Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Yes, the current economy has impacted my thoughts on having a family. I still want one, but just not as big as I always dreamed of.
Coming from a family of 4 kids (Parents are still together after 30 some years, started having kids in their early to mid twenties, and had 4 kids in 8 years), I always wanted a big family. I am very family oriented, and have always enjoyed hanging out with my siblings and my parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. So growing up I thought I would do things just like my parents did.
I married into a wonderful family (parents still together after 30 years had three kids in their early twenties). However, with added responsiblities, and difficulties of finding and keeping good paying jobs (beent through some lay-offs), I have come to terms that I will not follow in my parents foot steps. My husband and I are hoping to start a family around 30, and will probably only have 1 or 2 kids.
I am very excited to give up my life for a child. My parents have always put us kids before themselves, and I am so thankful for that. And not only do I try and help my parents as much as I can for all that they did for us, but I want to do the same for my kid/kids someday. It is a personal choice.