Which started a conversation...What if we really HAD waited until we were 30 to start our family?
This would be our only child:
Of course, he would have been in a "real" highchair with a cuter bib and he would have been quite a bit cleaner. And it would have been quiet in the background.
But we would have had 2 salaries for the past 5 years. Wow. That's a thought. And I would have had my master's. I'd been accepted at San Jose State's MLIS program and was registered to start in the fall of 2003. Perhaps with a fulfilling career, I would have opted to work full time while raising my family. We could have traveled to Europe and all around the United States. Actually, I'm sure we would have. We traveled to Hawaii in spring of 2003 and Jeff was bitten by the travel bug, so it would have been a sure thing. I probably would also have been bitten by the travel bug because I wouldn't have spent our trip to Hawaii throwing up in the hotel toilet (thank you, Andrew). I wouldn't be one of the youngest moms in the bunch. Heck, if I was working, I wouldn't have met all my current friends anyway...I'd have other friends.
It is amazing to think how our lives could have easily been so different. I am of course ignoring the fact that in my mid-twenties I was bit HARD by the mothering bug...that all-encompassing urge that makes a woman think of nothing else but Must. Become. A. Mother. And I am ignoring the fact that I felt nothing but happiness and fulfillment when becoming a mother, and I have enjoyed (almost) every minute of watching my babies become little people. And besides, if we HAD decided to wait, we wouldn't have this cute person:
And Michael almost certainly wouldn't be playing football already...
And I would be missing out on these special moments...
No, I wouldn't trade the path we have chosen. I know I still could have had 3 kids and all the moments that I've experienced up till now could have happened anyway. But it wouldn't be Andrew. And Lily. And Michael could have been...but he would be so different without his older siblings to shape his personality.
Besides, how would I ever capture exciting video like this: ?
(I swear I will someday capture my kids being cute. New Year's resolution. They seem so...boring in these things. I guess they inherited my photogenic gene...and no future performers here...)
4 comments:
D and I did the opposite route from you and Jeff.
From the time I was 24 until I had N at 30, we traveled, and I got my master's, and we saved money.
And sometimes I wonder what things would have been like had we started younger. I would have had my breakdown sooner, I guess. But I wasn't emotionally ready for kids until I was older.
I don't know that I am psychologically or physically ready for the ones I now have. ;)
If we'd started at 24... I'd have been a single mom just out of grad school (though I'm sure Greg would have married me), we wouldn't have the house we have now (our savings would have gone to child care), Greg's two layoffs would have been a lot harder (he would be a stay-at-home Dad).
We never got to travel anyway. We're just now thinking about spreading our wings and going places.
But, if I'd started when I was 24, maybe Colin would have a sibling when I turned 30. When you start late--- there is no "recovery" time!
And like you-- I wouldn't have life any other way!
I did wait until I was 30 but it wasn't by choice! I didn't meet Rob until I was 28 :)
And what's up with our bodies fighting for child #4. Um, hello??? I am still nursing (alot), still not sleeping through the night, and my body thinks another child is a good idea? No thanks! Not now!
It is interesting to think about - it was all we could do to wait as long as we did to have Harper, so I really can't imagine if we were just getting started now!
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