Mary Williams, of Peoria, Ariz., and her husband of three years have two beautiful little girls. They have good jobs and they own their own home. To most people, the Williams' are living the American dream. And they achieved it all before they could legally share a toast of champagne to celebrate.

In a career-oriented society filled with people who are marrying in their late twenties and waiting for children until they are in their thirties, a small percentage of couples are ignoring the trends.

"I always knew I wanted to be a mom," says 21-year-old Julie Hammers of Portland, Ore. "A career is not important to me. I love my husband, and he loves me. So, why shouldn't we have kids?"

While the best time to have children varies greatly for every couple, there are a few factors anyone can consider before deciding whether to become a young parent.

Motherhood might just be the greatest marathon you'll ever run. One minute you're chasing a toddler, the next you're chasing a soccer ball -- and it doesn't stop there. At every stage of the game, mom is required to keep up.

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