The best age at which to start a family has been a question of debate for generations.
And the general trend is definitely changing, with more and more people choosing to have children at a much older age compared with their predecessors. The nineteenth and early twentieth centuries saw women wooed, hitched, and becoming mothers at a very young age, with limited medical advancement meaning childbirth was a much more risky process that they thought required young and healthy women to perform. The traditionalist approach of women as domestic birds and young mothers continued throughout much of the 1900s. But nowadays, women have careers and many priorities to manage around having kids, and these all need to be taken into account when planning the time to have a family.
Prince William and Kate Middleton will become man and wife in just a few weeks time, and it will be interesting to see over the next few years what the two will choose to do in terms of family planning. Will we see a newborn royal appear soon, or will we have to wait a little longer for the next prince or princess? Whether you met at university like the happy royal couple or on a dating site, choosing when to have kids is extremely tricky. Here are a few advantages of taking up the modern trend and waiting until you're a bit older to have children,
Enjoying Youth and IndependenceHaving a family later on in life means you will have more time to enjoy your youth and independence. You will be freer - both physically and financially - to go out and do things for yourself, travelling the world, for example, or volunteering in the heart of Africa to help the needy. We all need to be selfish and think about ourselves when we're young, and if you rush into having kids, you might regret never fulfilling some of your ambitions.
Enjoying Life as a CoupleChildren dramatically change the dynamic of marriage. Times for romance and working on the relationship become almost non-existent in the hubbub of family life. It's important for your relationship to share this more peaceful child-free time together. You will have the autonomy to do what you've always wanted together. These extra years to spend just as a couple will probably strengthen the marriage and put you in a much more stable and harmonious position to eventually raise your children.
Better Financial PositionOn a purely practical level, having children later on will mean you have more financial security. At 35, you are much more likely to have savings, a regular income, a steady job and even a home of your own than at 25. This will mean you can spend more on your kids and they will be raised in a more comfortable environment.
More Worldly ExperienceHaving children at a later stage of life will also mean you have more worldly experience to share with your children. This could mean you are more prepared for the demands of parenthood and you might be a better parent as a result.
Whether you want to be one of the Brighton singles a little longer, you have important plans to go travelling, or you want to save up a bit of cash, there are many good reasons to have children a little later on down the line.
April 2011
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The Advantages Of Waiting To Have Children
