You know you’re an older mom when you’ve been navigating the school system longer than some of the other moms have been parents. You find yourself reminiscing about how you used to check your baby’s fever by slapping your forehead against their head, long before the invention of fancy thermometers. You chuckle at the memories of counting kicks in your belly, testing milk temperature on your wrist, and using mobile phones just for calling, all while younger moms look at you with bewildered expressions. You think, “Oh no, did I just reveal my age?”
Older moms may seem a bit out of touch compared to the younger crowd, who often view us as relics from the past. But don’t be too quick to write off the older mom at school; she’s probably your best bet for a genuine friendship. Why? Because we’ve developed a refreshing “I really don’t care” attitude toward the judgment of other moms. Here’s why older moms make fantastic friends:
- We’re not bothered by how you gave birth—whether it was natural or a C-section. We all know kids have an uncanny ability to ask the most embarrassing questions in public.
- Your feeding choices—breastfeeding or bottle feeding—don’t matter to us. Kids are quirky, and we’ve all had to explain the “dirt is not a food group” situation at the playground.
- Whether you use cloth or disposable diapers? No biggie! We’ve all experienced that moment when your little one suddenly needs to go right after leaving the house.
- Co-sleeping, sleep training, or no sleep—it doesn’t faze us. We’ve all had mornings where our kids wake us up at ungodly hours demanding to watch Frozen for the thousandth time.
- We don’t care about your weaning method; chicken nuggets will be their go-to meal regardless.
- Go ahead and indulge your kids with juice or sweets; they’ll still find a way to explore the public restroom in ways that will make you cringe.
- Still in diapers at age five? We get it. Just wait until you’re yelling “don’t open that door!” while trying to get dressed in a hurry.
- If your home looks like a disaster zone, don’t worry; soon enough, your teens won’t even want to be seen with you.
- The milestones your child reaches? They won’t matter when they’re too cool to acknowledge you as a parent on social media.
- And let’s be honest, we’ve all had those days where we didn’t shower or dressed in yesterday’s clothes. We’ve been there—last week, last month, and probably next week too.
So, next time you spot an older mom at school, don’t hesitate to strike up a conversation. She may share stories of how she survived parenting without high-tech gadgets, but she’ll never judge you. She understands that parenting is tough and that we all have our struggles.
She’s likely to be that awesome mom friend who gets it—because she’s been through the trenches too. She knows what it’s like to be overwhelmed and instead of judgment, she’ll offer support, whether that’s a good laugh, a glass of wine, or a piece of chocolate. Older moms don’t waste time on petty judgments. What we care about is raising our kids right, so they’ll still want to call us when we’re old and gray, just to say “I love you, Mom.”
For more on navigating the journey of parenthood, check out this article and explore the resources available on artificial insemination. And if you’re looking for insights into your fertility journey, this resource is a great place to start.
In summary, older moms are invaluable friends who understand the realities of parenting. We’re here to support each other, celebrate our successes, and share the struggles without judgment. So let’s embrace the chaos together!