Its a very serious question and one that can even be a deal breaker in a marriage. Kids can be so much more then a person you take care of and bring to school. We felt as you did and were in middle age when out of the blue we started taking care of abused kids in the Foster care program. We adopted them (YES they do allow that now) and have never looked back. I hope you can give the option of kinds or not a serious look and try to think ahead of your lives right now. And "maybe" even ponder Foster Care and or Adoption. There are some wonderful children who are in awful fixes and would love to have parents who can feed them regularly, keep them clean and love them. You don't need to be a Saint to seem like one to kids who have been beaten and abused.

hugs - p