Thread for older parents?

[Baycitystroller]

Is there one? Sick and tired of reading about how bad it is to be an older parent. It’s a consistent theme on MN.

I’ve seen older parents portrayed as selfish, irresponsible, or liable to drop down dead before their kids grow up. As if having an older parent is the worst thing that can happen to a child.

I had my last child in my late 40s. Unplanned. It was a problem free pregnancy and birth. She is fine. We are fine. Yes, I would love to be younger, who wouldn’t?

I’m fully aware that I may not live to be a grandma but who knows what life has in store.

If you come here to post negativity then sod off. Any older parents please say hello. If only to show we exist and are good caring parents to our off spring. It will be a nice antidote to the rampant ageism that seems to go unchallenged on MN

I’m 46, due to have my surprise baby in a few months when I’ll be almost 47!

Yay!!! Hello.

Yes, the comments about older mothers who may not see their children into adulthood, or experience being a grandparent are very ageist, IMO.
The facts are that statistically these days a woman is her late 40s can reasonably expect another 30 years of decent health, possibly more.
Average life expectancy for woman is about 84. (The last few years might be shit, of course!)
And very wealthy women who will always be able to afford lots of help, big houses and a so-called enviable lifestyle can basically also afford to have babies well into middle age -- they probably not going to pop off in their late 50s or early 60s, or at least they are no more likely to than those of us who had our babies in our 30s.

What do you class as older?
I'm 44 with a 4 year old. Miracle ivf baby, and I've had people tell me that I obviously wasnt meant to have children.
I am the oldest mum in my daughters year by 10 years!!! I would give anything for another, but its not going to happen.

I’m not an older mum but my dad was 41 when I was born and he’s now approaching 80 (still very healthy and active despite a battle with covid earlier this year)
I’ve had nearly 40 years of being his daughter and it’s been wonderful.
I’ve always felt like I can talk to him about anything and he’s treasured having grandchildren when he’s had the time to focus on them with the out work/financial pressures.
I’ve never felt like I’ve missed out by having older parents so I just wanted to say ignore the negative comments and enjoy your precious Babies.

Ahhh my people! I am 50 with DS6. He was an IVF baby and our fourth and final try. I'm not with his Dad anymore but on the whole, we get on well. I love being an 'older' Mum as it's lots of fun and I can still be silly! I enjoy all the learning and the reading books - so much more on offer than when I was a 70s child. He's a breath of fresh air and keeps me young and fit. And the best thing about being older is I don't feel as though I'm missing out on anything as I've done it all in my 20s and 30s. The only sad thing is I lost my Mum in January so DS will probably forget who his Nanny was and she loved him very much ☺️

So nice to see you all and read positive comments.

I am hoping to have another baby in the next couple of years and will be an older mum.
My mum was older mum but died before she was 65 from cancer. So in some ways I think it didn't matter she was older she didn't get to see her grandchildren because she died before her time anyway.
My mum was lovely and her being older wasn't an issue at all growing up. So it hasn't put me off.

Hello everyone!
I am a parent to a 9 year old and I am now 49 my husband is 57, I find it lovely,Not to say I dont have my moments but the positives it brings makes it a happy time in our lives, We had children younger,many years ago but then I didnt appreciate it as much as I do now, I am not striving in my career I genuinely have nothing to prove and I have the confidence,time and money and a bit of wisdom to be able to enjoy life.I do find the energy lacking at times and I dont handle fun fairs and roller coasters very well anymore but dad does and so do the extended family so we work round it! I am a demon at hook a duck though!!! I think the best thing for me is not having the worry anymore and there is rarely anything that happens that I havent seen before either so it is very relaxed.I see at the school gates a lot of competitive parenting and I can have a chuckle to myself and be glad to leave that to the younger parents,I am glad I dont need to focus on what car I drive or where my jeans came from and what phone I use!!! Its come with age and its very liberating and I think this rubs off on my daughter too,She is very relaxed and calm and confident, My older children cant get over it sometimes they say blimey we never got away with half of what she does,but this is simply as I am older I see things differently and as I have experienced it all before I can do it now differently, I love being an older mum,,can you tell?! Best Wishes sent to you all x

Wow a thread for me - I’m 44 with a 2 year old. She was a wonderful surprise after 13 years of infertility. I love the fact that I am not so career orientated and can spend more time with her, money isn’t as much of an issue as it would have been a decade ago. She is an absolutely joy to the whole family especially one set of grandparents for whom she is the first GC, and probably the only.
It does mean I will be 60 when she goes to university but I will cherish every moment with her.

What a nice idea. Mid 40s with a three year old after lots of ivf. I love being a parent and am relieved to be more senior at work and hope I manage to treasure everything more. I do wonder if I am more tired but suspect that's just because life is full on in the best way. I have friends of a similar age (and a bit younger) with similar age DCs which is great. Maybe I am more relaxed than if I had been a younger mother and it has made me focus on trying to be healthy- really though I suspect both older and younger parents bring different skills to parenting and I try not to think about age too much!