What 12 Moms Say Is the Best Part of Becoming a Mom in Your 20s
In your 20s, you're likely juggling a pile of student loads, taking on that hyper-demanding first job, and styling up your best adult life. But yeah, it's also possible you could be having a baby or two. These 11 moms told Cosmopolitan.com the best parts of being a first-time mom in your 20s.
1. "I was excited about eliminating the horrible, painful periods. I know that might sound strange, but my doctor told me that was pretty much the only way he knew of changing your cycle: having a baby. I was hoping for that benefit, and it came true!" —Marsha, became a mom at 27
2. "When I was 25, I had a lot more patience and energy to try all sorts of things with my baby. I was also able to stay home with my son until he was one. 12 years later, I'm doing something similar with my newest baby, but under a lot tougher circumstances." —Aisha, became a mom at 25
3. "The best part of being a young first-time mom is being a young-ish experienced mom now. I'm 42, and my kids are all teenagers or older tweens. My oldest son just got his driving permit. I'm about to have the perfect free, personal Uber — plus, I'm still young enough to fully take advantage of that!" —Carolyn, became a mom at 26
4. "Being a mom in my 20s has pushed me to take on my goals. After having my son, I couldn't afford a photography session every six months, so I forced myself to learn everything I could about photography. I bought myself a professional camera, which quickly led to photography work for friends and family. Within a year, I started my own photography business and was booked every weekend for months. My photography led to a mom blog, and from there led me to start my own design business, and I am now booked for past my due date for my second child. I know for a fact, if it weren't for becoming a mother, I never would have reached these goals, or even had some of them." —McKenzie, became a mom at 21
5. "The best part is my kids can now grow up with their cousins. I have 2 older brothers, who both live less than 4 miles away and have 3 children each. I love seeing them all play together. I also loved being the first to go through this crazy-fun ride of motherhood and sharing my experiences and knowledge with my friends who are just starting to have children." —Laura, became a mom at 27
6. "I like having a friendship with my daughter as she has become an adult. Though we are clearly mother and daughter in our roles, I feel that being a young, healthy, active mom has allowed me to do so much with her — traveling, going to concerts, triathlons, hiking, sharing thoughts about relationships. I was also 42 when my daughter turned 18 and went off to college, so I felt like I had a second life. An empty-nester at 42! I moved to Manhattan and started a new business." —Wendy, became a mom at 24
7. "The best part of being a young mom is that I now have children who are my greatest friends, and I still feel like I can keep up with them. We took a vacation a couple of years ago to an adventure park, where we climbed trees and went through obstacles together; they are old enough for me to stop worrying if they can tackle something like this, and I'm young enough to still do these things." —Gloria, became a mom at 22
12. "The advantage of becoming a mom in my 20s was that I was in shape the whole time. My doctor called my pregnancy a 'role model pregnancy.' Although he pointed out that it wouldn't have mattered had I not eaten right and exercised, I was able to maintain my body in part, because I was a young mother. I gained 27 pounds and was extremely fit throughout the pregnancy, and the weight came off easily, because I was always on the go and very active after giving birth. The jogger stroller was my best friend. I even took Siena, when she was under 2 years old, down the narrow trail at Torrey Pines State Reserve." —Phoebe, became a mom at 27
10. "I became a mother only a few years after I graduated from law school, when I was working as a litigator for a national law firm. Most of my female law school colleges were busy building their careers and not considering motherhood. Many are surprised that I have kids. All of a sudden I wasn't just building my career, I became a role model to my daughter. When I met her for the first time I promised to teach her to stand up for herself, if only so she can be empowered to win and live up to her potential. So, giving birth was a pivotal moment that elevated my goals to a purpose. It made me a better professional than I would have been without making the same choice [and] put a new perspective on my career, my relationships, and my life." —Olga, became a mom at 26
11. "When I'm 40, my kids will be off to college, and my husband and I will still be young enough to travel and enjoy it. We'd love to go to Vegas, we want to do a cruise somewhere tropical, and hopefully go to an all-inclusive resort without packing the Cheerios and buying the kids' meals. Just spend some quality us time! I also love the idea of being a young grandparent. My parents are young grandparents. My kids are young, and my sister's kids are in their teens — and my parents are running around with them and doing it all. They're so involved and I love that!" —Kylee, became a mom at 20
12. "I got to share all the things I loved doing as a young adult with my daughter ... traveling, teaching her new cultures, and seeing her smile while playing in the ocean. By the time she was 3, she'd already been on 12 plane rides and enjoyed every minute of our busy lives." —Lindsay, became a mom at 26
