Family

Having a family, one with kids that is, has always been a standard assumption for me. I am now extremely grateful to have a wonderful family and I couldn’t even imagine living alone anymore. To me life is all about choices, and I am glad I had the courage to make this one.

Along the road there are some obstacles, however. One of the biggest issues regarding family that young people seem to face in today’s life and society is the timing. When is the best, or right, time to start a family? Should we wait for one more year, will our situation be more optimal if we delay? If you look at it from an individual person’s own view, there is never an optimal moment. You never know what the future brings, so it may or may not be a good idea to postpone the plans. One major factor in this is that we now have the choice. We can plan our lives more precisely than ever before, and there is less chance for life to just take its course. So the entire matter comes down to just actually making a conscious decision. Physiologically we have a good 25-year window in our lives to have children, and that time frame typically includes some very busy years in other fields as well.

Having a family is life changing, but also a purpose for living. After your first child comes to your life, you will never be the same. There will always be someone you are somehow connected to, more or less, for good and bad. The feeling is difficult to explain to anyone beforehand. Personally I felt a great responsibility, as well as joy. If all goes well for the new parent, setting new priorities happens gradually and naturally, without too much of an internal struggle. Life goes on, maybe the family grows and all the members adapt to their roles. Just be careful not to take anything for granted and regard the situation as forever stable. People change, children grow and become adults, which constantly affects the dynamics in the family.

Life with a family is not black and white. It is not always sweet, but neither is it always bad. There is a lot of adjusting and adapting, trying to make things good for everyone at the same time, but it is also very rewarding. If in doubt, go for it.