I went to work right out of high school as an Executive Secretary at a bank. I got married and continued to work there until we decided to start a family. I had ten years of working and was ready to settle down. I was a stay-at-home mom and had my daughter 2 1/2 years after my son. I never returned to the work force until they were 7 and 9 years of age and then only part-time in the evening when hubby could watch them.

The world changed and technology moved forward in those years that I remained at home and I am sure, had I continued to work through my children's childhoods, I would have been bringing home a much nicer paycheck than I do now. My hat goes off to those who juggle children and careers. I know how tired one can be at the end of a day's work and cannot imagine having to come home and help with homework, baths, story time and bedtime when I would be tired myself, not to mention rising up early to get them to day care, school, etc. before heading into work. It is stressful for sure and would not have worked for me. I would not change a thing though. I still work part-time and love it. I was here for all of my children's *firsts* and that meant the world to me. That all said, I did not go to college and did not have the financial obligations that you have with college loans. Had I been in your situation I would have put off children until later, however it is a very personal thing and has to be weighed based on our own individual needs as well as desires.