There's no denying the joys of parenthood, but becoming a parent fundamentally changes your life. Gone are the days of carefree spontaneity and prioritizing your every whim. Most parents wouldn't trade their children for anything, but that doesn't erase a touch of nostalgia for their pre-kid selves.
This fear of missing out, or FOMO, is exactly why one mom is celebrating her decision to wait until her early thirties to have her first child.
Style content creator Kristie recently shared a TikTok video explaining how her child-free twenties prepared her perfectly for motherhood at 33.
While Kristie recognizes potential health concerns associated with childbearing later in life, in the clip, she expresses strong support for her decision to wait until 33 to become a first-time mom.
However, her experience highlights the benefits of having "15 years to be selfish." This time allowed her to develop the emotional, mental, and financial stability crucial for parenthood.
Now, with a newborn, she feels she's already experienced the joys of a child-free lifestyle. "This has been such an amazing time," she shares. "I haven't been out and about much in the past few months. I'm just soaking up this time with my daughter. No more endlessly scrolling through social media, traveling every other weekend, or nights out. And I don't feel like I'm missing out. I've done all that. Extensively."
Her contentment lies in the "little things," like enjoying a quiet cup of coffee while her baby naps.
Kristie's video resonated with many moms who embraced motherhood later in life.
"Same here! First-time mom at 34 with a two-month-old," one commenter shared. "PhD, JD done, secure and happy with no FOMO! We lived and enjoyed ourselves before starting a family."
Using stronger emphasis: Another chimed in with a resounding agreement: "Absolutely! I had my first baby at 33, and there's no way I could have done it in my 20s. I'm so grateful for the time I had to focus on myself beforehand!"
The societal pressure to procreate before 30 often overshadows the reality that life doesn't always follow a predetermined timeline. Biology may favor earlier childbearing, but the Mayo Clinic reminds us, "There's nothing magical about age 35. It's simply an age where risks become more relevant for discussion."
While fertility issues, health considerations, and potential complications are important factors, they shouldn't solely dictate your family planning timeline.
Women frequently encounter societal pressures to commence childbearing within a defined timeframe, which can impose substantial burdens on their reproductive choices. It reinforces the notion that a woman's worth diminishes after a certain age. Thankfully, moms like Kristie sharing their stories challenge this outdated stigma.