Stories Along The Way

What’s one thing you wish you had started doing earlier in life?

Something I wish I had started earlier in life is having kids.

I had my child at 37—not because I didn’t want children earlier, but because I couldn’t. Life doesn’t always happen according to the timeline we imagine for ourselves.

I love being a mom, but I do sometimes wish I had experienced motherhood when I was younger. Raising a teenager while you’re in your 50s is definitely different. I don’t have the same energy I had in my 20s or 30s. I get tired faster, and having a teenager certainly keeps me on my toes.

And yes, people have actually asked if I’m his grandma! I can laugh about it now, but the first time you hear that, you definitely think, “Wait…what?” 😂

Sometimes I think about how much more energy I had when I was younger. I was more spontaneous and probably a little more fun. Now I want to know where he is, what time he’ll be home, and why he hasn’t answered my text.

There are advantages to becoming a parent later, too. I had more life experience and perhaps a little more patience and wisdom. But if life had given me the choice, I would have started earlier.

When I imagined being in my 50s, I pictured my children already grown, perhaps starting families of their own. Instead, I’m still raising a teenager—and discovering that motherhood doesn’t always follow the timeline we pictured.

Would I change having my son? Absolutely not.

I may wish I had started motherhood earlier, but I would never change the child I was given. He came into my life when he was supposed to, and no matter how tired I may be or how much he keeps me on my toes, he is the best part of my story.