Something that triggered this question: Turkish woman gives birth at the age of 64

However.. I DO want to discuss the age, but more in general. I do not deny this woman's wish to have a child, but not at all cost, and not at this age. For me personally the age limit is 30 and extending to 35, but after that, for me it's a no go.

Doesn't mean I want to say you can't have a kid at age 40, I am saying -I- don't want to have a baby after I hit 35. Considering I am now 33, 34 in December, and single, I have simply given up on the idea of ever becoming a mom. Just like that? Yes, just like that. In my eyes the risks are far too great and as time progresses having a child with Down's Syndrome and/or other birth defects is more and more likely. Being a single woman with enough on her hands without a child, I doubt I can offer a child what I think it deserves. Hence my simple and for me logical decision.

However.. 64? Past the natural age to becoming a mother. How much "right" do you still have to get a child then? My opinion on the whole thing is easy: when you have no longer your natural reproductive activities going on (read menstruation and such) then that is the age limit. However, in my eyes that is still too high (considering that hovers around age 50), but.. soit.

But after that? No.

And then I haven't even started to think on what it would be like to have a 77 year old mother when you are 13 years old...

What are your opinions about it?

Epitome of selfishness...

Exactly, I agree. A child is GIVEN, it isn't something one would just order at a store.

(I can say this better in Dutch.. but alas, no proper translation is there for it in English )

honestly, i feel so pulled in two directions on this.

my first thought was that i hope that this woman has some kind of plan in case she gets sick or passes away. i don't agree with her decision to have a child at that age. personally, i wouldn't do it.

on the other hand, i believe very much in the concept of free will.
i don't think people should decide for others whether they have children or not, how old people should be in order to have children, when a person should be allowed to die, how many children should be allowed to have or whether pregnancies should be terminated or not.

that being said, there are times when it is very difficult to respect another's decision. especially, if it seems that their decision isn't wise or well-thought. or just plain unfathomable.

Free will.. I agree with your point on that.. however.. what about the free will of the child. Let's put it another way: what if you had a mother who was thought to be your granny all the time?

I see it here already, with mothers and fathers getting older. They get asked if they are taking a nice stroll with their cute grand child.. I mean.. Know what I mean?

It is not only the feelings of the mother that count, but in this case also the feelings of the child when it gets older.

eadwine, i understand what you're saying. the same problem happens when people of very different ages pair up. people think one is with a parent and say things thoughtlessly, however innocent.

but no one knows what a child's free will might be, until someone asks and a child has the ability to reason beyond wanting a cookie. maybe they're going to care less if they have old parents. or maybe they're going to be embarrassed by their parents, at some point, regardless of their age. *shrugs* you just never know...

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Yeah I hear what you are saying. However I still feel the way I do about it. Currently without any arguments though