To ask if you think 24 is a young Mum?

[Cleo2628]

just wondering your opinions. I’m 24 with a 7 month old.

Actually on reflection I guess technically 24 is young, but certainly not too young.
I enjoyed being a younger mum and love the fact I’m still fairly young now my kids are older.

I was 24 when I got pregnant, just turned 25 when I had DS. I didn't think I was young (then again my DM had me at 18), but I am often seen as a young mum by many others. The parents at DS's nursery are all 5-10 years older than me and they often comment on how young I am, it doesn't help that many people think I look much younger than I am.

Oops, posted too soon.
I was meant to say that what people think about your age doesn't matter, don't let it get to you, as long as you're a good Mum (which I'm sure you are) then that's what is important and age does not define parenting.

I dont think it's young. We started our family early. Contrary to most of my peers who were playing the "wait till you're established in your career" game, I reckoned kids need parents with energy more than parents with a 6 figure sum in the bank. We're now in our early fifties, our kids have all grown up and I still have the strength to put my grandkids on my shoulders without risking putting my back out. I'll be retiring at 60. Meantime, I've got friends my age whose kids are still in primary. Their kids won't have completed higher/further education when they hit state pension age. I'm so bloody glad we started young.

Mine at 25 - its considered so young in my circles that it felt scandalous, and I know people have been feeling sorry for me. I think its a good age though :)

young

I had babies when I was 24, 27 and 34. 24 was a bit young (for me personally), 34 a little bit old. For me 27 was just right. I do love having a teenager in my 30s though, I think I will struggle when my youngest is a teen, and I'm decrepit. Might make DD do the parenting at that point...

I was 24 and 2 days when ds was born!

I don't think that's young!

PS like others say, it depends on where you live and social circles. I'm mostly London based and work in the type of sector/s where its usual not to get a permanent job until you are 35+. Even the people I know in their thirties aren't having kids!

The exceptions I know are people with potential fertility issues and were advised not to wait.

Obstetrically speaking, apparently 19 - 24 is perfection. This is the age at which our species is designed to reproduce best. Which is a bit sad given employers' expectations and how careers may develop. But that said, I was happy I waited until I was 43.

Had mine at 17, though I would not recommend it at such a young age, we have a lovely life. I went to university and got my masters degree, bought a beautiful home and she is just the most loveliest person ( even as a teen)! We go abroad twice a year, and go on lovely weekends away. I am married and she sees her father regulrly. I will always have a special bond with her, we grew up together and we did a bloody good job. Parenting is what you make it it.

Plenty can be experienced by your mid 20s:

Casual sex/partying; I lost my virginity at 14 and had 11 years of drugs/drink/smoking/clubbing/gigs/festivals/casual sex before DS was born when I was 25. I'd have enough.

Travelling; loads of my friends went after uni aged 21/22 or before during a gap year. I had quite a few chances but was too lazy and opted for local festivals instead.

Career: I had a few good jobs I messed up and dropped out of uni twice. I could've been in a higher paid job by 25 but I'd messed about. I did have a steady civil service job though by the time I had DS. Great stability, pensions, conditions, maternity pay, flexible working policies etc, was a great help when DS was young and I got promotion in my early 30s and a decent wage packet.

Owned my own house outright for years due to luck of birthright. I don't feel I've missed out at all,

I had my first three weeks after I turned 21 and was married at 22 so I don’t think 24 is “young” as such.

I think it's young but it depends on your social demographic. Mine is that you were expected to go to uni, establish a career, get on the property ladder, don't get tied down too soon, get married first (circa age 30), start family early 30s.
I suppose if you're not expected to do all that, 24 is not actually that young, anthropologically speaking. My MIL had four children before her 25th birthday (late 50s/early 60s) and that was considered very normal then.
I had my last child age 40 (not planned like that) and although it's fab I'm worried about how old I am - H is even older. Much of her early life was taken up with us caring for elderly PIL who then died. We have no family support. If she has a baby when she's 40, I'll be 80.
There's a reason why nature intends young people to have children.

It is young in this day and age, but it's certainly not young historically. I can see there are advantages in having children younger; as an older mum I do find it exhausting sometimes keeping up with young children in my 40s.

But on the other hand, I did get to do all sorts of interesting things before we adopted our DDs, so I don't feel like I've missed out on anything.

It really is up to you; if you feel you're ready to be a mum then go for it.

I think it's young but it depends on your social demographic

A bit of a stereotype. I had my first baby at 25 and had already completed 4 years at a good university. Despite being part time for a few years, I’ve done very well in my career and gained further university qualifications. Many of my uni/ school friends had babies later despite being part a very similar ‘social demographic’.

A bit of a stereotype
Yes, not denying that. But your confirmation that your contemporaries had children later compounds the stereotype.
You also mention you have been part time. It's great if that didn't slow your career. Unfortunately in the industry I work in its tough to progress part time. Women try to get to Associate level, if not Partner level before starting a family (and then sometimes going part time).

I think it is young - not outrageously young, but young.

No.

I had my son at 23. I was the first of my school friends but only just, I have a friend who had a baby 8 months after and was married a year before. Half my shool year had children before me though, most of them had them before they had even reached their 20's. I work with a lot of women in their 50's and they all had their children in early to mid 20's. Three other young women I work with had theirs all early 20's too. Depends on the person. I know a few people that probably won't feel ready for a few more years as they have other goals in life or they just don't want that responsibility and aren't sure they ever will.

My sister had her first at 22 and was 120% ready for motherhood. At 22 I was more interested in dancing and traveling. No way was I ready for motherhood. Every woman is different.

Had my first at 28. It was the perfect age for me to become a mum.

Youngish, considering the average seems to be more around 30 these days but also pretty normal. It’s definitely not too young, or anything that should raise a lot of comments?! I had 3 by the time I was 24.

TooTrueToBeGood the state pension age is going up all the time, so you can't possibly know that. Plus, with rising life expectancies, how soon do we all really want to retire anyway? As my dad (nearly 60) says, there's only so much golf you can play!

EatRepeatEatRepeat you are the exception, not the rule.

This is the second thread I've seen this weekend which seems to be acting like women over 30 dry up immediately. The right time - socially, career-wise, health-wise, living situation-wise, everything - is different for everyone and the fact is that there are plenty of people aged 30+ who conceive without difficulty.

It is young these days but wouldn’t have been only a generation ago. All mums are special and women have had babies at all ages since the dawn of time!

It's all relative. I was married, well established in my job, had a house with a small mortgage so for us, 24 was fine. I'm 34 now with 3 children and am considered a young mum in the area we now live.

My friends in their 30's are only just starting now, but they were travelling, at uni, partying etc at 24, so to have a child then, they would have been considered 'young'.