Older Moms with Babies-Why?

[Anonymous]

I'm an older mom.

Do I look old? Probably - but so far no one has mistaken me for a grandma, which is a good sign.
Do I have less energy than when I was in my 20's/early 30's - in some ways, I do. I was hungover and slept a lot in my youth. My energy peaked after 11pm. These days, I am much more alive when my kids are awake. I don't need to nap and feel better. I do miss sleeping in, though.
Will I die when my kids are still young? Maybe.
Do I regret my decision? I regret a lot of my decisions...not this one. My life would have been very different if I started a family when I was younger. Maybe it would have been better, but I loved my college and social experiences of youth. I have a lot of wonderful memories and crazy stories to tell! I will encourage my kids to live their life to the fullest before settling down, but won't think they are crazy if they decide to start a family when they are younger. It is ultimately their decision.
Do I look down on young moms? Not if the decision to start a family was theirs. Yes, if it was an oops and our now living off the sytem to get by (although this applies to older moms too).

[Anonymous]

To answer your ?'s:

I met my husband when I was 26...we married a few months before I turned 29.
We wanted to enjoy married life some before having kids.
I was not 100% sure I wanted kids at the time of marriage.
We were serious partiers...and married much earlier than our friends.
We traveled like fiends...DH worked internationally.
We were having the time of our lives.
We took a 1 year work sabbatical to live in Europe...and go to all of the best festivals.
I am the youngest child and have always felt like 'a baby'. I never felt 'ready'.
When I turned 34 something changed...those things, drinking at clubs, etc no longer seemed that great. had done it all.
Got pregnant on the first try (thankfully so didn't have time to analyze it anymore). Had first born at 35.
Never knew how wonderful and life-changing babies/kids could be.
Got pregnant on first try with second one at 37..birth the month I turned 38.

My feelings. I look young for my age..at 40 I am mistaken for my early 30s. I still run marathons, etc. have tons of energy. Husband is a year younger than me and also incredibly fit.

Looking back--for us we needed 'time'. Looking back-- I prob could have started family maybe 2-3 years earlier than I did...but no regrets.

I was 100% ready when we finally jumped in. I never had the angst of 'what am I missing' . We traveled the world and went to some of the most amazing places. have incredible memories as a couiple.

Plus-- I was given the opportunity to work full-time from home when I was 35...something that wasn't in place at my agency earlier. I think the timing of my kids birth was fantastic because this meant I didn't have
to make the kid/career choice. I have the best balance out there.

I see benefits to young and old...but I think it comes down to when is 'the couple' ready.

[Anonymous]

OP's posting - 07/06/2008

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP's posting - 07/06/2008

...then I prob. just anwered it for the 2nd time

[Anonymous]

I think it is more the second (or third, or more) marriages, where there are grown kids, then small children, that it is most noticeable. Really, if they are not infringing on me or my time, I don't care what their MO is.

[Anonymous]

I love this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a lot to be said for having children at a young age and one is that they may not be left motherless at age four. My mother died at age 41--three months after I turned four--my whole life would have been different...

I am really sorry about losing your mother. However, none of us are promised tomorrow.

[Anonymous]

So who is resurrect the years old, controversial threads? There was another one in Expectant Moms section.

[Anonymous]

OP- you are so immature- life is not so planned or bucketed- if you are x age - you should do y... some people don't meet their DH's til later- and there may issues conceiving, or the couple wants to make sure they are financially secure, - good for you to be what you consider a young mom- but then you're the highest stat of being a divorced mom (stat means statistics)