Childbearing During Mid-Life

I recently read a study which stated that there has been an increase in women over 40 giving birth. Although I personally would not conceive a baby past this age, I feel that forty-year-olds are young and have a long life ahead of them. What was shocking was that women in their mid to upper fifties are giving birth as if it is the new “in” thing. I will not criticize these women for loving children and wanting to bring a life into this world, however I will question their judgment.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½

Activist for those conceiving later in life feel that older parents provide a more secure home. Women in their fifties are also in more of a financial position to be stay at home mothers; therefore they do not have to put their children in daycare centers. These advantages are great and I applaud those who are able to provide such a comfort for their offspring’s. However, putting aside the financial situation we should question whether it is fair to the child to have a parent who is old enough to be their grandparent. The first time I doubted this notion was years ago when I was in junior high. I had a friend whose parents were older. She was conceived when her mother was 54. As a twelve-year-old then, her mother was 66. This girl was very pleasant, yet she was often unhappy because she could not do things with her parents that the other girls did. Her mother did not enjoy going to the mall, shopping, or having teenage girl talks. She frequently complained that her mother did not understand her and thought like an old person. We kindly reminded her that her mother was old.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½

There is an obvious generation gap when parents wait until their fifties to conceive. Younger parents are more in tune to how things have changed and can readily understand their children wanting to stay out late, not having an early bedtime, etc. I think of the many activities that I am able to do with my parents who are just twenty years older than me. We workout together, go in the backyard and play sports, go on rollercoaster’s just to name a few. If my parents were much older I would not be able to enjoy such activities with them. Instead I would be worrying about less fun thing like their declining health.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½

As cited earlier, I praise anyone who wants to bring a life into this world. Instead of waiting until later in life because you want to accomplish other goals or are waiting for the perfect financial situation, consider how your future child would feel if they had to live through the death of a parent at a young age. They want their parents to witness life achievements, and enjoy possible grandchildren. Why deny them that joy? My friend’s biggest concern was that her parents would die before she got married or had children. This fear came true when she was 21-years old, and her mother died at the age of 75.