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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To want some positive stories from women who were happily single at 32, met a great partner later, and had kids naturally?

90 replies

ShyGoldDreamer · 18/04/2025 23:24

I’ve just turned 32. I’m genuinely happy and content with my life - single but not stressed about it. I get a lot of attention but I’m not actively dating at the moment. I’m open to a relationship when the right opportunity comes along but I’m not in any rush.

That said, I know 32 is a bit of a milestone age and occasionally I wonder… should I be worried? Should I be doing more? There’s no pressure from family or friends - this is more of an internal check-in.
I’ve noticed that some women I know and meet around my age seem to be quite anxious about timelines, which has made me reflect a little - even though I’m not feeling that pressure myself.

I’d love to hear positive stories from women who were in a similar place at 32 - happily single, doing their thing - who later met a great partner, got married, and had children naturally without any issues. Did it all work out in the end?

Just looking for a bit of reassurance and inspiration really.

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TaranFollt · 20/04/2025 21:28

Single in my early 30s. Met DP when I was 34. Conceived quickly and naturally at 36 (second attempt) and we started living together when I was pregnant. Gave birth age 37.
That was a good few years ago and our DC is now in secondary school. We have one child through choice.

MakeItRain · 20/04/2025 21:28

Met my (now ex)h at 34, had my children naturally in my late 30s/early 40s. Now I'm a happily single mum of teens.

Saturdayrabbit42 · 20/04/2025 21:25

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Devilsmommy · 20/04/2025 21:24

Single at 32, met DH at 35, married and had ds at 36. Definitely doable 😊

scorpiogirly · 20/04/2025 21:22

I was single at 32. Unfortunately met a dickhead but did get pregnant at 36.

SemmaLina · 20/04/2025 21:21

Was single ( and not particularly happy ) at age 32
Met DH at age 33 ( and 3 months ) married 6 months later , and had DS 10 months later , with DD born just over 2 years later
Both babes conceived naturally second month of trying
It’s been over 30 years now …

OhCrumbsWhereNow · 20/04/2025 21:21

Single at 32, met DH a few weeks after my birthday. I had completely different plans and changed them on the spot (not my normal way of doing things!)

Married at 35 and had DD 10 months later.

Getting pregnant was very easy, being pregnant was awful (HG, sueing my bastard employer and severe antenatal depression), very nearly died having her and decided we were one and done.

Pixiedust49 · 20/04/2025 21:16

Married at 26, widowed at 32 without children. Met my second husband aged 36 and had DD aged 39 naturally. You never know what is around the corner…

ToxicRepair · 20/04/2025 20:55

Hadn't even met the father of my children when I was 32!

First conceived naturally after 7 months trying (I was 35), and second wasn't trying and fell pregnant but extremely happy aged 39.

14 years later we divorced but even though its obviously not what I would have wanted at the outset, my life is blissful now.

ImaginaryLobster · 20/04/2025 20:00

Broke up long term relationship going nowhere at 33 then met my now partner later in the year, now 37 and currently 14 weeks pregnant with out first natural convinced child
Didn't think I'd have kids due to age i "started again" so happily shocked that it all worked out

CaptainCavey · 20/04/2025 19:55

Would you consider looking into freezing your eggs?

Matilda1981 · 19/04/2025 15:20

Not quite the same but I was happily single (after going through an horrific divorce) at 35 with 2 children when I met my husband, had 2 more children at age 37 and 39

Mamma2025 · 19/04/2025 15:19

I met my future DH at 29, married at 35, kids at 37. It’s possible to meet someone and have it all later! But having done it I wish I had started earlier in my 20s.

CakeBlanchett · 19/04/2025 15:18

A close friend of mine was with her boyfriend from 19-28, then had a sad breakup as he changed his mind about having children. Stayed single till she was 33, then met a lovely man, married him at 35, had kids at 36 and 38. A little later than she had planned but they are very compatible and happy as a family.

