At church this morning I was reminded that St. Ann, Jesus’ grandmother and mother of Mary, conceived Mary after years of childlessness. Ann was in late life when she became a mother, having refused to accept the conventional wisdom that young stock makes the best mothers. (As a late bride, I too hoped for a child. Married at 33, I finally became a mom at 39.) Frankly, there is a myth about the childbearing years, that the younger the mom, the better. Good births can happen anytime, late as well as early. Ann produced a wonderful child, Mary, future mother of Jesus, outside the “ideal” years. Older, wannabe moms, please take note. Do you agree?
I think it is clear that some late moms are great moms: more mature for instance. Some even get several kids around the age of 40 – and all of them healthy. It happens. But biologically it just gets less likely that kids will be born at all, or will be born healthy – as the woman gets older.
The other extreme is also an issue though: young moms (in their teens) are obviously not going to be very good moms in most cases – because they just aren’t grown up yet. They aren’t ready – however fertile they may be.
I’m glad to hear you did get your child, and I can tell you some women get children over 40 without any artificial means. But many don’t. That’s just the trouble.
Yes, yes, you are right. But there’s always the chance a 39 year-old wannabe mom does have a child. That was me. (Just as I was late having a child, I was late with my response to you. Forgive. AgeBuster