<p>As a not at all young mother of twin boys, I’d like to weigh in on this one and venture to say that this woman is a bit daft. Company for her 6 year old? I’m with you, 4Giggles on that one. A guinea pig would be my suggestion. My H and I used to joke that we would be so old for our kids Bar Mitzvah that we’d have to endow a wheel chair ramp to get up on the Bimah. (Stage.)</p>
<p>As an aside, my older S’s kindergarten teacher told us that when they did an “I wish” project he wrote, “I wish I had a baby brother to play with.” Little did he know that I was pregnant with his twin brothers at the time. When I mentioned that wish to him when he got older, his response was, “I said one, not two.”</p>
<p>Just to scare you all a bit more, the famous NYC high-risk OB/GYN who managed my (completely unevenful) pregnancy and my (very brief, uncomplicated, and relatively pain-free) labor told me, when I asked, that I was NOT the oldest natural (as opposed to donor-egg-using) pregnant woman he’d treated.</p>
<p>While pregnant with my last child, at age 38, the OB actually wrote on my amnio order, “elderly maternal” in the reason for category. I almost went over the desk to get to her throat. She was probably ready to call the psych dept because I let her know in no uncertain terms what I thought of that wording. Now, if I were pregnant today, at 56, I would have no problem with the “elderly maternal,” designation and I would call the psych dept myself.</p>
<p>My H’s mother was in her middle forties when he was born,he was called her"change of life baby".His oldest sister(22 yrs older) gave birth to her first son just 6 weeks later.Thus, his nephew is 6 weeks his junior.
To make life more complicated,his parents died when he was young and he went to live with this oldest sister and her family.He now called those kids brother and sister.Imagine explaining all your life (from 6th grade on) that you had a brother who was your nephew in the same grade as you!!!</p>
<p>I was labeled “elderly maternal” at 33. Back then maybe I was!
My mom had her last (and 7th) at 47 but got started relatively late ~ married at 19, first child at ~28. WWII got in the way!!</p>
<p>You have probably all heard about Joan Lunden’s story - she has two sets of twins - almost four and just turned 2. She’s 56 and has three adult daughters! Second marriage to a younger spouse, lots of help around the house and she’s in great shape physically, herself. She used a surrogate and did not carry the babies herself (she has never stated whether or not the eggs donated were hers). She’s a good example of how a lot can depend on one’s circumstances.</p>
<p>On the other hand, I don’t think anyone knows the full story when it comes to the risks of IVF or hormone therapy with regard to much older women who want the medical intervention to accomplish this.</p>
<p>True story: One of my best friends IRL is a labor and delivery nurse. She used to regale me with daily stories from “the front.”</p>
<p>A lady came in to her dept. once…an older lady (OLDER BY L&D standards, not <em>really</em> older!!!), in her fifties. She was wearing a back negligee and dancing around the L&D halls. Turns out she had gone to the doctor for a stomach ailment and had been sent over nearly full-term pregnant!!! :eek: The woman <em>literally</em> lost it and ultimately DID have to be sent over to the psych ward! :eek: I still wonder whatever became of her and her baby.</p>
<p>This reminds me so much about the story my mom told me about my older sister and her wish to having a little sister. Growing up, my sister had an older brother and two younger brothers. She kept hoping for a sister. Well, finally, she had the baby sister she had wished for, <em>ME</em>. Except, she was 19 when I was born. She told our mom, “You know I always wanted a little sister, but I didn’t mean for it to happen when I was 19.” Three years later she had her own daughter, so I was an aunt at three and later I became a great aunt at 28. Those change of life babies sure shake up the family dynamics.</p>
<p>While the children were likely lovingly conceived with the best of intentions, one has to wonder if their best interests are served. I say this because the mom will be 78 by the time the twins grow up and there is risk in knowing if she will be able to see them through their youth. While live involves uncertainties, this situation is more uncertain than parenthood at a younger age. It is chancy if the mom will live until the children ae 18 and/or be able to care for the boys.</p>
<p>Did you notice that the Mom is writing a book with her OB/Gyn? Wouldn’t you love to know that you were the reason your Mom was featured on Amazon?</p>
<p>yes, kids, we had you so you could keep your big brother company!! doesn’t that make you feel special?</p>
<p>egad. as for Joan Lundan, no office, but is she and her young stud raising those kids, or is a troop of hired help</p>
<p>I have no problem with day care or anything like that, but for some, like Joan Lundan, it was like Paris Hilton and her dogs- the kdis are accesories</p>
<p>That is a very broad assumption about Joan Lunden. Just because she has help, doesn’t imply her kids are “accessories.” She can afford help. So what? I believe family is very important to her and so is motherhood. Perhaps you know more about her to draw such conclusions but I don’t draw the same ones. </p>
<p>Also, what’s the difference if she has helpers in the home from a parent who sends their kids off to day care? Both are using forms of assistance in child care. One is using private care in the home and one is using day care. You have no problem with day care, why then a problem with in home care?</p>
<p>At other times she has been quoted to say that family is her number one priority.</p>
<p>Her kids hardly appear to be accessories in her life.</p>
<p>I think her husband is very into children as well. He runs summer camps for children. People who are in that line of work generally adore children.</p>
<p>Going back to the train of thought about children with aunts/uncles of the same age, one of my college friends had 3 kids at a very early age, and then had another when the oldest was 22. He says he and darling wife looked around at the preschool and decided they probably were <em>not</em> the oldest parents there, but were surely the only ones there with both a child and a grandchild in the class. Went on to have one more, who shares a kindergarten class with her uncle. There was always enough love and energy to go around, and no - there are no nannies or other hired help in this decidedly bluecollar family.</p>
<p>My dad’s dad was in his mid-60’s when my dad was born (4th wife - he had outlived the other 3) and grandpa lived to be 101. Grandpa had great-grandchildren older than his youngest child (my dad). I never could keep that family straight.</p>