Are we talking quality or quantity here? I’m in about the same situation as you, only I’m a little farther down the road. Out of law school at 24, married at 26, first house at 28, first child at 29, second at 33. I’m 50 now, both boys are well-grounded Christian men who appear to have good futures ahead of them. I really do believe that it’s because my wife and I made the choice to go about things in this order:
1. Education
2. Career
3. Marriage
4. Home
5. Child
If you move “child” up the list, statistically you lessen the chances of the child to be successful in life. Not always, there are certainly individual exceptions, and I don’t mean to stereotype. But I don’t like to run risks with the future of my children.
Sure, my wife and I could have had eight kids and started when we were 22. It all depends on whether you want quality or quantity.
I had my first child at 18 and my fifth when I was 30. I made my family my priority even when my first marriage ended and I was a single mom with three children and no education struggling to feed and house us all.
They are all successful. There ages are 22 years to 34. They have children and homes, they work hard, are educated and are rich in family and love.
Values matter. Money? - not so much.
I totally agree with your list for my two children. I lived my life with the list out of order:
1. Marriage
2. Child(ren)
3. Home
4. Education
5. Career
It worked out because my husband was military. But we have been telling my children (boy and girl) they need to do YOUR list. It is much easier.