I do apologise if this is going to be a bit of a long one. I am very new to mn and was made aware of it through reading 'mums on pregnancy'.
I am 24 years old and very happily married to my partner of six years. I am in no doubt that I want to have children and dh is quite keen to get started. I had always imagined that I would start having children around my mid-twenties and quite liked the idea of being a youngish mum. I have, however, found myself torn between becoming a parent and having a career. I really question whether I could do both and still offer my best to work life and my children. I have spent a lot of time, emotion and money on my education and should rightly be excited about starting my career. However, there is something inside of me- which is becoming more and more vocal- telling me that I want to have a family with man I love.
I have so many doubts about money, commitment and happiness. I hate to ask it, but what if I resented my decision to have children if it priced me out of the sector I want to work in? I receive so many mixed views from parents I work with. I have one colleague who spends more than 50% of her incoome on child care and says she wishes she hadn't had children at all and I have others who say they wish they'd made the decision to have children sooner. The worst kind of colleagues are the single, childless women who tell me I've already given up my life by marrying and why have a child and become even more boring. I know this kind of decision is a personal one- and I have discussed it with hubbie who is more than happy to be the full time care giver so I can return to work. So...honestly? What is it like being a full-time working mother? Is it worth it? Do you financially regret when you had children? Does it really affect your career prospects? Do you wish you had waited?
Sorry to bombard you with questions, I would just like some honest opinions from people who have been there.