Question - RE: Babies

[alongthoselines]

This question is geared mostly towards the females on my f-list, but men, do feel free to chime in with your opinion too.

At what age do you plan on having children (if you don't have any already)? Is there an "ideal" age?

I got into a bit of a debate with a few of my law school classmates. A lot of them want to get pregnant as soon as possible. For me, that's currently not an option, nor is it even on the table.

1. I'm not seeing anyone, so the odds of me getting knocked up are slim to none. Law school is my only love at the moment *depressed*
2. Law school sucks enough as it is, and I can't imagine having to take care of a child at the same time! I can't even take care of myself during finals time (my hygiene and diet suffered tremendously during finals time. Either I'd forget to eat or bathe. It was gross)
3. I can't see myself having kids within the next five years because I'm going to need time to build up my career. I'm not investing so much money into this career path just to work for a year, and then take a sabbatical a year or two into my career to raise my kids (because I wouldn't let my kids be raised by a nanny. If I'm going to be a mother, I'm actually going to be around). I'm passionate about having a family and stuff, but I'm also passionate about law. It's important to me. Not saying it's more important than family, but at least give me a few years to actually utilize my $100k degree.

I feel like I'm the only one with this view. I'm only 22. I'll graduate from law school just before I turn 25. I thought ages 28 to 32 would be a fine time to begin having children. Apparently, it's not - at least, according to my classmates. Half of them want children now (but they're a bit older than I am, ranging from 24 to 28), and the other half - who are mostly my age - want to be preggo by 26. TWENTY-SIX. I don't even know what that means! Why do we feel the need to put deadlines on everything? WE HAVE TIME, LADIES. Or do we? Idk.

Idk. I feel like I'm old and young all at once and I don't know what to doooo.