You know you’re an older mom when you’ve been at the school longer than some of the other parents have been parents themselves. You find yourself reminiscing, “Back in my day, I used to actually feel my baby’s forehead to see if they had a fever—none of this fancy ear thermometer nonsense.” You reflect on the days of counting fetal kicks, testing bottle temperatures on your wrist, and using actual mobile phones to chat. Cue the eye rolls and confusion from the younger moms. It hits you—yikes, I think I just revealed my age!
Older moms often embrace a more traditional approach to parenting, which younger moms might dismiss as outdated, like an old library book that’s past its due date. But don’t be too quick to overlook that older mom at school; she might just be your best ally. Older moms have developed a “I really don’t care” attitude when faced with the judgmental glances from other moms. Here’s why older moms are the ultimate mom friends:
- We’re beyond caring about how you gave birth—natural or C-section, it doesn’t matter. Your kid will still ask why you’re “furry down there” in the restroom, much like ours did.
- Whether you breastfed or bottle-fed, we all know that kids can be quirky. You’ll spend countless hours explaining that “dirt and grass” aren’t food groups, just like we did.
- Cloth or disposable diapers? Who cares? Your child will inevitably declare they need to go right after you’ve left the house, just like ours did.
- Co-sleeping, controlled sleep, or no sleep at all? Trust us, your little one will still poke you awake at 5 a.m. asking for Disney movies, just like ours did.
- Spoon-fed or child-led weaning? Expect your child to live on chicken nuggets for every meal, just like ours did.
- Juice, cake, or chocolate? Your kid will still attempt to lick every surface in a public restroom, while you shout “NO!”—just like we did.
- If your 5-year-old is still in diapers, that’s cool. You’ll still be shouting “Do NOT open that door!” while trying to pull your pants up in Target, just like we have.
- Don’t worry if your home looks like a disaster; in a few years, you won’t even be able to hug your teen who thinks they’re too cool for mom, just like ours.
- Who cares if your kid can run, skip, or write a novel by 11 months? Once they hit their teenage years, you might not even be allowed to be Facebook friends with them—just like us.
- Didn’t shower today? Wore yesterday’s clothes? That was us last week, last month, and probably last year too. And it’ll be us again tomorrow.
So next time you see an older mom at school, don’t hesitate to say hi. She might share her survival stories of weaning without fancy gadgets or changing diapers without wetness indicators, but she won’t judge you. She understands that parenting is tough, and she knows how it feels to be overwhelmed. She’s there to help you paddle through the chaos, or at the very least, send you wine and chocolate—lots of it.
Older moms don’t pass judgment because, at the end of the day, the only thing that truly matters is raising kids who will still want to call us when we’re 94, just to say “I love you, Mom.” That’s the kind of stuff that’s really worth caring about.
For more insights on navigating motherhood, check out our other post here. If you’re looking for guidance on home insemination, this resource is a great place to start. And for anything about pregnancy and home insemination, IVF Babble offers excellent information.
Summary
Older moms bring a unique perspective to friendship in the parenting world, free from judgment and filled with understanding. They’ve been through the trenches and are the perfect allies for navigating the chaos of motherhood.