To wish I waited to have kids.

[notnow2]

I had my first dc when I was 27 because it was what I really wanted. I have 3 now - they are 3,5,7. I am 35 and now a lot of my friends are having babies and I feel broody and a little jealous. I enjoyed my babies but it was hard work and I feel that it went by in a blur. I feel that the best part of my life is over andcibsjould have waited to experience it.

Nooo!

By the time you're 50 they will be almost independent and you'll not have the babysitter/childcare/horrible diseases worry that your friends will have. You'll be able to go on holiday with hubby to places that don't have kids clubs, eat in grown up restaurants without a high chair, and spend long leisurely afternoons reading proper books!

And then you'll become a granny and it all starts again....

I'm another who had them late, dd1 at 37 and dd2 due in a few weeks when I'll not be far off 40.

Must admit I love being an older Mum as we're financially secure plus I had a ball in my 20's and 30's and had outgrown wanting to go out in the evenings so there's no sacrifice.

However my Dad died when dd was a week old which was devastating as he was desperate to be a Grandad so if I'd had her younger he'd have got his wish plus I do worry about both dh and myself not living long enough ourselves for our daughters.

There's no perfect age to have them.

I had dd when I was 23, she is almost 6 now. I'm glad I had her when I did, I'm 29 now and most of my friends are still childless. I'm single so no more for me but time has gone far too quick!

Oh and I have dealt with some negativity but dd is without a doubt the light of my life, best thing I have ever done.

I am kind of the opposite. My first was at 27 too but I am delighted to be finished. I do love babies but my youngest is 3 and now I am planning the next phase of white water rafting, touring the world etc. I will live babies vicariously through my friends.

I am also 35 and we have completed our family, DC are 8, 4 and nearly 2. I am hoping my siblings oblige with nieces and nephews soon as I am going to get broody as soon as DC3 gets out of toddler phase!

I'd have loved to have had mine at 27! Would be a perfect age for me. I had DS at 20 and it was far too early. I didn't have time to live. Thought I was so grown up :) Will be 27 next year and just about getting broody for #2, with the right person now. I wish I had waited.

YABVU

You already have a large family and need to learn to appreciate it. Many are not so lucky.

I am 35 and lots of my friends are having their first. My third is a baby and I am bloody relieved not to be just starting out with it all!

Enjoy them op and don't look back. I was 35 when I started and I had a lot of stress ttc. I don't think there is perfect timing. (Is there with anything?)

You can have you second youth and backpack around Asia sooner than me :)

I'm 32 and had my fourth baby this year when most of my old school friends are just having their first. My other 3 are aged 13, 10 and 7 and although I was super broody I thought my baby making days were over and was enjoying my dc being more independent. Dc4 came along this year - a happy accident - and bloody hell I forgot how much hard work babies are! She's lovely and I wouldn't be without her but I look back longingly at the days when I could hand back babies and go home with my own pretty self sufficient children!

I had mine between 34 and 40, but I have a few (slightly younger) friends who are pregnant or with small babies and oh my it makes me hanker for just one more…..It's not happening.

I have however, just spend a weekend with friends who have a 10 and 14 year old, and they are LOVELY and they take themselves swimming, and have little dog walking jobs, and can make their own dinner and don't need their hands held whilst they go to sleep for 3 hours and my friends can go out at night whenever they want, you know spontaneously, and generally the future's looking bright.

Here's a new year's resolution - cherish what you have.

My DS is 16m and I'm in the second (but not last) tranche of my friends to start a family. I don't think there is a perfect time, when one lot of friends had their firsts I was envious and wished I was too. Now I have one (and will hopefully have another) I'm so envious of my child-free friends and all of their free time and spare cash! The grass is always greener on the other side. I bet all of your friends wish they'd done it years ago and were past the baby stage like you are now.

And yes, hopefully you'll get to be a younger GM!

Just think, two generations of first babies at 35 means not being a GM until age 70, and 74/5 by the time GC are properly interactive.

Happy to have had mine young.

I love having my grandchildren round and still not too knackered to go to the park with the and play ball.

Also having small gaps meant one activity fitted all.

Now I'm doing the things I didn't do when they were you get although we always went p,entry of places etc.

Don't feel ve missed out at all.

i wish i had had mine younger so my parents had more time with them
we are probably never convinced it was 'the right' time

I had mine at 27, and they're both away at uni now and DH and I are having a ball. Lots of lovely holidays, and meals out with our lovely late-teens. I see my friends who have toddlers and primary school children and I am SO glad I had mine (relatively) young.

I had my first at 24 and currently gestating my 2nd at the age of 32. My closest friends still haven't started having 'em! Grrrr. Really wish I could share it with those lovely girls!

Same here Agent. I had mine at 25 and 28, dd1 has left uni and has a job, dd2 has started uni. DH and I are alone, apart from the holidays and we bloody love it.

We have several fiends in their mid 40s who still have little ones and I feel rather sorry for them I don't know where they get their patience and energy from.

Friends not fiends!

I'm 32 and hoping to have my first next year. I wish for many reasons that we'd had them earlier.

Be happy for your friends starting now, but I definitely think earlier is better. You're past the nighttime waking and all the other stuff they're (excitedly) expecting. You get the cuddles and the fun aunt and get to hand them back.