Please help - Baby or career now?

[countrybumpkin2]

I'm sorry if this is posted in the wrong place. Not been on this much yet.
I am not far away from being 25 and I will be married a year in November. My and dh have always said we would start ttc after our anniversary.
He now thinks I only want to get pregnant so I don't have to worry about my work situation.
Basically I graduated in 2009 with a Master is maths and physics. Due to where I live and there not being many jobs I have a full time job which has very little to do with my degree and I am probably overly qualified. I was fine with this until I started to have problems at my job with work colleagues etc and now my work is really starting to get me down.
My DH has picked up on this and sees me me wanting to have kids as avoidance on my part. No my Mum has picked up on how I am feeling and is pushing me to retrain as a teacher, something I have always thought about doing. She doesn't know I want kids soon.
I have always wanted to be a mum young, that is how my Mum did it and she got on very well. Until now DH agreed.
My question is, do I forget the babies thing now and go and do my teacher training like everyone wants and come back to the kids thing when I am 35 or so, or try for kids now and worry about a career later like I have always intended to do!
Argh! I just hate disapointing people....

[headfairy]

I can't possibly tell you when to have babies, but I can tell you you absolutely mustn't do anything as important as plan your family to avoid disappointing people. It must be what is right for YOU and no one else. No one else is living your life.

[headfairy]

Sorry, that post wasn't terribly well written. Having children has to be something you and your dh both want to do. Presumably you've been together for a while and you've discussed families before, so he knows of your desire to have your family while you're young? If that's the case then why does he think you're just talking about babies to avoid an unpleasant working environment?

[7to25]

Why 35?
AFAIK huge shortage of maths teachers so a year to apply, a year to di the PGCE another year as a probationary teacher and then TTC

[countrybumpkin2]

Thank you for your quick replies.

Headfairy thank you, you are right I have to do what I have always felt is right for me. Me and dh have been together for 5 years and have always talked about marriage and having a family. Both our parents started having their families young and we have always said thats the way we would want to do it as we have both can see how well that has worked (i'm not saying having babies later in life is wrong its just not what we have thought we would do). I think he has just changed his mine as the work thing is really getting to me and causing a little friction between us as I am constantly grumpy!

2to25 Sorry I meant to say 30 and he would be 35. You are right a year to apply, a year to do the course, a year of probabtion and then I think I would want to teach for at least two years after that before ttc just to get a few years under my belt before I left to have a family.

I know 30 is probably still young but I just have an overwhelming feeling that I want to start a family now.

I just can't help feeling that I am wrong if those closest to me are telling me that I am...

[Karbea]

I'm sure people will disagree with me, but I'm 38 (very nearly 39), failed ivf no chance of getting pregnant, thinking about adoption. If I were 25 again and was married in a loving relationship I would start my family now if I had my time again, if you want a family don't put it off.

I wasn't in the right sort of relationship and thought I had all the time in the world, the reality is you don't. If you really want a family go for it.

[SleepyFergus]

I agree with Karbea. I was 29 when I met my DH, married at 33 and then went through 3.5 painful years of ttc, when I finally got pregnant with Dd1. I was 37 when she was born. I've just had dd2 at 40 and that's my family complete now. But I would have loved to have done it all a bit younger! (although obv meetings DH late on somewhat decidedly fate to a certain extent!)

I'm not saying have a baby now, but be aware that you may have problems to older you are when ttc.

[SleepyFergus]

Meant to add that we needed fertility treatment to conceive dd1. Dd2 thankfully was much easier!

[StuckInTheFensAwayFromHome]

Please keep talking to him... If you choose career over baby trying then you may be disappointed if in the future you don't concieve easily
We are TTC in late 30's and its difficult that its not happening straightaway.
There's an element of 'judging' as well that I have to deal with when people assume I chose career over baby - almost like an 'it serves you right' attitude you get.
I accept it as life - but it doesn't make it nice!

[headfairy]

I had my children late, partly because I didn't meet dh until I was 32. Married at 35. First baby at 37, second at 39. I wouldn't change a thing to be honest, I really enjoyed my 20s, travelled loads, had lots of fun with no responsibilities. I was ready to settle down and do the nightfeeds and no sleep thing to be honest. But that's not to say it's right for everyone. I have many friends who've done it in a similar way but regret not having their families earlier.

