Doing It again--Older Parents Raising a Young Child Again

well, we are a bit similar--we are 48/49 and have an adopted 4 year old-- really enjoying it, but wishing we had Shane's energy.. we have been married 28 years..

I just caught up on my emails and found your message. I have also got a young baby girl. She is 18mos. I am 36 and my husband is 50 though and this is his first baby. We were her foster parents since 3 mos old and our adoption is now final. I have 2 older children from a previous marriage one girl in College 20 years old and my boy is 11 years old. I also agree that our little girl is a pure angel and we are so blessed to be raising her. My husband is 50 and sais he loves it but does feel his age at times. So I guess my husband will retire and get kindergarten duty also.We have had people ask us if we were crazy but she is the most wonderful little girl and we are so happy to have her. I think raising her will just keep us young at heart. Good luck to you and so nice to see your email.

Jill,
Congrats! That is great! I will be 43 this year and my son is starting kindergarten in the fall! My husband and I started having kids later in life - we have been together for 22 years and have a daughter who is 7 and then our son who is 5!

I love being an older mom - don't think I could have done it when we were younger!

We could get the boys together sometime if you want! Have a great day!!!

Finally, someone in my boat!! I am almost 46 with a 24 yr old (&6 mo old grandson), a 20 yr old, 4 yr old and a 1 yr old. My 4 yr old is in preschool through the school system, but not in Kindergarten for 2 more years(he just turned 4 in Dec). My 1 yr old will start Kindergarten when I'm 50! We live in North Scottsdale, what area are you in?

Jill, way to go! I am in my late 40s (ok a bit younger than you but not in the "young mother" cohort) who has a first and third grader. I am an active classroom volunteer, PTA President and loving every minute of it. I am not sure what you are asking but I will say that as long as you have the energy, be part of his life. You have nothing different from the other mothers, other than time, compassion, love and your son will be the better for it.
Wish I knew you!

I just saw a meetup group for older parents raising young children. You might check out www.meetup.com and search for older parents tucson. It is a new group, and might be great support for you.

Not quite kindergarten, but we are in the process of adopting a 14-year old boy from foster care. Our three children have been grown and gone for years now, we've been married 40 years this June. We have 17 Grandchildren scattered around the country. We are in our 60's and retired. I have been David's CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocate for abused and neglected children) for 3 years, he is a real joy to us.

I commend you Jill on adopting a child at your age. I am assuming you adopted him as a 2-3 year old. Children that age frequently live out there lives in foster home after foster home. You have blessed this childs life. WTG

T. C.
Spa Girlfriend Parties
www.spaescapescottsdale.com

HI Gill!
All I can say is you are admirable! One of my sons has two friends who are both being raised by their grandparents (in their 50's). Both grandparents have legal custody of the children and are legally the parents. Both sets of these parents are so inspirational to me. When I get 'tired' or run down, I always think of what these ladies have done and continue to do and it revives me. Because of what I have seen them take on (one of them have adopted all four of their grandchildren after raising 4 of their own all adults now)I had offered to adopt my nieces daughter (young birth) because of all issues related to her situation. Please know that you are an inspiration to all those that you touch.
We are the best of friends with both sets of these parents and enjoy them in our lives. I am 38 and my husband is 44, our children are 18(girl), 10, 8, 6, and 1 (boys). when you get into kindergarten, just be yourself and you will touch the lives of younger parents who will just be in awe of you!!
Lari Beth K.

you and your husband are very lucky people. my husband and i are raising two boys that are 8&10 our older four range from 32 to 25 and these two are a gift from above. we wouldn't trade these years for anything. we are 48&53. have fun!

i dont know yet but i may be in the same boat soon. i baby sit my 10 month old grandson and he spends a lot of time here. more than at his house. i am 47 and very active but this little guy jsut wears me out already. i dont know how i handled two boys and a job and a home. my husband helps out when he gets home from work, gives him his bath and dinner etc and i practically have to lie down for a few minutes. the way things are going i will probably be doing the kindergaten thing too. i pick him up at 6 am and they pick him up around 8 or 9 pm. but he spends the night a lot of the time because he has already gone to sleep. i dont think mom and dad have really bonded with him. he was in the hospital for a month after he was born. and there are other problems there so he stays with us a lot. i would like to keep in touch jsut to share notes.

One of my nieces didn't marry for the first time until age 39 (husband was also 39). They are now 43 and have two adorable children, a boy three and a girl one. They are older to be taking children to school for the first time. I gave birth to my first child at age 21 and I was 44 when my last was born. (By choice I have twelve children.) My youngest is now 13. When my now 20 year old was in junior high one of his friends thought I was his grandmother....But we have really loved our big family. I didn't think twice about volunteering when my last ones were in kindergarten, first thru fifth grade. I loved being in the classes with them. I think you are wonderful to have this younger blessing in your lives. Yes there are adjustments but it is all worth it.

I am from the other side of you. I was born to parents who were told they couldn't have children. Boy were my parent's suprised when they gave birth to me!! My father was 60 and my mother was 50. They did everything with me, riding bikes, camping, hiking, etc. I never knew they were older than my classmates parents they acted as young as the other parents. All I can say is enjoy the moments.

I'm thrilled that you are thinking about adopting again! My husband is 48 and I'm almost 43. We have children ranging from 25 to 2. We often feel funny hanging out like you said in the kindergarten room. Just think how we would have raised our children differently if we had the experience and wisdom we do now. These new children benefit from all of that. I think that children keep us young, active, and playful. We would love to have more children either biological or adopted. My husband is adopted and I'm a stand that every child in the world has a family that loves them!

Hi Jill,
I am 50 almost 51, my husband is 75 almost 76, we have a 10 year daughter as well as many grown children. Her closest sibbling is 24 years old. We have tons of fun! My husband is retired and I have gone back to college. We find we have more time to devote to our young one. Sometimes funny things happen at school with our age differences, like one day Emma came out of her first grade classroom and ran into my arms hollering..."MOM!" One of her class mates said "She's your mom? She looks old like my grandma." Emma said "You think she's old you ot-to see my Dad!" We all had, and still have a good laugh about it. You have to keep your sence of humor. But we find a lot of pride in having such a young daughter. She keeps us young and on our toes! Good luck with your son.
Best wishes, M.