That’s a trivial issue. They only keep you up all night for the first few months. Anyone can endure that. More significant issues are whether you’ll be able to wrestle with your kid, play catch, climb mountains with him/her, see him/her graduate from high school/college, see him/her embark on a career, etc., and so long as one is in reasonably good health, even those shouldn’t be major problems.
Pssshaw. . . I had my girl at age 43 (my wife was 33). No problem getting her pregnant: just in, out, in, out, in, out, in, oops. . . . . and 9 months later I was a daddy. And, our girl is perfectly bright, healthy and free of cellular errors. In fact, we’re now thinking of having a second.
I admit, early 40’s is a little late to have a child, but I guess I wasn’t ready earlier and I don’t see it as a problem. When my girl turns 18 I’ll be 71. Yes, that’s getting old, but people live longer and longer nowadays. I’m fairly fit and healthy and expect to live to about 90 or so. She’ll be 37 then, hopefully graduated from college, embarked on a career, married and with child/ren of her own. Perhaps that’s the most significant issue – how much time will I get to enjoy with my grandkids? That will be nice some day, but. . . whatever. . . things happened the way they happened and I’m perfectly happy with where I am now and am thrilled to be a father, even at my decrepit age.
So, I voted for your last poll option. Enjoy as much time single and/or childless as you can, with the freedom to travel, go to movies, eat nice dinners in peace, etc. Once you have a child those freedoms are substantially reduced, but it’s still worth it for the thrill of parenthood (see Ex. A).
Ex. A