I must say that my career has stalled somewhat since having children, only just getting it back a bit now dd is 2 and I can focus a bit more during my work days. I think if I'd had children earlier in my career I would have missed lots of the opportunities I have had. But then that could be the industry I'm in. It's complicated.

[IShallPracticeMyCurtsey]

Can I ask you a bit more about the problems with your colleagues. Apart from your original wish to start a family young, do you think there's any truth in what your Dh is saying, that you're avoiding the work issue? Is this something you need to address, do you think, outside of the family question? Sorry if that sounds out of line.

[OneLittleToddlingTerror]

You really don't need to have two years under your belt before TTC. Not everything is so black and white. Maths teachers are very sought after. You can work part time after children to keep your experience. If you do quit its no so easy to start again even if your have 2 year experience as a teacher.

[OneLittleToddlingTerror]

Or you can keep your current job, have children, and retrain after they are school age. I think your DH worry is you will pull a SAHM forever on him. It's a very hard burden to be the sole earner for the entire family. I think what I'm saying is talk to him. Be honest, tell him your plans for your career. Or even ask him if he's worried about being the sole breadwinner.

[Bilbobagginstummy]

Babies aside for a moment, what do you want to do as a career?

Going into teaching isn't something to be taken lightly or done because your mum wants you to. I have a physics degree and HATED my PGCE; I went into an accountancy-related field and it's much more interesting and varied.

Teaching is full-on hard work with nightmare hours and levels of stress in term-time. My sister is a teacher and really likes it - I think you've got to really like the people side of it - so it certainly suits some people.

But I do think that on the career side your husband might have a point. Now if you're definite about quitting your job and bringing up babies on one salary then that's not really a problem as your job is a short-term thing, but if you're planning to run working alongside child-rearing, you really need to tackle the job/career issue now because it will not get any easier as the demands on your time from family increase.

Good luck with your decision.

[Bilbobagginstummy]

And by the way, my mum had job she hated at 24, gave it up with relief to have me at 26, didn't work then until she was 36, then took up teaching and was head of a school 12 years later. So don't think you're definitely choosing to stay at home for ever.

But do keep talking to your husband - it's got to be a joint thing(anyway but particularly in terms of financial planning if you are planning on him being the only wage-earner.

[NapaCab]

Your DH is right that trying to have a baby to avoid a job you hate is a really bad idea. I stayed in a job I hated much longer than I should have because I was in it for the maternity leave, basically. In the end it took me over 2 years to get healthily pregnant past 12 weeks and it was a miserable time.

So I would say, go and do what you want to do and fit children in as they come along. Don't start out with some 5 year plan or 2 year plan, saying I will have kids after this date or before that date. Just progress with your life as normal and don't build everything up around having children.

[HaveALittleFaith]

As someone who was partly TTC, well hoping to get pregnant! to get away from a job that I hated, I have a slightly different view point. We started TTC when I was 27. I ended up changing roles but within my company. It took us 2 years 8 months to conceive. Not because of age because of previously unrecognised health problems. I'm glad we started TTC when we did seeing as how it took so long. However, I'm glad I changed roles because it was something to get my teeth into whilst the fertility problems were in the background.

I agree it's not going to be 10 years til you can TTC if you do decided to train as a teacher. It'd be maybe 3 years and you'd be 28. that's not exactly ancient or reaching past the fertile time.

So my question would be: do you really want a baby now? Or do you want a baby to get out of your work place?!

[kalidasa]

I think it makes sense to do both in a way. If you're keen to start a family (and you are sure you would be even if you were enjoying your job more) and so is your dh then I don't see any reason to wait, you could ditch the contraception and see what happens. (Though definitely find out what is worrying him about this first.) But at the same time, if you dislike your job you shouldn't put tackling that on hold just because you are thinking about starting a family. I can't imagine much that would be more depressing than finding yourself spending several years in a job you dislike and find stressful while struggling to conceive, or after a miscarriage. Of course you might get pregnant straight away and it will all be perfect, but if anything about it is difficult then it will just be made more difficult by being worn down by a job you dislike. If you are keen to teach eventually (or do something else) then you could apply for the course or whatever and set that ball rolling. Even if you get pregnant just before/during/just after a PGCE it's not a disaster, especially in a shortage subject like Maths.

[countrybumpkin2]

Thanks again for your replies.

