[emily88]

I understand everyone loves their child, but do you regret being young? I'm not that young i'm 24 in Feb but for about a year all i can think about is having a baby. I'm married, i have my own home and not huge mortgage, but i'm scared i will regret not waiting a bit longer. What was it like when you had your child, did all those temptations of parties and drinking die? Is it nicer just being a family?

[livvie7586]

i was never a drinker or a partier, so no issues there. i sometimes regret i didn't get to uni before kids (i'm only a year older than you, but i have a 5 y/o and a 3 y/o), but otherwise no real regrets. i love the little family i have (in saying all that, i fell pregnant unexpectedly at 19, so had the decision been in my hands things may have been different)

[Guest_Monkey News_*]

I do wish I had 'lived' a little but more, prior to having children.

I was 19 when I fell pregnant, and now have 3 children at 25. By living I mean; being free to do what I want when I want, travel, go to university, have some spare money to spend on myself etc.

I don't regret having children, however I wouldn't choose to be quite so young, if I had the chance over.

[Jaycy]

I had my first at 21. I don't regret it - I think its fantastic in the long run. I didn't want to do uni, was never a really partier. DH and I wanted kids young so we could be youngish with them.

I love the fact that when they are late teens / young adults I will only be about 45 when my youngest of 3 will be 18.

Never a regret at all. I was married, had a house and a career before kids and I still have all these things 10yrs after having my first. So for me it was the way I wanted it and it worked out.

[duckasorus]

Only thing I regret is not finishing my study.
I was 18 when I had her and regret nothing else
(also a huge shock as she was not planned)

Partying I honestly never cared about, im a few drinks with close mates person and hate clubbing.

[- Waterbaby -]

I got pregnant with Charlie at 24 and I do not regret it because I still can go out when I want to.

I just get Dh to watch him and go out with my friends or mum to watch him when we go out together.

I was a bit over partying each weekend and drinking anyway since I had been doing it since I was 16 when I got a fake ID.

I was getting a bit like "been there, done that".

Now when I go out its fun again because I dont do it very often. Going out and getting smashed and partying every weekend was getting boring for me.

Plus the older you get the more hungover you get and the longer it takes you to get over it. For me getting really really drunk isnt worth the hangover. Id rather just get a bit tipsy and have a good night then go home rather then getting wasted, going from club to club, party to party and then to the kebab shop and getting home as the sun is getting up and wasting the weekend sleeping.

Plus when you become a mum you become a member of the "mum club" and you meet new friends and do different social things like BBQs, arvo/ morning tea, going to the park or going out to dinner.

[Mung bean]

I am 22 with one unplanned DS, he is my light and joy but had I not had him I would have spent a lot more time being me and having 'me' time even living in my own place by myself and travelling as I please

I love DS but realise, I will probably never sleep again, think just for myself, be carefree, be independent without the boys or act like a young person.

If I had my time again 26 or 28 would have been a great time, that said I am young and fit and able to handle DS sometimes high needs as I have the energy.

If you still have stuff to do don't have kids yet as you wont be able to do it in the same manner.

[Monroe]

I don't regret it at all. We had a deposit for a house saved up, but traded the P-Plater car for a decent family car, if anything I wish we had of kept the bombadore & bought a house. 3 years later we're now ready to purchase a home.
I have no urge to travel & when I'm not pregnant if there is a party/event on DH & I take it in turns going out.

[mummahh]

I had DD when I was 22 and only had a few moments of thinking "I'm too young for this". But then I wasn't the out every night type in the first place. It has been really fun to not seem too old as she grows up.

[- Waterbaby -]

Ooh and I wanted to add also that while babies/ kids are a lot of hard work they can also be heaps of fun and bring lots of happiness and joy into your life.

They keep you young!