 2011

I always assumed I would be married in my early 20s to my HS sweetheart ( we were together about 7 years) but we broke up shortly before I graduated college. Thank goodness, because in hindsight that marriage would have never worked, but of course I didn't realize that at the time. I focused on my career and dated for quite a few years before meeting my DH at age 29. We were married at 32, had our daughter at 33, and I will be 35 when this LO is born. It couldn't have worked out better for me, I know I am a much better parent at this age than I would have been in my early-mid 20s. Not judging anyone- just speaking for myself. Back then I would have been a nervous, stressed mess while trying to deal with a newborn, but at my "old age" I've been able to enjoy the ride. I do wish I had the energy I had back then though!

emandbry522 · May 2011

I always wanted my first baby by 26..I'm only 2 years off Wink

CheriCO · May 2011

If you had asked me when I was 16, I probably would have said I was going to go to college, marry my HS sweetheart & start having babies right away, so around 22 or 23. After I broke up with that guy my senior year, I never really thought much about marriage or kids until I met DH 9 years later, even though I had a couple very serious relationships in between. DH and I got married when I was 31 & had DS when I was 33. I'll be nearly 37 when this LO is born.

jseaton61 · May 2011

in a perfect world, i thought i would be married and have at least 1 baby by the time i was 25. so far, that daydream has turned into a reality. i got married at 22 and will be 24 when this LO is born. i'd like to wait until LO #1 is 2 before we start trying for LO #2.. i want them to be about 3 years apart. (in a perfect world haha)

AggieKim04 · May 2011

I always dreamed I'd have babies shortly after my first degree at about 24. But, not only was I so not ready, I didn't get married until I was 27. I'll be 30 when LO gets here...buy just barely!

mbgreenwalt · May 2011

I wanted kids in my early 20s, but DH and I kept putting off getting married. We finally got married after 9 years when I was 25. I got pg a year later at 26, had DD at 27 and I will be 29 when this one comes. I am glad to be done by the time I am 30.

KBBH · May 2011

jjswife08:
I always thought I'd get married and have babies by the time I was 25 - well I didn't meet DH until I was 26 and here I am at 32 about to have my first LO. So, not quite as I planned but much better!

This is pretty much exactly what I would have written. I was CONVINCED I would meet my DH in college, we would marry shortly thereafter, and have our first baby by like 25. Be done no LATER than 30. Well, I basically met DH in 2006 - 5 years after college. I turned 29 that year. We were married in 2008 - I turned 31 that year. And now, I'm 34 and expecting first LO.

spacey281 · May 2011

When I was younger, I always thought my career would be the most important thing in my life and if I got married, I always thought I'd get married by 28. If I had a child, I always thought I'd have one by 30. I was married when I was 28 and I'm currently 30 and will still be 30 when this baby is born. Definitely not intentional because marriage and babies weren't high on my priority list. My life just kind of turned out that way, and it works for me.

Cocoabelle · May 2011

When I was a kid, I always thought 25 would be the perfect age to get married. In my early 20s, I thought 25 was too early--but I ended up meeting the right guy, and getting married at 25.

I always thought I'd have a kid before 30, and I'm 28 now. I'll just have turned 29 when our little one comes, so I guess my "timeline" worked out for me!

HisWifey82 · May 2011

25... I will be 29 when this LO is born.

LadyMadrid08 · May 2011

Growing up I had a rough idea of what I wanted -- meet DH, finish college (22), start having babies around 23 or 24. My reality happened a little earlier than that. I met DH when I was 18, we married when I was 20 and now after a little more than a year of marriage we are expecting our first LO and I will be graduating from college in a month -- a year earlier than planned. Things are a little faster for DH too. He was 25 when we met, 26 when we got married, and he's 27 now...I'm sure he never thought he'd be having children before 30 (it's unheard of in Spain) but here we are and he's thrilled!

Everything is falling perfectly into place. I am finished with school and will be able to be a sahm for a while then start my career which is pretty much what I had always wanted to do.

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