Advanced Aged Parenting

What are the benefits of being an older parent?

Whether you become a parent at 20, 30 or 40, one thing remains the same: you are a mother of a precious child that looks up to you for everything. Because more couples are waiting to become pregnant until later in their childbearing years, there are more parents that are considered to be of advanced age.

The benefits of being an older parent are plentiful. The majority of individuals that wait to become pregnant until later in their childbearing years are stable in their careers and marriage and have established a stable environment to raise a chid in. Research has shown that older parents are typically more relaxed and patient parents than younger parents.

Although these certainly do not apply to everyone, the disadvantages of being an older parent may include less energy to play with the children, fear of becoming sick or disabled during the child's young years or a decreased interest in engaging in child-friendly activities.

Comments: Advanced Aged Parenting

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princess68 - 1 days ago.
i had my first at 17 and now am having my second at 41

cali02 - 41 days ago.
I just had my first baby at 42. I never really felt maternal when I was younger, but now my little girl is the best thing to have ever happened to me. :-)

RobinG - 41 days ago.
Wow 10th? Amazing :) Yeah we are here but sadly this particular forum is often pretty quiet :) There are a number of us around though :)

alomah - 42 days ago.
Wow! Is there any older mums out there. It says on my screen that the last msg on this forum was 133 days ago. Well I'll start the ball rolling again. I had my first baby when I was 17 and now I'm 44 and expecting my 10th baby. I would love to hear from other older mums.....just so I know I'm not the only one. Lol

judi - 175 days ago.
Congratulations Minesotamoms! I am 43 and had my 6th baby last year. My twin sister and I were born when my mother was 42, and our brother is only a year older than us: we're all fine! Having kids when you're older keeps you young, I reckon! :)

teresa08 - 190 days ago.
Congratulations MinnesotaMoms!!! I think motherhood in the 40's is wonderful. I am enjoying my little one. I was a teen mom and now a mom in her 40's and even though I think I was a good mom in my younger years I think I have so much more patience and understanding now. Enjoy and take care

MinnesotaMoms - 190 days ago.
Hello all! I am 43 and having my first baby ever (18 weeks). It was a total accident so I am a bit dismayed my life is not more in order for this little miracle (ah me, the perpetual teenager!), and also a bit frustrated by the medical community continuously calling me a 'high-risk' pregnancy, as if a woman 'my age' has a already condemned her unborn child to a life of disease and debauchery. I might add I conceived the good old fashioned way -- half a bottle of vodka and a party horn! My mother had 2 children over 40 (when I was in high school and beyond) and they were physically fine. To me one of the major benefits of having children when you are older is the fact you tend to be just a bit more patient and understanding. You don't expect perfection and I think you know that every resistance your child displays is not necessarily a battle to be fought and won by the parent. Nearly every 'young' parent in my family has been abusive, physically and emtionally; neglectful; bullying; and intent on having and conquering power struggles. I can think of few (if any) who have been all about the love. Many people who have had children in my family at an early age have quite a bit of disdain for them and have in the past encouraged me NOT to have children citing they can only ruin your life. My life may not be perfect, but I have done most of everything I have wanted to, so accident or not, I feel this child is coming to me at an emotionally perfect time. Times will be hard, but the love I have for this little stranger insided me will carry us both through, despite being a woman my age. The only risk I run is loving this kid so much he/she may never want to leave home.

res - 212 days ago.
I'm 40 and pregnant with baby #2. I don't feel my age, and still have lots of energy. I have a lot of friends having babies at this age, so I don't think it's that uncommon anymore.

mamagarces - 214 days ago.
judi, i agree with you. i am 40, will be 41 when my baby arrives. i have a 14 month old, a 3 year old, a 17 year old, and a 20 year old. i also have a 2 year old granddaughter. who has time to grow old? i am too busy playing, running around, and lifting babies.... talk about a workout! i love it, and wouldn't have it any other way. this is the last baby that hubby and i actively try for (we had to use the aid of clomid for our 3 little ones) but if God decides he wants our family to grow even larger, we will be more than happy to accept more babies. wishing everyone here a healthy, happy pregnancy, and baby. and those trying to conceive, best wishes for you as well take care mommies. :-)

judi - 214 days ago.
teresa08, that's awesome! Ha, I think having babies keeps us young! lol!

judi - 214 days ago.
Good for you, ragtopgirl! Sunshinemaria, I hope you can convince your hubby to try for another - nothing is more precious! I'm 43 and hubby is 48: our baby is 7 months old, and her 2 sisters and 3 brothers range in age up to 17 years old. 40 is certainly NOT too old to have a baby, especially for the Dad - his body doesn't have to support the pregnancy. I must say that this last pregnancy was taking its toll on me (varicose veins were worse than in previous pregnancies) but I'm back in shape again and feel fit and well.

ragtopgirl - 225 days ago.
i'm 42 and have a 14 month old and me and hubby are trying again! :)

bellas-mum - 236 days ago.
sunshinemaria-I felt the same as your hubby,but i let nature take its course,if it was meant to then i would fall pregnant & if it wasnt then i would fall pregnant.we are having our very last baby,DF would love another but this pregnancy has been very hard on me n i dont think i could go again.fingers crossed your hubby will get clucky n change his mind.