Dh is not worried about being the sole earner. We have talked about that side of things and he was the one saying money shouldn't be an issue. He works on the family farm so we have a house and car for as long as the farm is going (hopefully well on into future generations!). We could live off his salary.

I have always thought that I wouldn't go back to work until after any kids we had were at school but I am starting to think I may want to go part time before that. On top of that My plans have been to train as a teacher later in life as I am not a good student and my horrible time at uni is still all too fresh. I still don't feel ready to go back. I think I want to teach. I love helping others and finding different ways of explaining maths things so they understand (I have lots of younger family that I occasionally tutor).

My problems at work are difficult to explain, it's just a very strange small office to work in with lots of odd working relationships. Sometimes I just feel under appreciated really. Two people are leaving in the next month so I think things might change. For now I am looking at other jobs but there are so few and rarely does one come up that sounds better. I am loathed to give up my current job in some ways as they are so flexible and I think they would work round things to offer me part time work if I was to have kids.

I will try and discuss it with Dh again soon. I think he just thinks babies happen when they are supposed to without him having to think about stopping using contraception...

[wanderingalbatross]

I have a young DD and when thinking about ttc had a similar dilemma to you, but I was 5 years older with a bit more work experience behind me :) I didn't want to wait to settle into a new job before kids, but was quite keen to escape the old one! So, while planning to ttc and being pg i asked for more responsibility and put into place a few changes that made the job much better. Then, as it happened, a great opportunity came up while I was on maternity leave and so I ended up resigning in the end!

I'd say that at 25 you still have many years to balance work and kids, so it's worth thinking about the future now, even if it all changes! Do you really want to be a teacher? Maths and physics makes you highly employable, although you say the area isn't great for jobs. Can you turn your job into something better? Start a company? Work further away? Do some more study? You probably have more options than you think :)

[portiathecat]

I think that there are two issues here.

1. your husband is thinking that you want to get pregnant to get out of work obligations; and
   
2. when do you want to have babies.
   You REALLY need to talk to each other frankly about your thoughts, dreams, expectations, etc. NOW!
   I took my fertility completely forgranted, until I had 2 miscarriages. I'm now trying for my 3rd, aged 37. I started TTC aged 35. This is a really tough road, but my reassurance is that my husband and I are completely 'on the same page'.
   I hope that you will be successful first time, but please understand the precious gift that you are creating, and the risks involved.
   Forget about careers, this is a life you are talking about.

[Leftwingharpie]

I agree with Bilbo that the first thing you need to do is properly and honestly assess the work situation and work out what it is you want long term and make sure you understand how your other choices are likely to impact on that. In this climate it could be hard to make a move once you bring children into the mix - but to a large extent that depends on what you want to do. I put babies on hold to get out of a bad work situation. I'm almost certain I did the right thing but I'm sad to come to motherhood so late; I'd have preferred to start my family earlier.

In terms of fertility issues, yes there is a risk and you must factor that in - but bear in mind that you have asked this question in a forum which is not a representative sample of the population.

[HoleyGhost]

Being a SAHM on a farm is very isolating. Are you and your DH sure it is what you both want?

If so, go for it. :)

Otherwise, think about what you want from life. Anything is possible, but having a baby makes it very hard to establish yourself in a new career.

Whatever you choose, you should address your problems at work. Assertiveness training might help.

[HoleyGhost]

Also, be wary of staking everything on the family farm. Even if you have seen the accounts, things don't always go to plan. And can get v messy when inheritance is taken into account.

[cupcake78]

It is possible to do both but you'll have to be a little patient.

I was made redundant on mat leave after taking 2yrs to have a full term pregnancy. I decided to go back to Uni, retrain for a few yrs (in my case 3yrs but you could do it faster). Full time MA - 2 placements and a 1yr old. I finished last year and am now self-employed and ttc dc%232.

It was hard, very hard but babies don't have to mean the end.

Your still young, you may get pregnant fast but you may not. Nobody knows until you try. You could retrain and then ttc and still be young enough.

It's something you and your dh need to discuss and decide together.

[Chubfuddler]

DH and I started trying when I was 25. DS didn't come along until I was 28. Mind you I did my LPC while I was pregnant and started a training contract when he was just over a year old. It doesn't have to be baby or career, you can do both.

Do you actually want to be a teacher by the way? You said "like everyone wants me to". Do you want to?