What Age Did Your Parents Become GPs?

[Lilpastry]

I ask because my parents are 55 and 65 and DHs are both 58. We aren't planning kids for about 3 years or so (been together 8, but only married 1).

Anyway, we get lots of frustrated chat (particularly from DHs parents), about time passing and them being too old to be first time grandparents and what are we waiting for etc.

However, neither of us are even 30 yet! DH will be 32 and I'll be 30 when we start trying. All going to plan, my parents will be around 58 and 68 and his will be 61. I don't see the rush, and would say these are normal ages for GPs?

Df was dead, and dm 74. They had me mid thirties, and i was late 30s. I wish they'd been younger and involved, but it is what it is. Dps parents were younger, but live miles away and not really interested sadly.

56 & 61.

My dad was 68 by the time my DC arrived (nieces/nephews are older).

He's a very different grandad to my children. He doesn't have the energy. He was much more involved when he was a few years younger. My mum being 5 years younger than him makes a huge difference - she's much more active, patient and engaged with the kids but even she is less hands on than she was.

My parents were both 53. In laws were 46 and 49. I'm 41 and eldest is 17 so I think it will be a while yet. I know it's not my decision but I would like my younger dc to be a lot more independent before having dgc so I can give my grandchildren more attention and help out if needed. A lot of my friends my age have got grandchildren but a couple have babies and toddlers so it's a real mixture.

My mum was 38 when I had my first at 21. She was a young mum to me. My middle daughter followed in her shoes and had a baby age 17 when I was 42! I'm now 50 and absolutely adore my dgc

They were 57 and 59 when my sister had the first grandchild.
My first child came along when my mum was 66 (i'm 3rd child). My dad sadly didn't meet him.
5 grandchildren altogether so far (there will be 6, if things go to plan!)

My mum wasn’t quite 50, so she was working and didn’t do much grandparenting. I didn’t start having kids till she was 61 I think.

Ugh, that's really grim.

That, to me, is kids having kids.

46 & 48

My parents were 57 and 60. DH's parents were 55 and 57.

time passing and them being too old to be first time grandparents and what are we waiting for etc.

It's not about them. I agree with PP what are they doing to stay healthy?

My FIL was 79 when he became a GP for the first time.

My mum was 44 when I had my first & 45 when I had my second.

My grandma was 67 when I had my first which made her a great grandma. 67 when I had my second.

My great grandma was 88 when I had my first which made her a great, great grandma. 89 when I had my second

I read recently that the average age to become a grandparent for the first time in the UK is 63. I was 60.

My mother was 59 (but old for her age). My father was under 42 or 43 when my half sister had her first at 18.

My mum, about 58-59 I think.

MIL. 61.

My parents were 49 and 51 ,my mil was 36 ! And I was 60. Anything goes . Lol

My ex FIL was 77 which I've always felt was too old to to be honest. He barely has a relationship with his grandchildren - the generational gap is just too big, whereas my parents were around 60

My parents-in-law were both 70 when they got their first grandchild.

Thinking back, my own gran must have been about 59 when her first came along.
She was VERY involved with the first crop of grandchildren who were born in her early 60s.
She was less active with the grandchildren born when she was mid 70s. They didn't live nearby though, so it may have been partly because it was harder to form a bond with them.

Obviously the age they had you also affects how old they are when they become grandparents.

I had my first at 17 (parents were only 37 & 40 because they had also been young) so there’s a chance I’ll be a young GP too (though I hope not!)

I’ve had two more children later so obviously my parents are also now older.

Lol mine were 72 and 76.

76 and 68 for in-laws
Mine 59 and deceased

Both grandmas were 76 when DS was born.

I was 33 and my mum was 59 and dad was 63 when I had my son. Sadly my mam died a year later 😔. I do wish she'd had more time with my son but that's life unfortunately. I wasn't ready to have a child before that point don't let anyone pressure you get in some travelling, festivals and good lie ins while you can!

My mum was 43, 1 year after her last child was born

My parents 68 and 69
MIL 63
FIL died earlier

Comments like this from would-be grandparents make my blood boil! My husband and I had to go through IVF after years of fertility struggles and had our first baby just under 2 years ago at 40, currently about to have no.2 at 42. We met a little later than some couples and simply weren’t ready for kids in the first few years, then when we tried we eventually realised we couldn’t have done it anyway without intervention. Being nagged by our parents about GC would have broken us emotionally as they did not know about our fertility struggles until we told them we were doing IVF. There are 5 grandparents including my stepmum, and when DC1 was born they were all in their early 70s. They all dote on him and have been more than happy to look after him, including occasional overnights. There’s nothing we could have done to have children sooner, it’s just how life worked out, but in any case if and when you have kids is SFA to do with your own parents whether emotionally or biologically!

My DM was 49 and DF was 51 (I was 19 when DD1 was born and DH was 22).

MIL was 54 and FIL 56.