[Guitarmom]

I just had to laugh when I saw this forum. I just want to tell you all that I think 35 is a great age - I turned 35 this year,and while I would've said that 35 "was old " 5 or 6 years ago- it really isn't.
why do I think that?? well I had my first child at age 19,and 3 more by the time I was 29.... all my high school friends still don't have kids in their 30's....
so I have that group of friends... I also have a group of friends in our homeschooling circle.. many have 7-9 kids in their families,and many of the moms are stilll having kids at age 45. To them I am VERY YOUNG!!! lol
SO just wanted to give you all a new perspective!
Amy

[JamieR]

Thats a good piece of advice... makes one feel better

[CalandraLark]

I've never thought 35 was old, and certainly not in regards to parenting. Of my mom and her sisters kids (ten of us all together) only two were born before the mother turned 30 and I always though people that had kids in their early 20s were way too young.

[mrsred]

lol... geez, if 35 is old to parent I have really messed up. I gave birth to our first son 2 months after my 40th birthday. A month before my 50th birthday we adopted our next son - he was 6. And now, a year later we just finalized the adoption of our daughter who is 10. My one and only regret about having my kids later in life is that they will probably not have all four grandparents into adulthood. My parents are 86 and 83, while dh's are 73 and 70. Other than that I don't feel at all too old to be mothering these kids. Of course the fact that I look about 10 years younger than I am and have more energy than most 30 year olds I know doesn't hurt.

[mom2justynsarah]

I agree! I gave birth to my son at 32, and adopted my daughter at 38. Now I am 40, with an 8 year old and a 2 year old.

Originally Posted by mrsred

lol... geez, if 35 is old to parent I have really messed up. I gave birth to our first son 2 months after my 40th birthday. A month before my 50th birthday we adopted our next son - he was 6. And now, a year later we just finalized the adoption of our daughter who is 10. My one and only regret about having my kids later in life is that they will probably not have all four grandparents into adulthood. My parents are 86 and 83, while dh's are 73 and 70. Other than that I don't feel at all too old to be mothering these kids. Of course the fact that I look about 10 years younger than I am and have more energy than most 30 year olds I know doesn't hurt.

[MargieMe]

I was too dumb in my twenties to raise a child. Now that I am a "seasoned" 38 I have gotten most of the truly stupid stuff out of my system.

Now I can get great laughs out of being drenched at the side of the bath tub and DS Rumpelstiltskin temper tantrums (come on, you know the ones I mean...when they march around in a little circle stamping their feet before they fall to the ground hoping you will drop everything and cave in to their every demand).

I am trying not to damage his self esteem, but I just crack up everytime he does this.

[NJNative]

Until you are like my family. I am almost 52, my hubby will be 61 this spring and our son is 16! Learning to drive, being a teenager. It's wonderful, but still kind of exhausting.

While I think it's great that we are financially better off, more patient and easier going than either of us were when we were younger, we do lack some of the energy younger parents would have. And it also tends to put you in the predicament of taking care of teens AND elderly parents at the same time.

Not to mention that the same year my son turns 21, my hubby will be 66 and ready to retire. That means having a kid who is barely (or not) launched as we enter hubby's retirement years.

But I still wouldn't trade it for the world. I just do NOT know how women do it when they are MY age and still have kindergarteners. More power to 'em!

Robin

[thanksgivingmom]

something to add from a childs perspective :
my parents were "old" compared to my friends parents as I was growing up, which was a lot less common 25 years ago. my mom went in for a physical a couple days ago with a new doctor and the doctor and nurse commented that she couldnt be in her 60's. She told me and I said its because me and my younger sister keep her looking young I've never felt like I missed out on anything by having "older" parents. As someone previously mentioned the only thing that bums me out is that I worry that if I don't have kids soon my parents will miss out on it.

[mrsred]

Hi tg, I just want to set your mind somewhat at ease. As you may know, I am an "older parent". Well, so was my mom, for her day. Mom was 30 when she started her family. She was 33 when I was born, 38 when my youngest sister was born. She has nine grandchildren and one great grandchild with another on the way. My biological son was born when I was forty - when Mom was 73, Dad was 75. All my kids know and adore Grandma and Grandpa.... and the grandkids keep them going strong.

[ourdreamcametru]

Just wanted to add that since I will be 40 next month I now do not believe that is old either! When I was a teenager or in my twentys I thought 40 was sooooo old, not that I'm there it is still young!!!!!!!!!!!

[pingaa3]

Remember that if 70 is the new 60 then 35 is the new 25! I'm 37 with a 4 year old autistic adopted daughter and we're getting ready to try for number 2.

You are only as old as you let other make you feel!

Inga

[islandfamily]

I remember when I was about to turn 30 (I'm 40 now), my mom took me to her favorite swanky dept store and marched me up to the cosmetics counter where she demanded wrinkle cream...for me. She leaned over and said, "You should have this, now that you're about to be (whisper) thirty!"

I laughed and told my mom I was proud to be 30, she didn't need to whisper! She gave me the hairy eyeball and said, "I wasn't whispering for YOUR sake...these people don't know I have children that old!"

Because I was her youngest, and 13 years younger than my brother, that had me rolling in the floor. It still cracks me up!

Poor Mama...she passed away very suddenly in 2004, or else I am sure for my 40th birthday I'd have been treated to Botox!

[OurHandprints]

No, 35 isn't old at all! But you're right...the closer and closer you get to that age, you realize more and more that it isn't old. I realized it when I started dating my current boyfriend (who is 32 and I am 23 years old). When people first hear that, they think - wow....what a HUGE difference in age, but it's really not! He also has a 12 year old son. That was a little awkward at first for me, but now it's not.

Plus, my mom had me when she was 30 years old (and my dad was almost 20 years older than her - he was 46), so I definitely don't think that 35 is old!

[Barksum]

OurHand, my Dh is 9 years older than I. We married when he was 32 and I was 23.

I was a bit of a surprise to find out after a few dates that he was in his 30's, and he was equally surprised to find out I was as young as I was. No one notices, really...he has always looked younger than his age, and I've always looked older than mine. This was ok when I was in my 20's, but not so great now that I'm (clearing throat noisily) older! LOL And actually, I think having young kids leads people to think that we are younger, too. There is a benefit to all those diapers after all! LOL

[joyful327]

I don't think 35 is old at all either!!!!!!!!!