Age and finances do not determine who will be a good parent or not. However, having said that, several things have to be taken into consideration. We talked with a few people and asked for their opinions on the right time to become a parent and the answer

Parenting, whether it be for a forty-year-old or a twenty years old, is quite a big step in life. As you get older and older, there might be pressure for having children, make a family, and just following what we have been taught, but in the same breath of the sentence, we can say that there are many parents who embraced parenthood at a very early age. The question is as diplomatic as ever. When is the right time for you to be a parent? And what does “too” young to be a parent symbolize? Well, we talked with a few parents and asked for their opinions about the right age to become a parent. To my surprise, the answers were all over the place, so different from others.

“I was 15 when I became a mother. I don’t know how it feels to be a free spirit. I got caged into parenthood so early, my body changed, I wonder how it would feel to be a single youngster. Although I was not, I had to be ready to be a parent, I had no choice.”- Sashi Khadka. 

“I am 30 years old, I am married but I don’t think I am ready to become a parent any time soon. I have some goals in life, and until then, no babies. There are times when my in-laws pressurize us, but then, it is not only about the offspring, right? I cannot give my hundred percent to my child right now if I have one. So, I better wait.”- Meera Budhathoki.

“I ran away from my family with a wife and three children to India. I just couldn’t handle them, all the responsibilities, and I just felt suffocated to be around them. I am 70 now, my son came to India to bring me back because I was sick.”- Hari Ghimire.

“My mom had two children by 19. I am 22 now, and the thought of getting married scares me to death, forget about babies. I still have a lot to explore and live before taking responsibility for another human being with lots of needs.”- Sikshya Tiwari.

“I am 45 years old now. I have tried, but cannot conceive. I just want to be a mother and live happily. I am thinking about a test tube baby or adoption; I can’t wait to be a parent already. Sometimes, you have to struggle for what you want in life. I am kind of regretting that I aborted my baby in my thirties.”- Chandra Thapa.

“I had a baby when I was 20 and I have a beautiful family. I guess, if I were to talk about being ready or not, then, the time will make you ready. I love my baby to the last breath and my life has changed for the better.”- Salina Gurung. 

We can see how parenthood is not about age but about how mentally ready you are. Given the situation and time, the world is turning around fast, and sometimes, in the race of life, parenthood just doesn’t feel right. While some are ready at an early age, some are never ready, and some of them are waiting for the right time. 

           

Is it risky for teenagers to be a parent?

No matter how ready you are mentally and financially in your teens, there can be high risks and potential complications. Most teen pregnancies are unplanned and if we were to see, even the planned pregnancies at this age only bring complications to physical health. It is not only about physical health, being a parent is a huge responsibility and once you become a parent, there also is no going back. It affects education, having to drop out from school, and top of that, if you decide on continuing your education, the concentration will be a bare minimum. Along with the medical issues, teen parents will have to deal with finances, they won’t have any liberty, they can’t be a free spirits and their life will be constricted. Teenage is the time to explore themselves, enjoy, focus on the things they love and just find their life direction. 

Parenthood is one of the phases of life. Before jumping into it, I think one should live life, complete other phases, and just find the right person to share parenthood with. The right time of having children, and be a good parent comes when one is ready. Not because your parents are pressuring you, not because your friends are having children, and not because you want it. As you age, for women, it is true that fertility declines. However, you don’t have to rush just because of that. Of course, you don’t want to be too late but not before you are ready. After all, there are other options for becoming parents as well.