Parenting Young Children After 40

Many parents these days seem to be having their first child after age forty.

 A variety of personal reasons can lead to delaying parenthood, including:

⚫Career goals.

⚫Divorce and remarrying (or not).

⚫Difficulties becoming pregnant.

⚫ There is also speculation that some families have delayed parenthood due to the recession.

Whatever the reason, the percentage of babies born to moms over 40 is increasing, while the overall birth rate is declining, according to government data.

New parents are very alike despite the age:

⚫We experience similar joys and challenges

⚫Everyone falls in love with their child

⚫Everyone feels overwhelmed by parenting at times

Fatigue⚫HELP!!

As far as energy goes, though, an older parent may find it difficult to match the energy of a toddler. 

I am a very energetic woman who has always exercised regularly and taken care of myself but the sleepless nights( four years till our son slept through a night) took their heavy toll on me and threw me into a dark hole of poor health, zero energy or patience for that matter. 

This was the most joyful yet most challenging time of my life, here I had this miracle baby at a week shy of my 44th birthday but here I was with little or no energy to enjoy him! It sucked at times.

Older Parents Share...

⚫If you are working outside the home, you may be at a point in your career where you have a little more independence in your work life than when you were in your 20’s.

⚫Older parents may be less idealistic and more realistic about parenting after watching challenges their friends and family faced before them. 

⚫They may be able to be more deliberate and plan better as parents for their child's future.

⚫Many older parents describe themselves as being able to appreciate parenting a little more than had they been younger, I for sure can relate to this since I had a lot of growing up to do, and still do my son teaches me that regularly!