Its sounds a lot younger now than it sounded 24 years ago.  

We weren't financially "secure", whatever that means.  We had some times in which we struggled a bit.  I was able to take a year off work after having the twins, however, and went then went back only part time.  I continued at part time until I became pregnant with my fourth.  During all of this time, my husband was finishing his degree and starting his career.  I actually continued with college coursework for a few years, too.

I never felt any particular "resentment" over giving up "time to myself".  At least not any more than I would have felt at any age.  In fact, I think that in some ways, we're much more adaptable when we're younger. I really have become "more set in my ways" as I grow older.

The good thing about having you children young is that you're still not too old when they grow up!  Ofcourse, we were still having children in our thirties, so we aren't getting the fullest benefit of that.  I have to say, however, that much of my perspective is colored by my parents' experience.  My mother was 30 when I was born.  My father was a couple years older.  They had my brothers 9 and 10 years later.  Having small children in their 40's was not easy for them.  Especially my mother.  Totally frazzled her.  If my grandmother had not been living with us, I don't know how she would have managed.  I know this isn't the case for everyone...some young mothers are certainly quite "frazzled" and some not-as-young mothers breeze right through those early years with children.  I do know that personally, things started changing in me as I got older...my patience level did lessen over time.  My tolerance probably lessened, too.

I had my kids in my late 20's, which for us has worked out great.  Since I had a series of false starts in my career, I was never really enmeshed in a job before my kids which made it an easier choice for me to stay home (although now I am paying the price for that being 33 and trying to find a career having very little work experience).

I think there were 2 main reasons we had kids on the early side.  One that I was just really anxious to have a baby, had baby lust since I was a girl.  The other was something I had seen with some people who waited - I saw an Oprah episode about mothers admitting how hard parenthood is and among the older moms there was a lot of resentment about losing their personal life, their way of doing things, their careers.  I guess we thought to go through the upheaval before we were too set in our ways.  Of course, now most of my friends are moms older than me and they all seem happy.  I think it's a very personal decision and everyone has to do what works best for themselves.  Since having kids I've learned that letting yourself get resentful about certain aspects of parenthood happens to all of us sometimes and there are ways to work through it.

At this point, I'm mostly glad that we did it the way we did.  When our youngest graduates from high school we'll be 46, then we can go out and have all that freedom we missed and maybe be able to afford to do some pretty cool stuff.

I am the 3rd in a row in my family to have my first child at 31 (i.e. my mother and her mother both did as well).  It worked well for us.  (My husband and I are the same age.)  We had our 20s to go to grad school, hang out, get started on a career, and then our 30s to settle down and, uh, never go out again.  Or something.  I don't feel we missed out on the fun times, nor are we too old, it seems just right for us.

but only because Timothy was early- he was born 2 days before my birthday. :)

For me, this has been perfect.  I feel like I had plenty of time to do what I wanted before children, and I'll still be on the young side when they're grown.  The only thing I miss is spontaneity, but I think I would miss that at any age.  I wouldn't have wanted to have them any younger, but not older, either.

We weren't financially stable either, but things have steadily improved in the past four years.  People have always worked life around children and children around life.  Whether it's the economy or the nature of capitalism, I don't know anyone of any age who is comfortable with the amount of money they have, so if we had waited until we were satisfied we would have been waiting a long time.  

looking back I was totally unprepared to be a mother any earlier.  So, by the time of my first an education degreee and career in law enforcement turned out to be perfect training to raising kids!  of course the kids might not agree...

second baby 13 months after first, third baby 22 months after second baby.

we moved less than a year after we were married, then again in two years, then again in four years, then again and again.

the first was born while we were still in the hotel in that second move!  my mother-in-law came and unpacked boxes for me.

and in all that I was actually glad that I didn't have constant visitors.  I had to find my own way and it was a beautiful time.  my mom did come for a few weeks a month after the birth of the first.  by that time I was secure (sort of) and we had a wonderful time.  I do remember for the first month looking at the calendar every week and being totally amazed that I had managed to keep this little human alive for one more week!!

We were married 12 years before we had kids--part by choice and part difficulty.

