To worry that my life will be horrible if I have kids.

[Buddhagirl]

I do want children, but I'm pretty worried that I might hate my new life if it happens. I really like relaxing and being able to go out in the evening without paying a babysitter. What if they completely take over my life and I am a good mum and I love them to death but deep down I want my old life back and feel angry at them for taking away freedom?

[pickledparsnip]

It took me ages to get over the loss of my old life, I mourned it for ages. I was a real party girl before my son, heavy drinking and chain smoking. I worked 60 hours a week and having a baby sent me into shock.

My son was very much wanted, but I did not take to motherhood very easily. It was a real struggle. I doubt I would have ever been ready if I had spent a long time thinking about it.

Best thing I ever bloody did.

[x2boys]

i didnt meet my husband untill i was 31 by which time i had ,had enough nights out to last me a life time and probably to many girly holidays then i should have gone on. My 20,s were full of fun and i was only responsible for me by late 20,s however i was beginning to think i was destined to be alone forever and related very well to bridget jones. Fast forward 10 yrs i couldnt be happier i have two wonderful boys who are the light of my life a husband i love dearlymaybe its just a matter of timing?

[pickledparsnip]

ISee I don't like children either. Horrid little buggers. My child is bloody fab though.

[Lemonylemon]

"but deep down I want my old life back and feel angry at them for taking away my freedom"

They don't take away your freedom. You are the person in control here. It would be your decision.

I had my DS when I had just turned 34. He was an accident. I didn't like children until I fell pregnant and then somehow morphed into this earth mother person that I didn't recognise from before. I didn't find the early days very easy really, as I didn't have a clue... but hey, he's still with me and is now 15, so I don't think I got everything wrong.

I had my DD when I was 44.5. I'm on my own, but don't feel any resentment at the freedom that I don't have - I'm WAY too exhausted for that

[Tryharder]

I had my kids in my 30s. I spent my 20s boozing, shagging, travelling, eating out and generally doing what I wanted so was happy to give that all up - been there, done that, got t shirt etc. The thought of going clubbing now at the age of 41 brings me out in a cold sweat.

But I have plenty of friends in their 40s happily married, good jobs etc who don't have children and have no desire to have them.

[aufaniae]

Give it to you straight? OK.

You will lose your social life. 10am will be the most amazing lie in ever, and even then will only happen once every 6 months, if that. For a while you won't have time to read a book, watch a film or drink a cup of tea while still hot. You will never be able to go out and drink with complete abandon again (well not while they're little anyway).

But your children will be the most amazing people you've ever met and it will all be worth it, I promise :)

[aufaniae]

And you won't lose your social life completely, but it will change.

[PanickingIdiot]

I'm 35 and still not ready to take that risk.

Sometimes people (well-meaningly, no doubt) ask me when (never 'if') I want them, and it always feels like they're trying to take my life away from me. I'm forever baffled as to how something as life-changing as parenthood could just be "suggested" to somebody else as carelessly as the idea of babies gets shoved in my face by people who barely even know me. (Rant over, sorry.)

[MardyArsedMidlander]

This may sound harsh- but don't have a baby to fill a gap, think more of what you can GIVE your child.
And you won't have a GAP in your 30s and 40s- other things come along, and more and more women are chosing not to have any. Or- shock! horror!- you might even stay friends with people whose lives are not exactly the same as yours.
And as for children in old age- sadly, you can't guarantee your children will be there for you. They may have special needs and you will still be worrying about them.

[OhDearSpareHeadTwo]

We have one 2.5yr old daughter.

I am president of my Rotary club and go to several meetings a month, DH is also a member. We have lots of "do's"
I go to sugarcraft meetings once a month and run a cake decorating business as well as working
This week DH has gone to romania for a week doing charity stuff/holiday with some rotary friends
Sunday I went to a sugarcraft exhibition all day and on Thursday I'm having a day out in London
We went to a black tie dinner on Saturday night

As long as you have family to support you all of the above is absolutely, completely possible. Having a child doesn't have to stop your social life - they actually will fit round you pretty well.

[OhDearSpareHeadTwo]

10am will be the most amazing lie in ever, and even then will only happen once every 6 months, if that. For a while you won't have time to read a book, watch a film or drink a cup of tea while still hot.

This certainly has not been my experience. We get lie-ins quite regularly as DD will happily snuggle up for a lie-in with us. She's rarely up before 8am through choice.

[aufaniae]

OhDearSpareHeadTwo I am jealous!

[OhDearSpareHeadTwo]

I've trained her well

[MrsCantSayAnything]

I have a friend with no children...she's 40 and doesn't want any. Also she's single. She likes her life as it is....self employed and very, very successful. She has kept and made friends who have children and who don't.

She has regular get togethers at her house and it's fabulous going there where those of us who DO have kids can pretend we're still like her...nice home, lots of money...peace....she likes to borrow a child now and then just for fun....but she always returns them in good order.

She's told me that whilst she sometimes thinks "what kind of Mum would I be?" she also feels that at 40 she knows who she is...and how she's' likely to feel at 60....she doesn't think she's going to regret it.

[PanickingIdiot]

As long as you have family to support

Not everyone has. I agree that it makes a big difference, though.

I already struggle to find time for my hobbies and the things I enjoy doing, and I have no children.

I have no doubt it would be possible to juggle everything, but I'd have to live an incredibly disciplined life, with never a stress-free moment, and unfortunately I recharge my batteries when left alone in peace and quiet for extended periods of time. And that would be the first thing to disappear from my schedule.

[stinkinseamonkey]

"This certainly has not been my experience. We get lie-ins quite regularly as DD will happily snuggle up for a lie-in with us. She's rarely up before 8am through choice."

same, ours will sleep in if not woken for nursery, then you can add another half hour of snuggling in our bed to that

if you are planning to have children with a partner then one person shouldn't always be sacrificing their sleep/hobbies/ambitions/social life while the other continues as they were, unless one works away/7 days etc then you can take turns!

[Lottapianos]

'I'm 35 and still not ready to take that risk'

PanickingIdiot, I'm 33 but otherwise in the same place you are. It feels like the most enormous gamble ever - it could be the most wonderful experience imaginable or it could be the biggest mistake you've ever made. Or somewhere in between of course!

There's definitely been something up with my hormones in the last year or so and I'm thinking about parenthood more than ever before. I've always been adamant that parenthood is not for me but something's up. I work with babies and young children and i love it - I completely understand when parents say that children light up your world, they make you laugh, they challenge you in wonderful ways and help you to look at life in a whole new way. I love being around children. My best friend had a baby 4 months ago and she is the sweetest thing ever. I would feel really sad if I didn't have children in my life.

But children of my own? That I am fully responsible for? All the time? I'm really not sure. Like other people said, it's not just about going out clubbing (not my scene!), it's having the freedom and time and money to live the sort of life you want to. Those are precious things. I'm not a gambler - I don't even buy scratch cards. I always carry an umbrella. My impulse purchase days are way in the past

I guess all you can do is go with it and see how you feel. The decision does feel a bit overwhelming at times and it's such a personal thing - no-one can tell you what you 'should' do. Even asking other people about their experiences, you're only hearing their story, it could be totally different for you. Good luck OP - it's a tough one