I have to start with, there is no "right" age to marry. In an era of a divorce on every block, waiting for the right person is so important.

That said, I married at 22, am now still very happily married and at 26 have had two children and we are done. I am ecstatic that when I am 43 I will have an empty nest. I will, hopefully, be quite young when I have grandchildren, able to run around and play with them and watch them grow up into adulthood, perhaps see great-grandchildren. At 43 the people who by choice or by lot in life waited to start families, will be dealing with the terrible two's and babies waking them at all hours. That is if they can still have biological children. I conceived very easily to children not at increased risk of problems like down sydrome or schitzophrenia (which research has shown older fathers can contribute to, autism as well). I have had the energy to put up with the sleep deprivation and a toddler's very active lifestyle. I lived the single carefree life for 4 years prior to marriage. It had its perks, but I am much happier now and have never felt any longing for "freedom". I will enjoy freedom when I am older and actually have, hopefully, far more money in my pocket than when I was 20.

I'm sure many will get fired up over this. I truly hope not. This is my very personal story. I know many younger mothers who would have been better suited to have been a good decade older when having children. I know that many people in the late 30's and 40's have healthy happy children, or adopted, and wouldnt have it any other way. I know many people have great times being sinlge through their 20's, it just wasnt for me.

For my two daughters, I would encourage them to marry when they feel the time is right, for them, IF they would want to do that. I am young, and my views are different, I also see no problem with never marrying. My husband and I would be just as happy today if we hadnt, our main reason was in fact that I needed his better-than-mine insurance in order to have the children we wanted. We all have different paths in life and there is simply no right or wrong to this. Science is making leaps and bounds with fertility, even with egg freezing research. And as I said, adoption is a beautful thing, something I am considering, to get the boy God/Nature did not give us.

I wish everyone the best and all to do what makes them happy. Life can be amazing at any age, marriage or no, children or no, it is what you make of it. I am very pleased with mine so far.