How do you know when you're ready for children?

Question

I'm 24, my husband is 25. We've been married a year and a half and I am wondering how we can know if we are ready to have children. Not just financially, but emotionally. We have a fantastic marriage and I know we would be great parents.. it's just so huge. I sometimes feel I may never be ready. Suggestions?

Answer 1

Everyone who is contemplating a family feels that way at one point or another. My husband and I were married for 5 years before we decided we were ready. My aunt and uncle were married for nearly 10 years before they were ready. Some people are never ready.



Are YOU ready? It sounds like you want to be. :) Financial and marital stability are extremely important factors to consider, for sure, but you also need to think about your own personalities and how you would work out your future with children. Do you see eye to eye on nearly all childrearing issues with your husband? If not, you'll need to compromise on some stuff. Do you have the kind of temperment that can love, discipline, and educate all in the same moment? Does your husband?



If you feel confident that your situation is good and you and your husband would be good parents, then I say go ahead -- take the parenthood plunge. I know there are days when I STILL don't feel ready -- and I have a small baby, and another on the way! Doubts are natural. Just don't let them take over, unless they're legitimate. And only you know if they're legitimate or not.



Good luck. You'll make the right decision. :)

Answer 2

I don't think anyone is ever really 'ready' to have children. If you have a fantastic marriage like you said and have been married over a year and a half I think it's a perfect time for you to start your family.



having a child is a very exciting time and it will indeed be an event that will draw you an your hubby closer. I think 24/25 is a good age to start.



Good Luck!

-JENNA :)



FOR LAUGHS.... I found this and thought it was cute and I would share it with you...



Are You Ready To Have Kids?



How to tell whether or not you are ready to have children:

http://www.geocities.com/opossummoon/ready.html

1) The Mess Test:

Smear peanut butter on the sofa and curtains. Now rub your hands in the wet flowerbed and rub on the walls. Cover the stains with crayons. Place a fish stick behind the couch and leave it there all summer.



2) The Toy Test:

Obtain a 55-gallon box of Legos. (If Legos are not available, you may substitute roofing tacks or broken bottles.) Have a friend spread them all over the house. Put on a blindfold. Try to walk to the bathroom or kitchen. Do not scream. (This could wake a child at night.)



3) The Grocery Store Test:

Borrow one or two small animals (goats are best)and take them with you as you shop at the grocery store. Always keep them in sight and pay for anything they eat or damage.



4) The Dressing Test:

Obtain one large, unhappy, live octopus. Stuff into a small net bag making sure that all arms stay inside.



5) The Feeding Test:

Obtain a large plastic milk jug. Fill halfway with water. Suspend from the ceiling with a stout cord. Start the jug swinging. Try to insert spoonfuls of soggy cereal (such as Fruit Loops or Cheerios) into the mouth of the jug,

while pretending to be an airplane. Now dump the contents of the jug on the floor.



6) The Night Test:

Prepare by obtaining a small cloth bag and fill it with 8 - 12 pounds of sand. Soak it thoroughly in water. At 8:00 PM begin to waltz and hum with the bag until 9:00 PM. Lay down your bag and set your alarm for 10:00 p.m. Get up, pick up your bag, and sing every song you have ever heard. Make up about a dozen more and sing these until 4:00 A.M. Set

alarm for 5:00 A.M. Get up and make breakfast. Keep this up for 5 years. Look cheerful.



7) The Physical Test (Women):

Obtain a large beanbag chair and attach it to the front of your clothes. Leave it there for 9 months. Now remove 10 of the beans.



8) The Physical Test (Men):

Go to the nearest drug store. Set your wallet on the counter. Ask the clerk to help himself. Now proceed to the nearest food store. Go to the head office and arrange for your paycheck to be directly deposited to the store.

Purchase a newspaper. Go home and read it quietly for the last time.



9) The Final Assignment:

Find a couple who already has a small child. Lecture them on how they can improve their discipline, patience, tolerance, toilet training, and child's table manners. Suggest many ways they can improve. Emphasize to them that they should never allow their children to run riot. Enjoy this

experience. It will be the last time you will have all the answers.

Answer 3

You'll just feel it. There's this kind of feeling that you are longing for something or someone to care aside from your husband. Actually in my case, I asked my hubby if he's already ready to have a kid since we're already married for 1 1/2 years and Im starting to have this emotional longing for a child. So when he agreed on that, I prayed hard ....I told God that we are ready to accept the Gift of LIfe from HIm. And before that year end, I got pregnant. And now we feel really blessed though im experiencing a bit complicated pregnancy but nevertheless, im overjoyed for the answered prayer. Hope you'll feel that too! God bless!

Answer 4

i think that you can never "prepare" for the things that children bring to your life. im 25 and i have 2 children. it changes your whole life but its well worth it. theres no telling where i would be if i had not got pregnant with my son when i did. my husband and i were very happy (and still are) but we partied alot and did alot of stupid things. i thank god everyday that he gave me my children and changed my life so much. i would not trade it for anything. i love being a mom....its so much fun! i think if you want children then go for it because you will never 'know' when your ready. you just have to do it. good luck!

Answer 5

make sure that you both will have the time to deticate to the little one instead of jobs or careers. dont let the fear of not being ready get the best of you. i love kids. they are AWESOME,with kids there will be so many things you wont be ready for but it is soooo worth it. take it from me, im a mother of 2

Answer 6

If you're asking this question, you are not ready for a child. I think your an adult and have made big, life changing decisions before. Just trust yourself.

Answer 7

you'll be ready if you know you want happiness in your family, the laughter of chidren, the longingness and the time you'll know if its God's time.............just believe to Him....

Answer 8

When you BOTH can't stand the children you are subjected to and you BOTH know, with your entire being, that you could do a better job.

Answer 9

me and my boy friend had sex and it felt so right getting pregnant but im only 15 and 6 months pregnant so from my poient of veiw you never know until the baby is born

Answer 10

you will never know financially or emotionally its what you do with what you have