My Mom Thinks I Should Have Had Kids Sooner But I Disagree

Melbourne: My mom always wanted grandkids, but my siblings and I all had them later in our lives. Now that she’s an older grandparent, she has less energy to play with her grandkids. I had my kids at the perfect time for me, and I have no regrets.

When I found out I was pregnant with my first child, I was so excited to share the news with my mom. She had been waiting for this moment for years. My mom has always adored kids, and as a mother of four, she hoped one of us would give her a grandchild sooner. But my siblings and I took our time, and she had to wait a while.

My oldest sister was the first to have a child at 40. By then, Mom was 64 and still full of energy, embracing her role as ‘Nana.’ But my sister lived in South Africa, and I think Mom really wanted grandkids closer to home in Australia.

Three years later, at 29, I unexpectedly got pregnant. I felt a mix of excitement and nerves about how much my life was about to change, but I was ready to settle down. I had been with my partner for eight years and knew I wanted to start a family with him. Plus, I was thrilled that the baby was due right after my 30th birthday. I had focused on my career and travel in my 20s, and I was glad I achieved those goals before becoming a mom.

Around 12 weeks into my pregnancy, my parents flew down from Queensland to Melbourne. I had printed a photo of myself as a toddler with a note saying, “Version two: coming soon.” Mom was overjoyed, saying, “I can’t believe my baby is having a baby!”

When our son was born, she was amazing. She stayed with us for seven weeks, helping us adjust to parenthood. It was such a special time, and I’m so grateful for her support.

After our son, my other siblings also had kids, and now Mom has seven grandchildren. While she loves them all, she struggles to keep up with the younger ones. At 76, she often wishes we hadn’t waited so long to have kids because she’s an older grandparent now.

Being an older grandparent means she doesn’t have the same energy. She enjoys reading to our toddler and playing chess with our nine-year-old, but she can’t run around in the pool or hike with us like she used to, which makes me a bit sad.

Everyone has their own timeline, and for me, 30 was the right age to become a mom. Instead of focusing on my parents getting older, I want to cherish the time we have together and make lasting memories. Those moments are what we’ll hold onto forever.