Am I Too Old?

[sparked1]

I know I'll get complete honesty (and a lot of jokes) here on the ODT, so here's my question: I'm 40 and my wife just turned 30. She wants to have a baby. She's the perfect age but do I really want to be pushing 60 when my kid is graduating high school? I want to have a kid too but would I be doing him/her a disservice by being an old parent?

Ok. Have at me.

Are you kidding? You've got plenty of good years left. If you don't have kids by now, you're missing out. You WILL regret it if you don't, especially since you're wife wants a kid. Now, put down the ODT and go tell her you got some morning wood for the chimney.

 

[antique41]

It depends on the individual. Some folks burn out in their 30's. Some are still cooking in their 80's. I had my last child at 42 and he just turned 30. We both are active and often run trails together. I leave at the end of the week to go to Maine to climb Mt. Katadin and Mt. Washington. Come back, pack and head for Zimbabwe on a mission trip. Then comes deer season and we will hunt together. Am so excited I can hardly stand it.

 

[Bane]

I'm 24 and my dad is 65, my mom 58. They've been married going on 35 years and I'm the only one. They have no regrets waiting til later (at least I think )

 

[MRH]

I know I'll get complete honesty (and a lot of jokes) here on the ODT, so here's my question: I'm 40 and my wife just turned 30. She wants to have a baby. She's the perfect age but do I really want to be pushing 60 when my kid is graduating high school? I want to have a kid too but would I be doing him/her a disservice by being an old parent?

Ok. Have at me.

My first child will be born next February, exactly 2 months before I turn 40. We just found out we're having a boy. You're only as old as you feel. Honestly I had gotten to the point where I did not think I was going to have any children..Wrong.

Look at the advantages you will have. I can't speak for you but I am certainly wiser than I was in my early 20's. I am more patient. I am more financially established. His mother and I will most likely stay together (she is 37). I am much more capable of planning for his future. And I am still young enough to be active throughout his entire growing up. Plenty of good stuff. Good luck.

 

[Jeddak]

I was 39 when my second son was born. Life for us has not been easy after moving to Lower 48, but my boys keep me going. I would not give up moments with them for anything. The highlight of my day is taking my oldest to pre-K every morning and talking to him on the way. He is sick, so for two day I drove to work by myself, and it has been too quite in the car .

No, 40 is not too old. We live longer. I know will be working when I turn 65 anyway.

 

[Laufen]

Take care of your health and have at it.

 

[zesty]

I have a friend that adopted his daughter's baby in his 50's. He's doing just fine and that little girl of his is awesome. If you don't have any kids, do it. Children change your life and change you for the better.

 

[rtross]

The only question in my mind is:
do you want a child and would you committ to try to be a good parent?

If the answer is yes, then you are as ready as the rest of us were!
And good luck with the insemination process!

 

[doghikers]

Thanks to everyone for your responses. Some really good feedback. I should have added in my original post that I do have a son who was born when I was 37. He's about to turn three, and he is the best thing that's ever happened to me. Even at that age I still had the same questions. As a lot of you pointed out, with age comes patience, and I can definitely say that Im a better parent than I would have been ten years ago. I just wasn't ready then. As for the health questions, Im a firefighter, so my job demands that I stay in good physical condition. Well, I've talked to friends and family, and now my ODT family, so I think the answer is obvious. With my son, my wife got pregnant immediately. I was kind of hoping we'd have to "try" more! Maybe this time we will. Now...let the fun begin!

Thank you all again for the words of encouragement and support.

Aaron

 

[GeauxLSU]

My dad was 42 when I was born. I can not imagine having had a better father. Granted I think my older siblings wore him out by the time I was ready to even think about being a problem. I'm 48 and my son will turn 11 this month. The only regret I have is we didn't have him sooner and have more kids.

Thanks to everyone for your responses. Some really good feedback. I should have added in my original post that I do have a son who was born when I was 37. He's about to turn three, and he is the best thing that's ever happened to me. Even at that age I still had the same questions. As a lot of you pointed out, with age comes patience, and I can definitely say that Im a better parent than I would have been ten years ago. I just wasn't ready then. As for the health questions, Im a firefighter, so my job demands that I stay in good physical condition. Well, I've talked to friends and family, and now my ODT family, so I think the answer is obvious. With my son, my wife got pregnant immediately. I was kind of hoping we'd have to "try" more! Maybe this time we will. Now...let the fun begin!

Thank you all again for the words of encouragement and support.

Aaron

Enjoy your soon to be expanding family!