Baby Baking is a weekly pregnancy series written almost entirely by our pregnant writer, Vanessa. Note, official DudeMom is not, now or ever again, expecting a baby.
Most of my friends already have kids. Multiple children. Most of them school aged.
They had their kids in their 20s (or before!) just like I thought I would, but things didn’t turn out that way.
I spent a lot of time wishing things were different and wondering if it was ever going to happen for me.
I celebrated my 36th birthday 12 weeks pregnant.
They call it “advanced maternal age,” I call it basically just awesome.
I’m NOT Your Teen Mom: 5 Reasons Being Pregnant at 35 is AWESOME
1. All of the experiences. I got to party and travel and meet people and have awesome experiences and opportunities I wouldn’t have explored if I was baby baking. I am happy I got the opportunity to fill my life with so many of those things before joining the baby brigade. It feels like everything lead up to this had prepared me for it.
2. I have a career that I’m proud of. I started working at my local newspaper before I graduated college and I’ve been in the same field since then. Almost 15 years! But the time spent working has allowed me to climb the ladder and become financially stable. I was broke as a joke in my 20s.
3. I have a mature partner and a strong relationship. We didn’t meet until we were both older. We were both in a place in our lives where this decision has been a long time coming and we’re both ready to enter this new phase of our lives together.
4. My rack. My boobs are pretty nice, if I do say so myself. I got to spend a lot of time with them before feedings begin and they head south. I kinda wish I had a photo of them.
5. Personal maturity. I’m such a different person at over 35 than I was at 25. I was all me, me, me-insert self created drama over petty issues-me, me, me then. I wasn’t about to wind up on some MTV special or anything, but my life consisted of going to work and having fun, and sometimes I only worked so I could afford to have additional fun. I know motherhood changes you, no matter what age you are, but looking back on me then, ha, no way was I awesome mommy material 10 (ugh, 11) years ago.
I have to say that I really really appreciated reading this. As someone who turned 35 in April and who worries constantly about whether or not motherhood is still on the table for me, it’s good to know the many invaluable reasons why waiting to have children can be a very good thing! The term “Advanced Maternal Age” scares me though, not going to lie :) Thank you for this.
I feel you! But seriously, don’t stress! It will happen, you can’t rush these things. :) Everyone’s timeline is different.
yep. you nailed it. At 43, I’m now wishing I had done the tube snipping thing after baby #4 came out when I was 36, instead of listening to my uterus panging “Just one more!” I have no desire to have more. I can’t even imagine my baby, who will 7 in 2 months, as anything other than “the baby.” he’s spoiled and he knows it.
This little boy will be blessed with a great mommy, even if he had to wait awhile to meet you.
On #4 — I am a -34AAAA. When nursing, my boobs got right nice. I took a picture. I still look at it occasionally, wistfully. And you make good points! Starting parenthood later definitely has its benefits.
I tried on my first E cup today…I should’ve taken a photo!
of the before i mean.