We are going to Hawaii this fall. So I'm pretty sure she'll get preggers this year.

Yes I want kids....eventually. My wife asked my at the beginning of our relationship (joking around) how many kids did I want and I told her six. I figure if pirahnas (sp?) can live in harmony in a group of six, so shall my kids.

Supposedly if there are more than six or less than six pirahnas in a tank they will kill each other.

But I think 3-4 would be ok.

 

And how old are you and your wife?

I would say that being younger and having kids has it's advantages. You may not have as much coin, but you will be able to keep up with them more. Sometimes I'm dragging on the weekends when my son wants to go out and play. I'm 33 and my wife is slightly older. So, we both equally wiped out some times.

Being older just allows you to be a bit more established. Also good, but then your work responsibilities always seem to be a PITA. For instance, if I had my son when I was 25, I would have very little work related responsibilities. I would be a lot more flexible. Now, I feel like I'm in the middle of the ladder, and there are people that rely a lot more on my work, and so if necessary, I will alway work later, always hop a plane to NC, always head in at mid night or the weekend. 8 years ago, I would only have done it to ensure job security.

 

I'm 32 and my wife is 28. Right now we are ships passing in the night since I work days and she works nights. But when the kid arrives, I think she is going to stay home. Not crazy about day care.

 

That's a good idea.

My wife was in the military as a Naval Nurse for five years. She was an officer and made it to O-3 before she got out. The Navy was good to us, but our 8 month old son doesn't need her to be away for six months at a time any more.

Now she is a stay-at-home mom and she F&*%^$% loves it. I mean she loves it. She has no plans to head back to work this year on a permanent basis. Maybe she'll pick up some weekend money, but that's it.

She says that she is happy, I'm happy because she she's happy, and the mutt is happier.

I thought going down to one income was going to be rough, but it's been a pretty smooth transition so far.

Of course, a stable job with the federal government will do that.

Good luck!

 

The crazy thing is that she is the one with the most stable job (between us) since she works for Uncle Sam. I've been trying to get a Fed job...but it seems most of those jobs go straight to those already in a Fed job (or very specific towards someone already working at the agency). I'm sure we'll manage. Her mother likes to spend money like it's going out of style, so her grandchild will be spoiled.

 

Great thread. We didn't do any specific planning other than to wait until the wife finished school. Once she finished, she was ready to be a mommy, we ditched the condoms, and four months later the little guy was conceived.

Life hasn't been the same since, and we're all happy. Especially the little guy, who's now two. Even the wife is surprisingly happy as a stay-at-home mommy.

As far as not liking kids......I didn't realize how much I loved children until we had ours. Having a child will TOTALLY change your mind about children. I fracking LOVE kids now. No matter how tired I am, that child is my whole world. You will not understand until the child comes. I know I didn't, so I don't expect you to.

 

I think everyone summed it up. I have 3 kids, 4 1/2, 2 1/2, 1

1) You will never be financially ready
2) Watching your nieces/newphews is nothing like raising your own kids
3) Yes it is a tremendous amount of work
4) Yes you will have to give up things you did pre-kids

One thing that my wife and I did was allow each other days to do what we want. I get to play golf once a week, she gets to work on her projects.

You need to find the balance between the kids and your "personal time". Otherwise you'll burn out quickly.

 

I agree wholeheartedly. You just can't understand until you have one. The money will come along.

I love my eight-month old. He's insanely adorable. Any parent can understand.

My son is starting to sit upright on his own, and can get into that position from his stomach. This morning I went to go check on him, and he was in the Indian style position, slumped over, like he's stretching. He was asleep. It was funny, but painful to watch. I gently slippe dhis legs out from beneath him, and he passed right back out. My heart melted.

 

Daycare has it's places. I think my son has learned a lot about social interactions at daycare. And it helps having my wife working there now.

 

My son loves my trains.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...y/DSC02714.jpg

 

I rather this than financial stability.

 

If your wife plans to stay at home with the kid, get the kid involved in as many activities as possible with other children. The social interaction is critical. We had a neighbor who pretty much kept her kid in the house all day. When he came out to play with my kids, he was socially inept, had no clue how to interact with other kids.

 

give her the seed and be done with it.

 

 

If you want kids, then have them. You will never ever be financially ready for them. The best way is to just roll with the punches. As long as you and your wife are both stable (employment wise), then just do it.

 

I agree with the whole socialization thing. The thing with daycare is that a guy I work with keeps telling me how his little girl is always coming home sick and passing it off to him.


On a side note, before I met my wife, I met a woman who was going to the same college as me. I asked her what she wanted to do with her life and her response was, "I want to get my degree, work a few years and then be a house wife and mommy. I want to take care of the home and the kids, cook dinner, do laundry, etc..etc..." And I told her where was I when she was single. lol!

You just can't find that type of domestic woman anymore. *sigh*

I think I am becoming more comfortable with the idea of having a child sometime this year.

 

Here's a free tip....kids get sick. It happens. The good thing about getting sick is that it builds his immune system. It is very important for them to get sick. If you feel that keeping the kid home will keep you healthier, then good luck.

My son't worse issue were ear infections, that he just got. Not related to daycare. He has gotten pink eye at day care once. Other than that, just the sniffles and runny nose. Nothing major. But he can usually fight off a lot of little things.

 

^^Typically when do you think it is a good time to introduce a new born to people/public? After a month, three months, etc..?