Received some distresing news. So, how did YOU know you were ready??

[Yipee]

I guess a big part of being "ready" is wanting a child more than you want the things you'll have to give up (time, money, freedom, temporarily your body, etc). Depending on your financial situation and other factors, you could be giving up a lot or a little. For me, I got to the point where I wanted kids more than I wanted the freedom to do what I wanted when I wanted. The idea of spending time at home with a baby or child is more appealing at this point in my life than, say, wilderness back-packing.