Now that my kids are off to college and life, hubby and I together without them seems so normal.  I like it.

I liked having kids in my mid thirties.  I was ready and totally enjoyed parenthood.

I spent my twenties and early thirties having a ball building my career, developing a great friend network and dating. I met my husband when I was 30. We got married a couple years later and were pregnant before our first anniversary. I always knew I wanted to have kids, but I didn't feel ready in my 20's. I'm happy with my decision to wait and feel lucky that we didn't have problems conceiving. I would have had a lot of regrets if I thought I missed my window. I was under the impression that as long as I got pregnant before I was 35, it would probably be fine. I know now that it's more complicated than that.

so far.
Married at 18.  Baby still an unplanned disaster, yay.  But things seem pretty good now.  I always thought this would be a good age to have kids, but I assumed I'd have my life more in order.

I became a mom when I was 40, and I was 39 when my first child was born.  Wait, what was the question again?  His referral was a week before my 40th birthday.

I unplugged my biological clock in my early 30s, when I realized the implications of Mr Right's medical history.  So my fertility never affected our timing.  We were both in grad student poverty throughout our 20s, so we took our time and built our careers, padded the bank account, started retirement savings, bought a house, and settled down.  By our late 30s we felt really truly ready.

I haven't regretted waiting one bit.  I glad I had the opportunity to spend my youth being young and free and irresponsible.  And I loved my intense young adult, career building phase as well.  But by my late 30s it was time to move on.  I still have plenty of energy for the children, but not as much career drive now.

I am a much better parent now than I would have been 10 years ago, much less 20 years ago.  I have more patience, more wisdom, and never underestimate the value of more money.  

of married at 18 first kid at 19, in fact, my great-gramma is still alive and very active on our lives. My 5 year old has a great-great Gramma! Its so cool.

However I bucked the tradition and married at 23 first kid at 26, Now I am 31 and having my second child.... I know its only 5 years difference, but I am FEELING it this time. I am so tired!

I am pretty sure this is our last pregnancy.

I had always wanted to have kids - it was just a matter of time and I certainly never meant to wait until 35! No, the thing for me was I waited for Mr Right and he DID turn up when I was 26 BUT I didn't know it and he was too shy to tell me himself!!! Finally got together and made up for lost time with 3 babies in 4 years.

Although I do agree that it's better to have the energy of youth on your side as you enter parenthood, I honestly don't think I would have appreciated our marriage and family as much in my 20's. And of course both our careers would have been affected.

Sometimes I do wish we had been able to do more things together as a couple before the kids arrived but as my husband says we'll just have to do them as a family!

4 weeks after I turned 22.  We're still not "well-off" but DH had a good job and we'd been together for nearly 6 years at that point.  It was hard, but worked out well...she got to meet my grandmother before she passed, and I would have been heartbroken if my grandma had missed meeting her great-granddaughter (she didn't like boys, so I'm not AS distraught about her missing Julian).

The timing was perfect for us, but it had nothing to do with age and everything to do with our lives. We were happy, had been together for six years (married for four), travelled all over the world, lived in three countries, and were at a good point in our lives to welcome a baby. Now we're just hanging out for number 2!

it timed perfectly for me.

but then I didn't have my second until I was 34.  Now I'm pregnant with my fourth baby, due in July; and my daughter, now 22 is pregnant with her first, due in Oct.!  Fun and interesting...and believe it or not, since we've been pregnant together there have been a lot of people who relate similar mother/daughter pregnancy stories from their families.  But as far as which has been easier, older or younger, they've both had advantages and disadvantages.  My boys, ages 5 and 2, are energetic, crazy little maniacs that would've taken more time & energy than my quiet, "only-child" daughter did no matter what my age!  And the baby I'm having in July is another boy, so I'll have my hands full!

Or more precisely: I turned 33 2 weeks before DD1 was born and will turn 35 in a week (a month after DD2 arrived). It's a good age for us (DH is 3 weeks younger than me): we had enough time to roam the world and start a career before having kids. It was nothing to do with finding the right spouse; we've been together for almost 15 years, married for 8.