Parenting doesn’t come with a guidebook. No two children, and no two parents, are alike, and even the most experienced individuals can have difficulty deciding how best to go about starting a family. For some, parenthood is thrust upon them, and there’s relatively little time to ponder the question. However, other couples struggle trying to decide when –– if ever –– is the right time to have kids. While we can’t speak for everyone, we’re here to help shed some light on the issues. Here are four signs that you’re ready to be a parent:
Financial Stability
It’s painfully obvious to just about everyone these days, but it bears repeating: children are expensive. It’s wise for anyone who’s considering starting a family to first appraise their own financial situation. Though this doesn’t have to be the deciding factor one way or the other (there’s no “optimum income” for prospective parents to shoot for) you should feel comfortable in your abilities to give your child every advantage possible. If you feel you can’t quite cover those costs, you may want to wait for a while.
Work and Social Habits
Ask yourself: what do you really like to do in your free time? If you’re a social butterfly, who enjoys spending long nights out on the town with your friends, now might not be the ideal time to become a parent. Similarly, if you’re focused in your work and committing all your energies to gaining a promotion, you may also want to wait until for a more opportune time to raise a child if at all possible.
Check the Bucket List
Most people –– no matter how old or young –– have some sort of “bucket list” –– a catalog of everything you’d like to see and do before you die. If you’ve already made a significant dent in your bucket list, then chances are you might be ready to take on a new, big responsibility. However, if you still want to travel, see the world, change careers, or anything else that the burden of a child would prohibit, then you may want to sit down and think long and hard about what you want from life.
Be Honest With Yourself –– And Your Partner
The truth is, there is no “perfect” time to have a child. Odds are, there’s always going to be some reason or another to put off trying. However, the best way to know you’re ready is to speak with others, especially your partner, about your desire to have kids. If it’s something that you keep coming back to, it’s likely to be with you forever. And whenever you’re ready to start, make sure to be cognizant of procedures such as tuboplasty. It could be decision that changes your life forever.
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