[MNStarr]

I know there is a thread going about how many older moms are here that have adopted, I was just wondering if there were any young mom here as well? We had a hard time finding an agency that would take us on in the beginning because of my age. Most of the couples that had adopted were in their mid to late twenties to early fifties, when we started I just turned 21. Last week I turned 23 but still find that when I am out in public with my daughter people assume I am her sister or babysitter because they expect that to adopt you have to be much older. Anyone else?

[Mindybeth6]

I was married on April of 01 at 21. That November I got pregnant and gave birth the following August. SO I was 22 when I became a mom. It annoyed me because when I would go out people would assume I had my son out of wedlock..my husband is a cop and works crazy hours and was never with me at that time. I STILL have people ask me if we got married because I was pregnant since we got married so young. NO NO NO...our son came a long WELL AFTER the wedding. LOL. I just turned 26 and I still get looks. Oh well.

[athena09]

Hi, I am new to all this and just beginning this process. I am trying to adopt a specific little girl from DE. I am 26 and DH is 29. So, we are still in the young catagory. If we can't get her we are still trying to get another little girl around the same age, 5 or 6. I have had a lot of people say to me, "Are you sure you are ready for this, to be a parent" Yes, I am not a child, when you feel you are ready and your clock is ticking, you are ready. Yes, I still plan to have bio children down the road but for now this is what I want.

[moelladeville]

Touch base with Isaiahsmommy -- a young mom who of (almost) three children. She's an awesome younger mom who is an inspiration to me!
Marjorie
Too old to remember her 20s

[Shoshana]

Gosh, Marjorie, I saw your name as the last poster on this thread and I thought, "Wow! She's in her 20's?" LOL.

Anyway, I just wanted to say hi to you all -- I AM a young mom, too

[stillxling]

Funny you should post this. My husband and I, for quite some time, didn't even consider international adotion, because we thought we would be turned away (too young, and not married long enough). I finally contacted an agency, to see what they thought. The response: Guatemala!! We are so grateful that they are not as strict with age, etc. I am 24, and DH is 23. We have been married for (almost) 2 years. Can't wait to bring our baby home!!

[shellysarita]

I was 21 when I had my oldest. When I would go out and about with baby and my Mom, people assumed by Mom was THE Mom and that baby and I were both her children. I look young for my age or so I am told as does my mother. In fact, when I had my fifth child at 30, I still had people assume it was my first. They were shocked to learn that I already had 4 at home. It always came across as though they thought I started my family when I was 16.

Love, Shelly

[ISAIAH'SMOMMY]

I am a young mommy. (Thanks Marjorie for the compliment) My DH and I are 28 and in the process of adopting our third little one. We will have a 3,2, and 1 year old. We do get stares at times and I imagine it will only get worse when the third arrives home. Most of the time people wonder why I did not have any of my own and also have the nerve to ask how I can afford it. It is frustrating but this is the path God chose for me and I am completely happy.

It seems most people tend to be in their 30's or 40's when they adopt. We were defiinitely the youngest in are adoption class. When I talk to others alot of them went through years of infertility before making the decision to adopt or they are in their second marriage. I posted this question awhile back and was surprised at the amount of younger adoptive parents there are. There are times I feel alone in all of it but I have great friends who adopted that are not my age.

Blessings,
Anne

[Summerbaby06]

I married my high school sweetheart at 19, finished college and had our two boys at ages 21 and 23. We started the adoption process when I was 24, and we are adopting two girls from guatemala. I just turned 25 and my husband is 26. But, we want a large family through adopting, so I wanted to start young

[curlyqgyrl]

Hi!
We to started at 21, and brought Meeah home when I had just turned 23. I'm 24 now and about to bring our second little one home!! Dh is about 1.5 years older than I....
We to had an aweful time finding an agency. They didn't care that we were married, had our own business, house, made good money.... Luckily we found our great agency!! Or actualy, its VERY lucky that we found an agency to "take" us, and they turned out to be GREAT!

[curlyqgyrl]

and hey, I'm guessing you are in MN??? by your screen name.... Us to!! About an hour away from the St. Paul/Minneapolis area...

[Teri33]

I began the adoption process when I was 25. Since I am single, people thought I was crazy and I would always get asked "why do you want to adopt now" Some of us just want to start our families early so that we can enjoy being a parent longer. Everyones biological clock starts ticking sometime and some are sooner than later!!


I look at it that since I adopted young, I can enjoy Mia for a few years before adopting again and I will still be young for the next one! Well, if Mia doesn't make me age faster...

[mamaofsix]

I consider myself to be a young mom. I am now 31 and nearing the completion of our adoption BUT I have five wild and crazy boys at home. My first was born at 21. I wouldn't trade it for the world. I think if I would have started later I may not have as many kiddos as I do but I love having a big family. My DH is ten years older than me but it doesn't seem to phase him. I see no problem being a young mom. I was six months pregnant with my third son when I graduated from college. Believe me, I got really stange looks in college classes but hey, life goes on. I used to take my oldest son to meetings with my counselors at college. They didn 't mind. I think being a young parent is great. Both my parents, were young and it's so nice now because I have my parents and both sets of my grandparents to love and dote (sp) on my kids
Heather
waiting for Ariana

[Clare'sMom]

I use-to-be..... I had my first daughter at the tender age of 17... I always laugh when people start doing the math to see how old I was when she was born, lets see Mom is 40 and daughter just turned 23 sooooo.... OH MY...
Now I have two 20 month old daughters and people assume I am their Grandmother... OK, so once in awhile this is OK but if I am shopping with all four of my daughters you can acutely see the little hamster on their old brain wheel as they look at my older daughter, then my little ones, noticing the skin color diffrence we usually get the old....Ohh poor little single Mommy look, and immediately calling me Granny..... We have even had people we know ask if we acctualy adopted our Grandchildren, you know just to keep it quiet... Hahahahaha

Good Luck Kiddo, you going to have a ball!!! Enjoy your youth and if need be just tell people your youthfull apearance if simply the joy of having such a beautiful child! Ann

[Sleepymom]

I got married at 19 (to the shock and horror of my parents!) and had our first son when I was only 20. I am now 30 and have 6 kids. Life is crazy, and I'll admit I've learned things I wish I knew from the beginning (it is best to ease up on the pressure and simply enjoy your child, for example) but here we are and we are LOVING IT! I'm glad I have the energy to parent 6 kids. I'm not sure I could do this if I were in my 40's. (You never know though.....)

Good luck!