sunshinemaria - 236 days ago.
I wish I could bottle you wonderful ladies' confidence and give it to my husband. I'm 32 and he's 40. He has 3 kiddos from a previous marriage (22, 16, & 15) and we have a 1 year old together. He doesn't want anymore kiddos b/c he feels too old to have any more. We were at a store the other day and an old friend popped up and said to him, 'It's a great day to be out with the grandkids, isn't it?' AS IF I NEEDED ANYMORE CRAP TO DEAL WITH!!! I'm so sad b/c I'm totally ready for another but I don't think I'm going to be able to convince him that he's plenty young enough. If it wasn't me that I was thinking about, I'd still think 40 is plenty young. I keep praying he'll change his mind. Thanks for letting me talk.

teresa08 - 237 days ago.
Hi ladies, I'll be 47 this Wednesday and my children are 30, 27, 24 and my baby just had his 1st birthday this week. I also have two grandchildren which are 6 and 6 months. When I was pregnanct with my youngest I had MS but was very healthy other wise. My Perientologist had commented on my blood work that the results were that of a 35 year old which made me feel good to hear. Here's a story that made me feel good. I recently had to stop by my son's work to pick something up from him, later some of his coworkers asked him if I was his wife and he said no, that's my mom. They commented that I looked very young. I second that Oldie44..We do rock!

bellas-mum - 238 days ago.
im 37(will be 37 when i have bub)i have 4 girls,17,13,6 n 2 & 1 boy,my eldest daughter gets weird looks when she takes her youngest sister to the library cause ppl think that they are mother n daughter lol.Im 23 weeks pregnant n im getting or the aches n pains that i missed out with all my other pregnacies,n this time i have placenta previa so im hoping my US at 32 weeks shows the placenta has moved cause im shit scared of having a C-section

Mossy1966 - 238 days ago.
Hi everyone, I also wanted to share my story. I am 42, and am 71/2 weeks preg. This will be my 2nd child(fingers crossed as I have had a few miscarriages in the past) I have a daughter that is almost 10. I am very proud to be having another child at this fabulous age!! I have been told that I don't look my age as I have kept pretty fit over the years. I have not had any sickness (yet) and feeling really good! I also work fulltime, and manager for my daughters netball team, so I am still rather busy and not too tired. Good luck to all the ladies out there!!

oldie44 - 238 days ago.
I am 45 and have 24, 20, 7 and 9 months old. People think me to be a grandma all the time, especially when my 24 yo is with me. I like to brag about my age in relation to my naturally concieved very healthy adorable son. I think it is awosome! I think I am the oldest mom on this forum. Tess42 supported me through my worries during my prego days and here I am, had absolutely normal 40 weeks pregnancy, delivered 9lb5.5oz baby naturally with no epidural, still breastfeeding, and so far (knock on the wood) managed through the sick season with only one bounce of stomack flu. I am going for the Guiness record of fewest visit to Dr - last time we went to Dr was on Aug 8, 1 month after birth. So, we, older moms, rock!

DaynaG - 250 days ago.
I hear you ladies on the age thing, I'm dreeding the first dr. appt. don't want to hear the at your age thing again. I am 42 have a 19, 18, 4, and 11mon. and I am about 6 weeks preggo. I am very tired and have little patience. I wish you all well and would like to become friends and keep up during everybodys preggo, it helps to share thoughts and feelings. It helped with my last one to get on here and talk to everyone.

CelticBabe2009 - 255 days ago.
Wow.....I am so glad to finally find you all! I am 37 with a 2 year old and 11 weeks with another. Fortunately, most of my life I have looked younger than my age, though I do have a good bit of gray in the front. I do feel a little old though when teen girls tell me that their moms are my age. Or how about the reaction the OB has to our 'advanced reproductive age'. If I hear another 'well, at YOUR age....' I will have to scream. I also get a lot of 'don't expect the next baby to be like your daughter, because you are older now' Like a few years suddenly dooms me! The main thing now is that this pregnancy is wearing me out, so I am a little edgy. How does everyone keep up with the younger moms and their boundless energy?

RobinG - 256 days ago.
Welcome! :) There are def some here :) I am 42, I have a 13 year old, a 9 year old and a 16 month old :) There are moms on here that are young enough to be my own daughter and there are moms on here who have moms my age, lol. :) Its a great site! Glad you found us :)

Vikki - 256 days ago.
Hi there Wondaj- I too have a 20yr old. AND 18, 9,8,6,4 and 1mth! :-)

wondaj - 256 days ago.
I am glad that I found this site, everyone that I talk to is so young and having their 1st child, I am 37 and have a 10 month old. I thought for the longest time that I was the only person in the world that did this. I just came across this forum today. I have a 20 (almost year old) and when I am out in public with my kids, they think that I am the grandma and my son is the father.

Tess42 - 315 days ago.
Actually, Stacey, I really do think you are on to something about our attitude. I know I look older than when I last gave birth (I was 29), but I am SO much more relaxed and happier than when I was younger. I've thought mabye it's because I've successfully raised an 18 year old and he didn't manage to eat poison, have to repeat a grade several times or rob a bank! But I've noticed older moms who are mothers for the first time are similar in attitude. So we must just be special, LOL!

staceyh - 315 days ago.
I am 40 with a 5 month old and everywhere I go people think he is my grandchild...I have never had anyone think he is MY child!! I went to eat at a small restaurant a couple of weeks ago and the YOUNG guy behind the counter was looking over at Ezra in his carseat and never said anything to me...that night I was looking for a receipt in my wallet and looked at THAT receipt...HE GAVE ME THE SENIOR CITIZEN DISCOUNT!!! LOL he must have thought I was the grandmother!!! too funny!! I do not have any gray hairs!! I really think it is because we (older moms) enjoy our babies so much and it shows in public...like proud grandparents!!!