How do you know you're ready to be a parent?

My husband and I have discussed having a child for awhile now. Is there ever a ';right time';? The circumstances may never be perfect, we may never have enough money saved, etc... life just happens. So how do we know when we should? Any parents have any advice? Thanks.How do you know you're ready to be a parent?
Like the other responders said, you will never know for sure when you are ready to be a parent. For most people, they set things up as much as they can (pay off bills, make sure are financially stable, have an education, have a home to bring the child into, have the maturity required to make such a decision) and they just jump in headfirst. The good thing about parenting is that 'good enough' really is good enough. If you try as hard as you can to be a good parent, you are not likely to 'fail'. Kids don't need perfection, they need honesty and effort. If you give them those, plus love, you will have children who understand how life works and that it is imperfect (a great lesson). Being a parent is also self-teaching. You have instincts built in and you change as the child changes, so you are biologically equipt to be a parent. So is a Daddy. They go through some hormonal changes too when they are expecting a baby. So, trust nature and pick a time when you think you are capable of adding a child to your family. You will have nine months to prepare for your new addition and you will be as ready as you ever will be by the end of that time :)How do you know you're ready to be a parent?
I don't think you can ever be 100% ready for a baby. There will always be an excuse not to have one. I think your ready when your grown up enough to give up your life for the time being and live it for someone else. When you have a job that can support you and have some money on the side for a baby. When you have found the right person to have and raise children with. When you have stable living conditions like owning a house.
We never really thought about the first child, though we knew we wanted one once we were married. The second child we planned when the first one was out of diapers and pretty much on autopilot (we spaced them 3 1/2 years apart). Luckily it worked out that we got pregnant right away. My sister had hers 12 years apart!





Even if you think it's the ';right time'; babies change everything. Your friends, free time, housing arrangements, work schedules, money spent on yourselves goes right to the college fund or diapers, stuff like that. If you're willing to sacrafice your free time to care for your child, miss work because of a sick little one or for school plays, are willing to miss out on that night out with the girls because you're tired from having a colicky baby the night before, than you're ready. After you have a baby, it's not about you or your husband anymore. It's all about that little bundle of joy!
There's never a perfect time, but I definitely felt my biological clock ticking. I don't think a house or a great job is a must, as long as you can provide the basics you are okay. I think being in a stable relationship is the most important-and, being ready to sacrifice many of your needs and freedom in return for the amzing love of a child.


I had my son at 33, so I get a little tickled at the people who say you'd better do it before you turn 30-for me it was the perfect time.
Theres never a time and the child will change so much about you as people and your values. All the rest of the stuff will just come naturally, you will know what to do as if you were already trained for it
You are ready to be a parent when you are ready to give up your life, because nothing from there on out is about you anymore.
You don't know, because no one is ever prepared to be a parent. You just have to go with the flow.