I am kind of between Twisterdog's post and Cyber Sibes' post.

I did college right after high school, entered a career for 7ish years, then, went back to law school at the ripe ol' age of 29. I graduated from law school at 31 or 32, and worked for 7ish years, having Jonah at the advanced age of 38 (two months before my 39th bday). I am now 41, with a two year old, and a full time career as a lawyer.

There are pros and cons, I suppose. For me, personally, getting all my education out of the way was significant. Very significant. However, establishing myself in a career with a known saying of "the law is a very jealous mistress", THEN having a child (and single, to boot), might not have been a wise choice- in retrospect.

Having said that, I am educationally 'secure', do okay financially that I don't depend on anyone else for financial assistance, have a home, a car, blah blah blah. AND, I am blessed tenfold as I have a loving grandmother that absolutely dotes on my son- Lillycat. Jonah spends his daytime hours with her, and five cats!

So, I would still encourage anyone to get themselves established first. Like Twisterdog said, the plans we have aren't always the plans we have happen to us. No one, no matter their race, colour, creed, religion, etc., 'knows' the future. To best prepare for the unimaginable only serves you best in the long run. No one can take away my education, which goes a long way to securing my financial future, and that of my son, which allows for many benefits. If I NEVER used my law degree, wonderful. I would always have my education to fall back on if something unforetold happened. I think very few people say, "oh, I SO regret going to college", or "I wish I had waited until after my child was born to finish school".

I lived, in my opinion, alot, pre-Jonah. I went away to college, lived on both coasts of the US, lived on my own, owned a house, travelled as I wanted to, etc. I had Jonah at the right time for ME- energy levels aside..he he he, as Cyber Sibes said.