Fertility: The Pros and Cons of Being a Parent After 40
Did you know – that in 2011 The American Center for Disease Control (CDC) announced that the only women to show an increase in fertility for two years running were over the age of 40?
Mind blowing isn’t it?
From 2007-2009 women between the ages of 40-44 saw a rise in fertility by 6% and even more surprising those women between the ages of 45 to 49, rates were up by 17%! This is not a fluke or one-time thing. We see parenthood after 40 climbing not just in the USA for globally around the world.
What does it mean to be a parent after 40?
• If you are a working parent you might be at a point in your professional career that you might have a wee bit more time, flexibility and independence in your work like than perhaps you did when you were in your 20’s. This means spending more time with your kids as they grow.
• You know more “stuff” now than you did in your 20’s. This might not be everyone’s experience but many over 40 parents that they are better parents now because they are taking advantage of the life’s lessons and knowledge they have accumulated over the years.
• Most over 40 parents aren’t as idealistic but more realistic about parenting. Why is that? They have watched the challenges their family and friends before them have experienced. And hopefully watched, noted and learned.
• Many over 40 parents are planners. They are often deliberate and planners as parents. Some will tell you they are able to appreciate parenting more now then perhaps they might have in their 20’s.
• Some parents share they are worried that being older will be more challenging because they fear they won’t be able to keep up with their children as well as those parents in their 20’s. However, they also say that this motivates them to take good care of themselves to not only keep their energy levels up but living longer.
• Many over 40 parents say that sometimes they feel out of place with their children at play dates, or other social gatherings with other families because they are always the oldest set of parents around and they don’t always have things in common or share the same interests with the younger set.
• The majority of the parents over 40 say they have more patience then they did in their 20’s which makes parenting more enjoyable for them now then perhaps when they were in their 20’s.
