I have a 9 year old girl (just turned nine Saturday). I never thought that I would have kids when I was younger. Then again, I never thought I would live past 30 either
As far as not wanting kids because of the fear that it might slow you down, there is nothing farther from the truth. It might slow you down from wasting your life and money away but that is it. Having kids MAKES you move forward. Every day that I wake up and see her lovely face, every day that she gives me a hug, every day that she draws me a picture, or comes crying to me because she knows I will fix [enter anything here], MAKES me work my butt off because I want her to have the best life that any child has ever had.
I could not imagine life without her.