Does age matter, when it comes to being a mum? For those who fall pregnant later in life, there maybe some benefits but it’s not what matters most.

Being a mum AT ANY AGE is wonderful and an incredible gift, and whatever age we have our children, we’re all smugly sitting reading this thinking we got it just right. Right?

But with the recent news of Michelle Bridges first pregnancy at 44 years, this has got many of us sitting up and paying a little attention. And even though she’s created a media storm by suggesting her pregnancy was due to her healthy lifestyle (cough), the fact is it’s tough to fall pregnant at 44, especially with your first baby.

I’m gleefully waiting for her to ‘blow out’ like I did where all my other body bits got the “we’re pregnant!” memo and decided to join in the party. However I’m guessing that even as an older Mum, Michelle will have one of those teeny, tiny baby bumps and will wear her pre-pregnancy jeans to go home from the hospital. If any of you are nodding your head thinking “that sounds like me’, then I’m sorry but we can’t be friends.

But Michelle will soon experience many of the positives of being an older mum. And yes, for you young mums, I know for every positive, you have a version of your own – being a mum is awesome at any age, right?

For starters, even though I’m a little fascinated with the Michelle Bridges/Commando love fest, sometimes it takes a while to find the father of your babies, and as an older Mum, you’ve been around long enough to know when he’s arrived. And often there are a few false starts along the way.

I know this for a fact, and thankfully, second time around, with a few more years of wisdom and life on the clock, when father of my soon-to-be sons arrived in my world, I knew he was the one I was waiting for.

I’m grateful for waiting. And my three beautiful boys are too.

As an older mum you’ve had the chance to (ahem) live a little. You’ve backpacked around Europe, sleeping on friend’s dodgy lounges, drinking too much Guinness in bars in Dublin, (and then attempting to climb on top of tables to sing along with the music with the new ‘best friends’ you’ve just made). You’ve spent too much of your salary on a handbag in Milan, and shivered watching the sunset from the top of Mount Sinai (having a wee behind a rock because that’s just how you were rolling). You haven’t had to do a school run in your PJ’s at this stage of your life.

Career wise – that old chestnut we use as woman who’ve had babies later in life is that we’ve had a chance to establish ourselves, to try different career paths, shaking our heads, pull up and socks and try another. We’ve experimented, we’ve taken risks, and we’ve worked our butts off, pulling ‘all-nighters’ to finish a presentation, without thought or care of time or responsibilities.

By the time I was ready to be a mum, I had done what I needed to, to get where I wanted to be in my career. This definitely helped smooth the way back to work for me so I could work flexi hours, disappear for a school Easter hat parade, or race home to rescue the nanny sitting on my roof trying to get in the house having locked herself (and my two boys) out (true story).

My point is as an older mum, you’ve worked out what you want your career to look like, and you have got to a point where you can think, “ok, I can step away now.” You can now be defined by new priorities and are richer for the perspective of what both ‘sides’ look like – and the one you want to choose.

You’re not the same person you were in your 20’s, and love her or hate her, this you is definitely wiser for your life experiences.

Being a Mum is awesome regardless of whatever age you choose or are able to do it. If we have little people to tuck into bed each night, and to grip clammy little (or big) hands, or inhale deeply the smell of their hair, then we’re all winners.

And for Michelle Bridges, about to enter this wonderful world we live in, congratulations. Nothing else has or will come close in your life, we’re glad you’re finally able to experience it like we are.

What are you thankful for as an older Mum? And hit us with the reasons why being a young mum rocks too?

Main image courtesy of Getty.com

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