Waiting to be a parent

There is no end to the debate on what the "right" age is to be a parent: Do you have your children in your 20s so you have the most amount of energy to chase after them? Or do you have them in your 30s, when you feel a little more settled and are at your peak health (and before you cross over to the high-risk pregnancy zone after 35)? Or do you wait until your 40s when you have had enough success in your career and are fully ready to devote your time to another person?

Hint: There is not one perfect answer.

Think about it this way: Some people don't plan on having their children at all, and they end up having wonderful lives.

While I find it interesting to read all the research studying the effects of being an "older parent," I keep in mind the fact that I am so lucky to be living in a time when a couple can choose when they are ready to have children (or not have them at all). That wasn't the case for so many generations before us, and it is easy to lose sight of that.

Plan your baby for when the time is right for you. Or don't and see what happens. Just don't let anyone else dictate the right time.

What age did you have your first child? Was it the right age for you? Tell me in the comments.