48/M Spouse's pursuit of their dreams versus one of mine 36/F as the window of opportunity closes. . .

I am 36/F and spouse is 48/M. I have mostly dreamt of having children throughout life. However when love seemed to take longer than expected, I accepted that both may never happen and stopped searching for them. I focused on my life in solitude. I have passions and goals that I have filled my time with. Things that are still being worked on that I still love.

I met my spouse 4 years ago and though we had conversations regarding children we both accepted that it may or may not happen (Before me they never wanted any). I had pushed the dream away for so long that I was happy with having found love and still pursuing my other dreams.

But the old dreams began to awaken the deeper my love grew for them and the more time that went on. My spouse was surprised but said that they would be open to it.

However, they only want to go that route if they get to start their business and work from home for themselves in something creative which could take many years to reach any decent income. They do not want their life to become just working to support a wife and child in a hellish job.

I am the main financial provider right now. And I want to be able to stop work for a year if I had a child.

It feels wrong to ask spouse to give up their dreams to become what they never expected to be. But I will feel regret if I never even have the opportunity to try to become a mother.

Being a mother hasn't been my only dream, by far. But it has been a strong dream.

How does one make these kinds of sacrifices or ask one whom they love to sacrifice?