Having a plan for how you’re going to pay off your debt is significantly more important than actually paying it off. The reality is there are several ways you could approach the debt, one of which of course being to prioritize it above all else until it’s gone. However, it sounds like finding a way to pay it off over a longer period of time to allow room in your life for other important goals is a better fit for you.

As the parent of a teenager, my observation is that childcare is very expensive, and that even when a child reaches school-age, one parent will see substantial plateau in income. Just not be able to put in as many hours. I would do everything possible to pay off that debt before you have a child.