Mandylovescandy · 19/04/2025 15:17

Single for several years until 32, then met someone who I was with for a couple of years but it didn't work out and was single again (very happily) at 35 and was worried was a bit late for DC but met DP at 36, DC before 40

DottyV · 19/04/2025 15:13

My friend was happily single at 32. Met her now dh at 33, had 3 dcs naturally. They are very happy

ChiliFiend · 19/04/2025 15:05

I was married and had my first child before I was 32, but several of our friends weren't - pretty much all of them had a partner and their first (naturally conceived) child by the time we were 40, and some had a second after that.

pillowfighter · 19/04/2025 14:49

Oh and I will add I am not massively overweight just need to lose a stone. We both drink regularly every weekend but don’t smoke. I’ve been told I’m highly fertile too by a dr.

pillowfighter · 19/04/2025 14:45

I was a single then at 36 met my partner & moved in together. Then had our baby girl at 37 naturally first try. It was quick but we both wanted it. So it can happen. If I wouldn’t have been pregnant by 39. I wouldn’t have tried anymore 39 was my cut off but that’s my preference.

oustedbymymate · 19/04/2025 14:37

My dsis. Exactly this. Meet her Dh when she was 34 they now have two kids (last one when she was 40) and are due to get married next year

vdbfamily · 19/04/2025 14:32

My DH was my first boyfriend. I met him when I was 32, married at 33 and by 39 had 3 kids who are now all adults.
By your 30's you should know what you are looking for and so commitment and children can happen a bit quicker than when you are early 20's.

Pleasegodgotosleep · 19/04/2025 14:32

Met Dh on line 6 months before I turned 35. Got married on my 36th bday. Had dd1 2 months before our first anniversary and dd2 a few months before we turned 40.

We never forget how lucky we are.

ExpatMum41 · 19/04/2025 14:21

Coali · 19/04/2025 00:15

Broke up at 32 from an awful long term relationship. Met a wonderful man at 35, we bought a house a year after dating, then had a blast (holidays, theatre, galleries, concerts, just saying yes to everything). It was an amazing time of my life, had a bit more money then so we could afford to do the things we wanted. Got married three years later, had a baby 18m after that! He’s the most amazing man, we are so compatible (but not similar), share the mental, household, and financial load and love our little family. I couldn’t be happier.

Mine's very similar, only we were 34 when we met, 35 when we married, had our daughter at 38 (IVF, since my PCOS was stopping me from ovulating), then when we were 40 our surprise naturally-conceived son was born (the IVF drugs clearly fixed my hormones somewhat!).

OP, I was on POF (and getting very frustrated by it) when I met my husband, though I actually met him through friends, while on holiday in their country, in a pub. I very nearly didn't go out that night either, as I was tired after the previous 2 nights' pubbing sessions 😂

TunnocksOrDeath · 19/04/2025 09:09

Single at 33, met DH as a friend, started dating about 3 years later, then married, Got pregnant naturally at 40 after 4 months trying. Trouble-fee pregnancy. Baby at 41.
I will say though, that neither of us has ever smoked, we don't consume alcohol more than a few times a year, & are not over- or under- weight. All of those factors can impact fertility for men and women. Also DH & I didn't have any underlying health problems. So I know we were very lucky in that regard. We tweaked our diet and started taking supplements once we decided that we wanted a child.
So although it was all lovely and easy for us, I'm not naive enough to suggest that this would happen for everyone.

SmallSoupcon · 19/04/2025 09:00

ShyGoldDreamer · 18/04/2025 23:24

I’ve just turned 32. I’m genuinely happy and content with my life - single but not stressed about it. I get a lot of attention but I’m not actively dating at the moment. I’m open to a relationship when the right opportunity comes along but I’m not in any rush.

That said, I know 32 is a bit of a milestone age and occasionally I wonder… should I be worried? Should I be doing more? There’s no pressure from family or friends - this is more of an internal check-in.
I’ve noticed that some women I know and meet around my age seem to be quite anxious about timelines, which has made me reflect a little - even though I’m not feeling that pressure myself.

I’d love to hear positive stories from women who were in a similar place at 32 - happily single, doing their thing - who later met a great partner, got married, and had children naturally without any issues. Did it all work out in the end?

Just looking for a bit of reassurance and inspiration really.

I think you're putting too much pressure on yourself. You don't need to impose arbitrary deadlines. I met my husband-to-be at 34, had kids at 37 and 40. I have two beautiful, healthy boys.