How do you feel about being an older Dad?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I understand that one can't generalize -- however, my kids are now young adults (I'm in my mid- 50's), and in a couple of cases, it is worrisome to me to see folks in their 50's with school-age children, because in one case, the couple just seems really tired (with a high-schooler who has a serious mental health problem) and in another, one parent has developed a serious health problem. No, you can't predict, but the odds are different. I stay out late on occasion, but I'm glad I'm not doing those late-night bar/bat mitzvah pickups -- you still need to be able to supervise teens.

These are not a function of their age. I know a number of families with special needs children and the parents are often "just really tired" and exhausted from caring for their special needs child. Some of them are in the 30's and some in their 40's. Frankly, it's a function of your physical strength and stamina and varies more per person than it does per age. Likewise, I know some friends who are in their late 20's and early 30's and had children and developed serious health problems. The health issues that they developed are not age-related at all, but they developed health issues that required them to take extended leave from work.

You seem to want to attribute unrelated issues to age but you haven't shown any correlation between the situations and your conclusions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reading this thread made me so sad. My DH is 43 and we really, really want another baby. But..seeing how kids feel about having older parents once they get into high school, get married, have kids, etc really puts things in perspective.

We feel so young, but when you realize how old you'll be when your kid graduates from college...

Please pp, don't let the opinions of internet strangers dictate how large your family should be. People are always going to find fault with their parents. Always. If most people had kids when they were under 25 the lament would be how poor they grew up and why didn't their parents wait until they were more settled in life and knew what they wanted, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another advise is do not dress poorly.

My older daddy often dressed poorly bc he didn't care anymore. So not only he was the oldest daddy but also the poorest dressed daddy. I was pretty embarrassed when he showed up in school occasionally.

Wow. He raised a really shallow child. How sad. I doubt that was a function of his age, though.

So if u want to dress like a homeless, no one will care except your kids.

Hope ur judgementl attitude works well with ur kids.

This is a board for people age 50 and over, not teenagers. While not a heavily enforced rule, manners and complete sentences are appreciated. Just a public service announcement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reading this thread made me so sad. My DH is 43 and we really, really want another baby. But..seeing how kids feel about having older parents once they get into high school, get married, have kids, etc really puts things in perspective.

We feel so young, but when you realize how old you'll be when your kid graduates from college...

I'm 48 with a 6 and 10 yo.

can't say I give a shit about what others think

My kids are beautiful, smart and for the most part, well behaved outside of the home! So if my age is a problem for someone, I simply present my kids to them, and it shuts them up.

If you're insecure, however, don't have kids at ANY age.

[Anonymous]

I find it odd that, in defense of having kids older, that people are saying: "My Dad was 30'ish when I was born, but died when I was 35'ish." So...your Dad was 65'ish? Isn't that what the argument is...that older Dads won't live as long to see their kids grow up?

[Anonymous]

I was 38 when DD was born. Now 51. DW was 35. I wish we younger now, because no 12 yo (almost 13) should need to constantly worry about her father's health....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was 38 when DD was born. Now 51. DW was 35. I wish we younger now, because no 12 yo (almost 13) should need to constantly worry about her father's health....

What's wrong with your health?? 51 is young.

My parents are 72 and 73 and still workout at Gold's Gym. They get mistaken for my 7 and 9 year old's parents.

I had mine at 35 and 38 and I play sports, run races with them, etc. I'm 45 and don't feel any different than I did in my late 20s--but I've always been very active.