Where does this apprehension stem from? Seriously, I don't understand why if a mother's healthy enough to take care of a child there should be anything for people to sniff at. Is it just in Western cultures this is found, I wonder, or is it everywhere? It would be interesting to find out what the different attitudes are in different parts of the world regarding older mothers.

I'm really curious to see how this is viewed in the cultures where the grandparents take on most of the responsibility in raising children.  I mean, if the parents are waiting until their 40s to have children, where does that put THEIR parents?

What matters, in my opinion, is the maturity - especially psychological maturity, of the parents. With maturity also comes being responsible which is very important in raising a family. So even if a woman is 16 or 40 yo, as long as she's matured and responsible then I think they would be ideal in raising children.

I agree, Nazreen.  I don't criticize the woman that waits til 40 to become a mom and I don't condemn the 16 year old girl that becomes a mom either.  What people don't seem to understand is that no one can be fully prepared for a baby.  They may have held a lot of children, changed a lot of diapers, read every book on the shelf, and done a lot of babysitting, but I have YET to meet a mother that was fully prepared when the time came. 

So why do some people look down their noses at older mothers, as if it's wrong?

I'm not sure.  my guess is because it just isn't the “norm”.  So many people hold way too fast to the way they think things should be … you get married in your early 20's, you have your first child within a couple of years and then you continue until you hit your 30s and then you are done. 

I blame some of it on the medical professions as well.  The fear that our eggs have become old when we hit 35, all of the testing required as “advanced age parents”, the hype about the dangers of having children later in life.   I guess the thought is, the ideal time for our bodies to carry children is through our 20s and early 30s (because you only seem to hear the increased risk of having children in your teens and later 30s).

At least, those are my guesses!  lol

Still, it's not right for others to tell someone how to live their life in my book - each should make their own path in life. It's the only true way to experience it.

Oh tell me about it, Kay. I got married when I was 29 and people expect us to have a baby immediately. My hubby and I are not ready to have one yet. I just don't understand why people must stick their noses in our lives and tell us what to do. What do they gain from it? We'll get pregnant whenever we want, be it in our 30s or 40s. Most importantly, we are both mature and financially prepared.

you brought up a good point, Kay … the grandparents.  I know that my parents have always enjoyed being active with the kids, but are feeling their age more and more these days.  My husband's parents are a generation older than my own and while they love to have the kids over for a weekend, they just cannot keep up with them.  I do agree that a lot of the pressure can come from the would-be grandparents, wanting to enjoy a little one while they still CAN.

but of course, it's still not okay, just another reason.