(no subject)

[waterspyder]

I get a lot of comments in Ottawa that people can't believe I'm only 26, married, and I'm starting a family. Then I realize I know very few people with children in Ottawa, and fewer still who are married.

Lately I've been getting back in touch with people from back home. The majority of my classmates and peers are married, and even more have children (almost all of them).

I have to wonder what's so culturally different between Ottawa and the GTA that would prompt this noticeable gap.

Comments

[simply-fiendish.livejournal.com]

I found no gap between the GTA and Ottawa. I was 26 and living common law in Toronto when I was pregnant with my first. I was the first of my friends to live with a partner, although this was not my first partner that I lived with (23 yrs.old with my 1st), the first to have a child, the first to get married, buy a house and the first to get separated. Through all that, everyone I knew (Ottawa and TO) were no where close to any of those things. Over half are still not. I think for most of the people I know, their priorities were school, then career and then activities and interests. They all seem to enjoy their jobs, independence and their lives. Changing that is not a priority when they feel they have a good thing now. Not to mention, their busy lives and careers does interfere with meeting datable people too. The ones that have "settled down" and starting families just started in the last 4 years. Well into their 30's and 12 years after me! It was kind of the running joke that I was the guinea pig thrown out to test the waters and see how it goes for everyone else.