Were you one of the last of your friends to have kids?

I was. I loved it, though.

At 22, I was not interested in having a family. I was just graduating from undergrad and heading into a year of traveling and working part-time as a bartender. Living in the inner-city, spending my nights and weekends bar-hopping and clubbing with buddies, having the freedom to jet off to wherever at a moment's notice... it was a wonderful place to be in for those few years. I liked that some of my friends and family members were beginning to settle down. That way I could still get my fill of babies -- but I got to swoop in for some cuddles and to play 'fun Auntie' for an afternoon, and then swoop right back out when the icky parts started.

My advice? Don't for a second trade the place that you're in. These are some of the best days of your life -- maximum freedom with the minimum responsibility. You'll never be in this spot again, so utilize it. The time for babies and marriage and whatnot will come.

I am in the same boat. I am 1 of 4 friends that have not had kids yet, but most of my friends were teen moms. They got pregnant during high school, sometimes as early as freshman year. Some of them were even having their second or third child before graduating college. I am really jealous of all my friends. I wanted to do things right. I pushed myself through high school and got into college. I first wanted to be a nurse. Then when I was finished and was working as an RN I realized I wanted to be a doctor. So now I am pre med and I feel like I will never reach the point in my life to have babies. It makes me sad and I hope the time will come soon. I have been married for over a year and we are still young. My husband is 24 and I will be 22. I always try my best to stay positive. I tell myself that when the time is right it will happen. Good luck sweetie

I had kids young and missed out on university. I've managed to do some collage by distance education but it's not the same. At 22, it's not too late. A lot of people are waiting until they are 30 now to start having kids because that is when they can more realistically provide for them (once they have a decent paying career).

I have a few friends in your shoes (only they are in the late 20's and 30's). For them the situation isn't right yet either and as an outsider I can see just how bad things can turn if they rushed the baby thing right now. One such couple is on the verge of divorce and aren't talking half the time. She's in the middle of getting an education and he refuses to give up his social life which includes smoking and selling pot. A baby in that situation would be a disaster.

Trust an objective outsider opinion:

You have plenty of time.

You will be glad you waited until it was perfect

But that doesn't always help the restless mind so, write yourself a timeline. That's right take out a pen and paper (or Word document if you prefer) and write out your plan for the next 5-10 years. When do you plan to finish school? Once you get a job, what will you be able to make? How many years at that job until you can afford your own place? What about Mr. Right, have you met him yet? What about a car?

Me and my husband were completely impatient to start trying for a baby. We got pregnant early on in our relationship and really wanted to plan this one and do it right. It's been horrible waiting but I made a list and worked at crossing off those things we needed in place first. Replacing our roof, buying a newer, larger vehicle, paying back his parents what he owes them from before we met....etc.

You'll get there, just write up a plan and start working on it =)

I'd have to say a firm 'yes' to that.

I went to my 25th high school reunion (Yes, I'm that old) with my six month old daughter. I had classmates with 6 year old grandkids. So I was WAY behind the curve on that.

On the other hand, I went to school, wrote a book, lived in New York and LA, met the woman of my dreams and was able to be truly ready to have a child. Life changes dramatically when you have a baby, and I have no regrets of missed opportunities or things I could have done.

Trust me, in this day and age, having kids right away does not have to be a "MUST DO IT NOW" situation. You can wait until you find the right person you want to spend the rest of your life with and then make a child with them, rather than dashing into a quick relationship to give a child parents that may not be stable enough to stay together in the long run.

I still have several friends that are single and are not concerned with having kids any time soon. A few of my friends had kids very early, most had kids about 2 or 3 years before I had Mason. I am 29 and I had my son when I was 27. I felt like it was a great age because I was well past my partying days. When the time is right, it'll happen. We tried for months to get pregnant. Lo and behold, month after month of not getting there, it wasn't until we decided to stop trying that it happened. Go figure, right? Finish your schooling. Spoil your friends kids until you have your own. Then when the time is right, start trying for your own. Whether it's 25, 27, 30 or 33.... you still have PLENTY of time. :) Don't worry about "keeping up with the Jones's" so to speak.

I think your friends are unusual. I had my kids at 33 and 35(one week shy of 36, to be honest) and I was one of the first, granted I have some friends who are much younger. I don't think age 30 is remotely in the "waited too long" zone, honestly, if you are struggling to conceive at 30, you probably would have a problem that is not age related. My OB didn't think I was in the "hurry up if you want another" zone til I turned 35.

I remember being in my 20s and thinking other peoples lives were really good, and I know once the urge for a baby hits it just seems like everyone has a baby and makes you insane. But, I am SO glad I waited and got my education and had kids with the right person. I swear it will be worth the wait. If you meet mr right down the road, you could always accelarate your classes, or have a baby and go part time while being a sahm. Hang in there.

ETA: Oh yeah, the nice house and car thing...I used to be like you and really envy that but I realized that some of those people have huge car payments/mortgages and are really slaves to their stuff. I live in a comfortable and safe but no means fancy house, and our cars are paid off, we drive them til they fall apart so we can pay cash or huge down payment for the next-and I think I am much happier that way!!

ETA #2: Oh yeah, and like starsfan I got pregnant very easily at 32 and 35. I'll quit now, I swear.

I'm on the other side of the metaphorical bridge so to speak. I was actually the 3rd of a group of 12 of my high school friends girlfriends, to get married and the second to have kids. While one of our friends is unmarried, she did have her daughter before I had my son and she just gave birth to her second (a cute little boy) and is engaged (The man she's engaged to is father to both her kids). I was 22 when I got married and 23 when I had my son. I'm 25 now. Of the 12 girls in our group most of them are still unmarried with kids because, they choose to go to school first and one married friend doesn't want kids, while another unmarried friend doesn't want to marry or have kids and had her tubes tied. I also have one married friend (the first of us to get married when she was 19) who is unable to have kids because, her husband is infertile. The point of my little story is that everyone is different. You seem like you've got a good head on your shoulders and for you everything is going to fall into place. Don;t worry about what everyone else is doing because, this is your life. You are still young, and from what I have read about you, your very financially secure. Don;t be in a hurry. You'll have a family before you know it.

Most of my friends have kids around the age of my children. I was slightly older than most of my female friends to start having kids but only slightly. I had my first at 33 and second at 35. I got pregnant extremely easily. And now that I am 38 I have friends that are my age and older still having babies.

So I guess it just depends on the crowd you ran around with. Nothing wrong with waiting a bit. And just realize most of those people that got married young are likely not to be married at 35 to the same person. Not anything against marriage when you are young but statically most don't last.

In my opinion 22 is still young, for sure. I had my oldest when I was 24 and actually I was one of the first to have children. I think two or three of my friends had kids before I did, the majority had their first a year or two after I did.

You're only 22! You have PLENTY of time. Don't rush it.

I got married at 26...had my son at 27(almost 28). I just turned 29. I have a number of friends my age who still live at home with no spouse or kids yet.

You will get there. Take your time with school first.