The real issue is that, as can be seen at Broadsheet, there are virtually NO Broadsheet Feminists willing to say that 16 is too young. Anyone that suggests that is an anti-woman, sex shaming, kid hater that doesn't trust kids.

No one will say that.

When a teacher said that at the NYTimes, the Broadsheet Femosphere(TM) erupted with how sexist the man was.

28 and 31? Who cares?

Younger than 18? Still in high school? TOO YOUNG.

That reminds me of a song I wrote, it goes like this:

Every teen fuck is sacred.

Every teen fuck is great.

If a teen fuck is prevented,

ems gets quite demented.

Good luck getting married and pregnant. Why don't you support us for a change? That way we can get the house, kids and alimony when we get bored with you.

Enjoy your singlehood!

A Man

I always laugh at people who say they are waiting until they're ready to have children. I tell them no one is ever ready.

I agree with Catherine Price though. The most important thing is taking care of 'em. I wish child care weren't a women's issue, it really is everybody's issue.

I just read that article in the Post...

...it can be hard to connect with other soccer dads. "One of them was wearing, like, a Rolling Stones type of sweat shirt. I like the Rolling Stones, but I didn't grow up with them. I can't say, 'Hey, let's go grab a cup of coffee'

I had my fist child at 36, my 2nd at 43. ASK me to have cup of coffee!! I don't care if you're 26, or don't know who the Rolling Stones are.

What's the matter with these whiny people...you connect with other parents, you have a coffee while your kids eat cheerios and juice boxes, or over a play date, and you GET OVER YOURSELVES!

What are they waiting for, engraved invitations?

It's a lifestyle choice.

Remain CHILDFREE by choice.

Most women don't have a clue how much they really give up when they have a child. Hobbies? Goodbye! Free time? Goodbye! Personal goals and dreams? Goodbye!

There are more than enough people on the planet. A powerful choice today would be NOT to have a child. Instead, use your time and money to help improve the world -- volunteer, donate, or both.

And for those who would say that not having a child is selfish (something I've NEVER groked), ask a mother why she chose to have one. I'd bet money the first two words out of her mouth are "I wanted" (someone to love, to pass on my genes, someone to take care of me when I'm old, etc.). Having a baby is ALL ABOUT being selfish. Choosing not to have a baby is all about freedom and independent, intelligent thought.

Childfree by Choice

The right time is when your kids say it is.

I'm the same age as Nicole Kidman (and Julia Roberts, for that matter). I had kids before any of my friends and I stayed home with them for about five years.

My sons are 15 and 18 now. The other parents of high school age kids are O L D. Like my mom's age (60). I can't relate to them - they're retiring and have spent so much time in the workforce they seem all have more money than g*d, whereas I just entered the middle class last year and now am horrified by college tuition. I also can't relate to people my age who waited to have kids so long that now they're 40something and have babies & toddlers.

I'm a lawyer and I work with 20somethings up through 60somethings. I seem to relate best to either the early 30somethings without kids (even though they seem really young and remind me of my kids) or the 50somethings who have kids my kids' ages.

The other thing that's really weird about being 40 is that everyone ages so differently. I am often mistaken for my 18 y.o.'s sister and my partner (41) is often thought to be our parent.

Anonymous Childfree by Choice:

It's probably a good thing you didn't have kids.

Most of my urban Bay Area and Los Angeles friends had their first kids between 33 - 36. We do wonder how different it would be like had we had kids, say at 30. We'd have more energy, but maybe less stability.

The insecurity the younger moms feel in the article is just that - insecurity. It could just be from being 28 years old, and not all from being a younger mom in a world where they are perceived of as the "younger mom." Although it would have been nice to have kids slightly younger than I did, it wasn't really my choice - I wasn't even in a viable relationship or financial place in my late 20s.

But regardless of the age at which we all became parents, I feel there are universal struggles we all face as parents bringing kids into the world, as well as unique ones that the moms in the articles are experiencing. Yes, an article about help with childcare costs would be great - I'm all for that - but I don't think Broadsheet should feel offended by this article, since the reality is, these modern moms do have these concerns. By the time they have their second children, and their friends are on their first, they can deserve to act a little more smug as the more experienced parents!

You don't want to be too old to handle the emotional challenge/baggage of teenagers. They are like preschoolers with advanced vocabulary. My three are great on the scale of teenagers, yet they obligingly challenge us in their quest for independence.

While most of my grad school friends waited till 30's and had more financially secure infant/pre-school years, I think being 27-31 yrs old for my 3 kids worked well. As I tire of the responsibility, only two more years till home life is freed up, I tell myself I still have 20 some years till hit social security's retirement age. I'm still young enough for new hobbies, travel, there's time for yet another career turn, and money has worked out OK through hard work and luck. And I hope to be healthy enough to know my future grandkids. My husband is 3.5 years older so fits into the over 30 age statistically.

Getting married and having kids before 25, before knowing career potential, seems high risk. Too many families are destroyed by unexpected career trajectories and choices.

Most people seem happy in their personal choice, that is what counts.