At the moment I'm feeling really broody. All my life I've wanted kids and to be a good dad. All through primary school playing mummy and daddies I was always the daddy and I loved it. Recently though I have wanted a child even more. It's impossible right now too, I'm 18, single and off to university. Fatherhood is years away yet. I don't know why I feel like this. I just feel empty without a child and when I see people happily with children it just makes me long for a child even more. I don't know why it's so intense. Has anybody else experienced this or know how to get over it?

I've experienced it and even touched on it in my blog https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,121290.0.html

I get like that from time to time.  It effects me when I see fathers with their childrens (especially sons) and my dysphoria shoots up.  For me, it gets intense because I know I could never get a female pregnant.

I cope by thinking about how much money I would save by not having kids.  I could have more money for me.  Plus, I'm doing a favor for my unborn kids by not bringing them into this world, for religious purposes and otherwise.  I would like to think that my unborn children would thank me.  Besides, this world is overpopulated as it is.  Not only am I doing my "kids" a favor, I'm doing the world a favor.

But I mostly try to focus on the money aspect.  No kids = more money in my pocket  More money in my pocket = quicker transition and more anime convention trips

How to get over it? You're 18, live a little first.

There is plenty of time in the future for you to decide what exactly you want to do to become a parent. There are options to have your own genetic children or adopt, that's all up to you. The greatest thing you could do for your future child is to get a good education and have a great career so one day you can support them with what they need.

That is one reason I'm 31, my gf is 27, and we still don't plan on having a child for another decade. People do it all the time when they're not financially or emotionally prepared and the child is the one to suffer for it. I don't believe in having a spoiled brat but I do believe a child should never have a need that goes unfulfilled.

My advice is to focus on yourself first.

I agree with Simon. I'm 27 and would love to have kids but now is just not the right time. I went through a short window of panic where I second guessed transitioning. I wondered if I should get knocked up so my husband and I could have a kid of our own. Then I came to my senses and realized that I did not want that headache and that I need to get my life straight so that I don't have any distractions when we start a family.