8 Kids of Old Parents Talk Candidly About What Being a Late Child Is Like

For parents, we’re eternal children who they always need to keep an eye on. And trust us, your age doesn’t matter. A mother will always make sure her kid eats well and wears warm clothes, even if it’s 70°F outside. But the older our parents get, the more we need to take care of them because they don’t have that much energy anymore. So what’s it like for kids whose parents were already in their more “mature” years when they were born?

We at Bright Side read many honest stories about the joys and sad moments of children’s lives who were born late and are eager to share those revelations with you. We hope that you’ll call your parents and tell them you love them after reading this article.

• When I was born, my mother was 36 and my father was 48. I would feel extremely shy about it in my childhood. I would get irritated when people mistook me for their granddaughter. Now they are 60 and 72 and whenever they meet old friends, they ask in shock whether my parents have spent the last 20 years in the freezer. My dad still has black hair and my mom is still slim. My parents only smile back mysteriously. But I know that they have young souls and that their bodies are a reflection of that. © “Overheard” / Ideer
• My mom was 41 and my dad was a few weeks short of 45 when they had me. Both of my parents put a lot of work and knowledge into raising me, something I don’t think many younger people would be able to do. However, there were some downsides too. For example, my dad was on blood pressure medication that made him sleep a lot during the day and when he was napping I had nothing else to do but amuse myself, so I was bored frequently. © Julie Edelstein / Quora

• My mother had me at the age of 40 and my father was 61 when I was born. My parents were incredibly patient with me always, a benefit I attribute to their age. They had many stories to share and a unique perspective that greatly influenced the way I saw the world and made it easier for me to relate to adults than my peers while I was young. I’m 23 now and I value the time I get to spend with them — even though like most young people, my parents can frustrate me sometimes. Now any resentment or frustration is tinged by the sharp knowledge that any visit or conversation could be the last. © Elizabeth Hitchcock / Quora

• My mother was 45 and my father was 43 when they had me. The intergenerational gap is unbearable. They don’t understand certain things and we’ve had many arguments and misunderstandings. I still catch myself super upset or disappointed with my mother when she is unable to understand me. My father always hoped to witness me completing my graduation, getting a job, and then getting married. Unfortunately, he passed away just before he was 62. I just hope my mother will be there for me when these things happen in the future. © Prithpal Kaur / Quora
• My dad was 45 when I was born. It was weird being a teenager and having an older parent too because they were more responsible about making sure I got to places on time and got picked up really early in comparison to the other children there. Also, hearing the stories about how he grew up as a child compared to what our childhood was must have been a bit of a culture shock. He was always surprised at how fast we picked up technology. © Rainyboots / Reddit

• When I was born, my mom was 39 and my dad was 61. Growing up with old parents is great. Because of their age, my parents had a really good sense of what was important, and they prioritized my education without penalizing me for my occasional failures. © Sarenna McKellar / Quora
• I have a 2-year-old brother. He is a late child — our dad is 50 now and our mom is 42. I am 18. When I recall my childhood, I realize it couldn’t be better. But I feel offended when I have to teach my little brother, help him develop, bring him up, and show him good manners. And after all that, my mom simply switches on silly cartoons for him and he keeps watching them and gets dumb. It’s easier this way! He’s not running, jumping or being annoying. Here is the truth about late kids: one parent feels lazy and the other one says they’re too old. © “Overheard” / Ideer

• I was born in 1999 and my father was born in 1947. One of the best results of his age is that he can relate to nearly anything because he’s been there for it all. It doesn’t matter what I’m talking about, he can relate to it and I love that. Anything I say can and will be answered with, “Back in ’74...” or something to that effect. I get to learn so much from him. He’s been a pilot, an engineer, an artist, a model builder, a manager, a woodworker, and most importantly to me, a father. My father’s age is a huge opportunity for me. © Nathan Lewman / Quora

What age is best for having kids in your opinion?