Families Without Children

[prose]

[quote name='Ash Wednesday' post='1029810' date='Jul 24 2006, 05:04 AM']
When is it too late to have kids? I would have been open to marriage earlier but my life just didn't unfold that way. I've been in a bit of a panic because I'll be 30 next month. I'd like to be able have more than just a single kid, if you know what I mean...
[/quote]


Unless you are finished menopause, you can have children. I know three women who had children in their early 50s. If you are ovulating, you can get pregnant!

[stlmom]

[quote name='Ash Wednesday' post='1029826' date='Jul 24 2006, 06:27 AM']
I think a lot of people that deliberately postpone having kids for the carefree life have regret when that window of opportunity to have kids passes.
[/quote]


I SO agree! We had 3 children, and I have to say that it was hard to raise them to be decent human beings in this current American culture--I think due to less social support--when I was growing up, my parents didn't have to worry about what we saw on TV so much, and we didn't have as much fat loading processed foods in the stores. Children are fair game now and targeted by what I call predatory consumerism. It can sometimes be exhausting especially if you don't live near supportive relatives.

Now having said that, what I learned about unconditional love in having children I couldn't have found anywhere else, religious life included (for me, anyway). A couple of our kids were legitimate ADHD'ers and anyone here who's had even one kid like that knows what a challenge they can be.

Ours are all young adults now, and they have really enriched our lives, kids make you look beyond yourselves. When you have them, it really starts to matter to you who runs for school board, what's on the TV, what is healthy/not healthy in the environment, etc.

Some of the saddest people I've met are elderly childless couples....just my two cents.

[MissScripture]

[quote name='prose' post='1029932' date='Jul 24 2006, 10:11 AM']
Unless you are finished menopause, you can have children. I know three women who had children in their early 50s. If you are ovulating, you can get pregnant!
[/quote]
But aren't the chances of complications greatly increased after you're into your late 30s?