Anecdata

2011-03-18T18:18:51Z

I was the first person I knew from college to get married, I think (at age 25) - even though a couple of women I knew in college eventually married their college-era partners. I was also the first person I knew from college to have a child (at a week shy of 31). I have several high school and college friends and acquaintances who are having babies now - in the 37-40 age bracket - in many cases, a first child. So I got curious as to how unusual I was for my demographic - I went to a seven sisters college, graduating in 1994.

My class:
L, G, L, L, M, B, ML, E, A, me
Married: 9 of 10 (two to each other)
Have children: 5 of 10 (one other is actively trying)
Age at birth of first child: 30 (me), 32, 35, 37, 38

Class above me:
G, K, A, JJ, R, L, H
Married: 4 of 7
Have children: 3, one is pregnant with first child (estimated based on kid age)
Age at birth of first child: 31, 35, 36, 39

Class below me:
S, S, E, L
Married: 1 (1 other is in a long-term cohabiting relationship but not married) of 4
Have children: 1
Age at birth of first child: 37

Yeah, I guess I'm unusual. The funny thing is, I was not particularly interested in being married or having children when I was in college; I had no serious relationships in high school or college, and was pretty indifferent to the idea of children. I certainly did not automatically expect to have a domestic future.

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Anecdata