I don't have a problem with age and parenting - in fact, although I know it's more "trendy" to have babies when you're 30+, I never wanted to do that. I always wanted to be a younger mummy, and don't think an age of 25 puts us in the "younger" category.

My DH, however, is complaining that he'll very much be a young dad. He'll be 25, nearly 26. That's not that young! I suppose because we do "grown up" stuff, like going to National Trust parks and whatnot, we see the parents who are about 40 with their little tots and pushchairs, when we go to the shops then we see the younger parents, but neither of us like hanging around the local mall all day. I've tried to point out the positives: he's young enough to play with the children without his hip replacement playing up (DH's dad has a hip replacement); the children will remember him with hair, something his 30-year-old brother will never have; we don't need thousands and thousands in the bank to have children; they'll have moved out before we retire so at least we're struggling at the right end of our lives; employers often look more favourably on married men with children, because they won't call in with hangovers half the time at work; he spends four-five hours laughing at a bird with diarrhoea and a child would appreciate that too...

Any other reasons why it's great to be a dad at 25? Maybe some men can help with this one if they see this/you lovely ladies ask them. My dad was 28 when I was born (well, 27, 28 the week after I was born) and I know it's great to have a dad who can lift you up on his shoulders, take you out places, it's great to have grandparents, it's great to have great-grandparents, people don't run screaming when you go out in shorts... but DH's dad was 40 when DH was born. He says he doesn't want to be that old, but he just can't see the advantages of us having children this young right now. Could be because he's been in a grumpy mood again of late, but I'd love some more reasons to give to him.