Motherhood deferred: US median age for giving birth hits 30

[3catwoman3]

6. I was a month shy of my 39th birthday when...

…our older son was born, and 41 6/12ths with our second son. The terminology used for the first pregnancy was “elderly primigravida.” ELDERLY!!! I found it very insulting.

People often asked ifI were tired, being an older mom of busy young kids. Over my 45 years as a peds nurse practitioner, it was quite obvious to me that ALL mothers of busy young children are tired. Mother Nature gave too much energy to little kids, and not enough to those who are trying to keep up with them.

Being “older” had, at least for me, the distinct advantage of having accomplished a lot of what I called “my own stuff” - I had lived on my own. I had worked for several years. I had my master’s degree. I had traveled. My husband and I were (and still are) in a stable marriage. Putting our kids first did not feel, in any way, like a sacrifice.

Our sons are now 32 and 29, and I cherish them.