I think it depends on the person. My 30s were my most fun decade, and I can't imagine doing much of what I did if I'd had kids then. I knew a few people who'd

I think it depends on the person. My 30s were my most fun decade, and I can't imagine doing much of what I did if I'd had kids then. I knew a few people who'd had kids in their early 20s (and one even earlier), but I barely ever saw them during that 30s time period. I'm in my early/mid 40s now; if I'd had kids in my early 20s I suppose they'd be college-age now, and I'd just be getting back to a more-or-less child-free social life. (Granted, that would depend on all my friends also having done the same thing.) But I don't have kids at all, and, frankly, I don't have the energy to do much of the stuff I did 10 years ago. If I'd spent the last ~20 years raising kids I imagine I'd have even less energy than I do now. But at the same time I can't imagine having a newborn now, or even in the past 5 years or so. That sounds beyond exhausting, and I'm not sure I'd be able to do it.