Well- I'll add to the mix! I got married at 27 and had my son at 31. It took me a year & 1/2 to get pregnant after getting off of the pill (for those of you planning).
Where I grew up in the wealty community of "West Los Angeles", it was frowned upon to have children young. It was off to college for a masters or PHD - Make tons of cash & then interview prospective husbands! So many of my girlffriends took that route & are having their babies late 30's early 40's. They are all very fit what with personal trainers, cleaning ladies, yoga & nannies. It's just a different way of life.
As for me I chose a more traditional, middle class route. I am happy with my choices. I would never want my son raised by nannies, we are very close. So I have to clean my own house - oh well! Yet I think that it is important for everyone to do what feels right for them.
It is also important for us to validate & support women who make different choices than our own. Our fore-mothers fought hard for us to have the right to make our own choices. Not just to vote & work, but any choice.
It saddens me to see women argue over stay at home vs working moms. Why can't we recognize that there is no one size fits all answer? Perhaps they do not feel entirely confident in their own choice if they are attacking anybody else's choices?
What do y'all think? - Leonie

I was 18 and 8 days old when I had my first. My second came almost 3 years later. The third came 18 months later and then my son came 2 1/2 years after that. The 3 oldest are girls. When my son came along I felt that it was easier having him at 25 than it was having the girls at an earlier age. Does that makes sense? I guess I was more mature.? I am definatley closer to him than the girls.

I guess I qualify as an older mother. I am 48 and my youngest child is 9! I was 39 when I had Jennifer. I was 24 when my son, Jason, who is 24 was born. My oldest child, Stephanie, who is 26, is my adopted daughter. She is the product of my first husband's marriage with his first wife. His first wife died, making him a widower. Shortly after Norman and I married, I legally adopted Stephanie so as far as I am concerned, she is my daughter. Norman died in December of 1992 which made me a widow. I married my second husband, Sonny, in October of 1995 and in November of 1996, Jennifer was born. What is so funny is that I had an easier time giving birth to Jennifer than when I gave birth to Jason! I think that since I was older and wiser and pretty much knew what to expect, it made a big difference. Who knows?! Anyway, Sonny died in January of 2003 making me a widow for the second time. I thank Goddess for Jennifer because I am not alone. My other two children are close to me but they are grown and have their own lives now. Jennifer is here with me and she keeps me young! LOL!

Adiana[dancing-banana][llama-banana]

My son is 13 and I am 43 it is not really too bad we still get along great. I am dating a man whose son lives with him and he is five....I forgot just how much bounce those little tiggers have. I can't believe some days the kids can stay up later than me and my boyfriend.[oops]

I was 21 when I gave birth to my first child, my daughter, who's now 30. I had my son at age 26, and he's now 24. I'm glad I had mine in my 20's, although I did give up career opportunities (by choice) to stay home and raise them. I honestly don't think I would have had the energy to do what I did if I had been older (breastfeeding, making homemade baby food, using cloth diapers instead of disposables, sewing all their Halloween costumes, etc.)

My grandkids are 3 and 4. My daughter had them 15 months apart, and she really has her hands full. I recently babysat them 24/7 for a week so my daughter and son-in-law could take a vacation to Walt Disney World, and although I loved being with them, it about wore this 51 year old grandma out! I'm glad my baby-raising days are over.

By the way, although this has nothing to do with the topic of this thread, I just wanted to point out, as I'm sure all of you know, that you never stop being their Mom no matter how old they get. My son, who's 24, was recently diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, and he still lives at home with me. I do believe I'll be taking care of him for the rest of my life, which although sometimes it frazzles my nerves, I don't mind, of course. I love him, and it goes with the territory of being his Mom.

I had my daughter at 19. Now, 13 years later, we are trying to have another baby.

I had my oldest girl exactly two months shy of my 20th birthday (she was born March 27, I turned 20 on May 27). Â*I had my youngest not long after I turned 23. Â*Thank heavens for modern medicine and tubal ligation, because I don't think I could handle more babies! Â*I have just enough patience for the two I've got, and I cannot imagine doing this twenty years from now.

I turn 43 next month and I had my girls at 35 and 38. Definitely wasn't the *plan* but we wound up with some fertility issues. The second pregnancy while 37-38 was definitely more tiring and I cannot even imagine being pregnant at 43. I know many women do and more power to them. I am always asked if we are going to have another and I say I'm done due to my age for one. I always get the surprised response about so many other women not having problems but I believe having a baby is not just about the pregnancy and delivery but also taking into consideration their entire childhood(then college) and where I (and dh) would be as far as working and being able to support them not to mention I want to be spry enough to enjoy my grandchildren one day. I don't think these celebrities that are fathering babies as senior citizens (such as Rod Stewart) are thinking about the big picture like that.

I will say that having children later has definitely kept me young as most of my friends are around 10 years younger than I. My husband and I were also able to spend several years nurturing our marriage and enjoying each other before the big job of children. There are definitely pros and cons to both sides of the age issue.

Well, lets see, I had my first daughter at age 24, the next daughter at 26, they are 17 months apart. Â*then 3 1/2 years later came my son at 29, and then my daughter at 30, these two are 15 months apart. Â*Divorced, then remarried my DH and he was told he was sterile...nope, firtle myrtle here, I had my last and youngest daughter at age 37, 6 years and 3 months after I thought I was through. Â*[grin]

I would not change a thing that has happened in having my kids. Â*Now that I am 46, I do not think that I would have enough energy to have another one, hence, tubes tied after my last daughter. Â*

DH said that he never wanted to see me in that much pain again. Â*Funny, I do not remember it being that bad. Â*I have been kicked in the head by a horse that hurt way more than any of the times when I was giving birth. Â*[lol][lol]

I loved being pregnant, I felt great, even with the last one. Â*Just the feeling of a life growing and knowing that someday I would see this little one and be there for the first breath of life...WOW!

Even tho I could not see myself going through all the different stages at my age, there are some who flurish and do well. Â*Now that the kids are getting older, I can look forward to getting to know DH on a different level as we never had any 'just the two of us' time as he married me with a ready-made family of 4. Â*Scary and yet somehow comforting to look forward to. [wink]

Congrats to all the mothers here...

Blessings,

EarthsChyld

Merry Meet all...I'm new to the Cauldron and found this to be such an interesting topic for discussion. I am a 36 y.o. SAHM. My children are a daughter who is 4 1/2 and b/g twins who are 2 1/2. Lately I've been struggling with my 4.5 year old who has been throwing quite a few tantrums and starting to talk back to me. She has also started asking me to play with her CONSTANTLY and I'm frustrated because I'm worn out by the time the twins go down for a nap in the afternoon. I read Tron's response with much interest...I feel as if I'm at a point in my life where I'm starting to tire out and I enjoy having an hour or two of quiet in the afternoon. I cannot seem to get my older daughter occupied long enough so that I can get any rest...let alone anything like meditating or spellwork. I blow my fuse so quickly. Who is the goddess of motherhood so I can ask for guidance?!?! My hubby and I started trying to get pregnant when I was 27 but it didn't happen like we thought it would...we had to go through IVF twice to get the kids we have. I feel thankful for them but I also feel old. My recommendation...have them while you are young, ladies! You may struggle a bit financially but it will be easier physically.

Blessed Be,
Shannon