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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

When your kids are 18 how old will you be??

483 replies

RevolvingPivot · 05/07/2021 09:52

Dd1 44
Dd2 46

OP posts:
Justme10 · 05/07/2021 13:04

41&43

I've never thought about it but I quite like those ages

casade13 · 05/07/2021 13:04

Ds1 48
Ds2 58

Littlefish · 05/07/2021 13:05

55

CharlieWorkCharlieSad · 05/07/2021 13:06

@stealthbanana

53&55

This thread is an eye opener. I don’t know a single person who would be anywhere near 40 when their oldest turns 18. My friend with the oldest child had hers at 27 (and she referred to herself as a “child bride” Grin).

It’s like another world.

I am the only one out a group of 12 of us (meet up regularly/WhatsApp group) who had my children young.

They are all in their 40s + whilst I'm only 32! And we have the same age children.

I feel common on this thread. Uncommon in real life!

SE13Mummy · 05/07/2021 13:06

45 and 50.

cartwheelsareus · 05/07/2021 13:09

Oldest 44, youngest 67 .

BeforeLight · 05/07/2021 13:10

42 and 44

TiredButDancing · 05/07/2021 13:10

@stealthbanana

53&55

This thread is an eye opener. I don’t know a single person who would be anywhere near 40 when their oldest turns 18. My friend with the oldest child had hers at 27 (and she referred to herself as a “child bride” Grin).

It’s like another world.

DH and are relatively "old" parents in our social circle and at the DC's school.... but yes to this. By this thread we are positively geriatric!! I'll be 52 and 56. DH even older. Most of the school parents seem to be between 2-8 years younger than me so I guess they'd all be in their mid-late 40s.
Hardbackwriter · 05/07/2021 13:11

@stealthbanana

53&55

This thread is an eye opener. I don’t know a single person who would be anywhere near 40 when their oldest turns 18. My friend with the oldest child had hers at 27 (and she referred to herself as a “child bride” Grin).

It’s like another world.

Same - I got married at 28, had DS1 at 31 and DS2 at 33 and was the first of my friendship group to do any of those things!

In theory I understand the 'ah but I'll have all the child-free adventure times when I'm in my 40s and my children are adults' argument for having them young but a) realistically that won't be the same experience - it may well be better, but it won't be like being young, free and unencumbered and b) from what I see it barely ever happens. A few of my mum's friends thought this would be them and actually they were still pretty tied down by mortgages and jobs and then their own children had children young and they became very hands on young grandparents (if your kids have babies aged 20 realistically they're unlikely to be able to afford childcare), which has its own advantages but absolutely none of them had the wild and free years in their 40s and 50s that they thought would be their recompense for not having them in their 20s.

Camomila · 05/07/2021 13:11

46 for DS1, 52 for DS2.

Shedoesntevengohere1 · 05/07/2021 13:12

DD1- 36
DS1- 39
DD2- 41
DD3- 44 Smile

RevolvingPivot · 05/07/2021 13:15

Is anyone on this thread a grandparent under 40?

OP posts:
MegaClutterSlut · 05/07/2021 13:17

I was 37 when ds was 18 and I'll be 42 when dd is 18

Noselinh · 05/07/2021 13:17

51
53
56

FilthyforFirth · 05/07/2021 13:17

50 and 53. Which I thought was pretty standard but perhaps not!

AryaStarkWolf · 05/07/2021 13:18

39 & 43

bubblebath62636 · 05/07/2021 13:18

Dd1 36
Dd2 49

CharlieWorkCharlieSad · 05/07/2021 13:18

In theory I understand the 'ah but I'll have all the child-free adventure times when I'm in my 40s and my children are adults' argument for having them young but a) realistically that won't be the same experience - it may well be better, but it won't be like being young, free and unencumbered and b) from what I see it barely ever happens. A few of my mum's friends thought this would be them and actually they were still pretty tied down by mortgages and jobs and then their own children had children young and they became very hands on young grandparents (if your kids have babies aged 20 realistically they're unlikely to be able to afford childcare), which has its own advantages but absolutely none of them had the wild and free years in their 40s and 50s that they thought would be their recompense for not having them in their 20s.

I still had fun in my early 20s and teen years. I did drugs, I partied hard, I travelled, I had a lot of sex, I earnt a decent wage so I had a lot of fun spending that. I went to uni. I just stopped doing it at 23 rather than 28!

And I don't think I'll act like a 20 year old when I'm 40. But I am looking forward to being 40 Grin

UnsolicitedDickPic · 05/07/2021 13:23

I'll be 56 when DD is 18. Which feels wild, as that was my DM's age when I turned 40. 😅

cushioncovers · 05/07/2021 13:23

45
48

Feckauras · 05/07/2021 13:24

Hmm I dunno, even though I had my dc young, I still went to uni, had a mortgage in my mid twenties, and got a professional job. My childless colleagues similar age weren’t partying or travelling that much, they were too busy saving for a house and completing professional qualifications right up until reaching their thirties. Fair enough they had child free holidays, but that’s about it.

VioletCharlotte · 05/07/2021 13:24

I was 42 when DS1 turned 18, 44 with DS2

2pinkginsplease · 05/07/2021 13:28

I was 43 with eldest and and will be 45 with youngest.

ToffeePennie · 05/07/2021 13:29

Child 1 - 43
Child 2 - 46

Port1aCastis · 05/07/2021 13:30

I'm 40 DD is 22 so I was 36 when she was 18,