From Paula T: "My main argument was that that this is not a new situation.....I don't believe that today's teenagers are any more immoral than in the past."

This was the feeling I had about it as well....I haven't seen it the papers, can't afford any, it just came up briefly on radio 4 (pm, I think). So I haven't seen any of the details

I know a 12 year old lad who in the last 2 years has shot up to 6 foot something, his voice has broken etc etc. I know that's early, but I'm sure he'd be capable of fathering a child, though I don't suppose he would.

The age of average marriage has gone up and down over the centuries, from my quite extensive reading of social history - I think to say it was always much earlier than now is too sweeping, but I think that the present situation is leaving things a bit late.

I had my son & daughter at 22/23, which meant that by the time they were booted out to university at 19, I was able to look at some extensive "me" time, which I'm now enjoying.
They've chosen to wait (in one case) till 35. Granddaughter hits puberty as daughter hits the menopause - not a good combination, IMO.

Paws