I just saw this piece on the Today Show and was astonished at all the other information or sides to consider regarding this issue. When I was born, my parents were in their mid-40s and already had two children in their 20s. Sure, they were built in babysitters and they had their own lives, and my parents were wise beyond their years when they were raising me. However, when discussing this issue, you should take the time to consider what the young child will face as they grow up. Trust me, it's no picnic. The parents aren't the only ones facing scrutinizing comments, and the social, cultural, and psychological gaps between the siblings is immense and something that - as a now 30 year old - I still have to deal with. My sisters and I have very little in common and don't really get along, which is such a shame. While parents today may CHOOSE to have a child after they've raised other children, they should consider the impact on the child they bring into the world.

Loved it. 22 years between my youngest brother and me. I remember the day my Mom told me she was expecting. My daughter was sitting in the high chair!First thing she said was close your mouth and stop thinking about what you are thinking! Yup it was. He is now my best friend. We still call him the "love child". Oh Dad was not suppose to tell right away....next day a sign in his business window read "We're Expecting"! I thought she would kill my Day that day. Thanks for the memory. BJ /Florida

I have three children that are each six years apart - this is just how it turned out for me and my husband. I am always a little offended at the assumption is that each is a product of a different marriage or liaison. This has happened more than once.

I had a child at 39. This was my third. However my sons were 10 & 14. I WAS overwhelmed at this and there were health issues with the pregnancy. During this time my sons learned to do laundry and prepare meals. This was great for them. But my daughter was 4 when her brother she adored left home. He went away to college and never moved back. She does not know him.
As for babysitters, you can not leave a new baby alone with 10 & 14 year old boys. It is very hard to find a babysitter for a infant when you also have teenage boys. The boys were offended by having babysitters. Solution: Mom & Dad stayed home for a very long time.
When she was 6 I got cancer. Middle age health issues are much harder to face with young children.
My daughter is now 13 and I would not trade this experience. Even though I am often thought to be her grandmother.

I have a 2 month old daughter & a 25 year old son. It has been wonderful! Everything is so different now. He LOVES his little sister, I get to stay home this time & I am a much more patient parent. My son had a 4 yr old daughter, that is where a little jealousy comes in, but not to much. She loves the baby & wants to stay here all of the time with her. I was offended by alot of reactions from others. They would ask, what number is this? or was it planned? or HOW OLD are YOU? All which I would reply none of your business. I am only 42, by the way.

It was like watching my life on TV! My sons were 14 & 16 when our son, John was born, yes, a surprise, one month shy of my 47th birthday! John is 17 mos. and people often think he belongs to my oldest who is 6'3' and looks older than he is. We are amused by the confused looks. What amazed me the most is how much the boys love their baby brother and how much less self-absorbed they are now that they have John in their lives. I feel fairly prepared for the later years as I was a product of older parents. There are drawbacks, I lost my parents when I was in my 30's. My parents weren't up for some of the things I was involved in, yet that's life! I turned out okay, I had a very enriched upbringing that I wouldn't trade for anything. As far as sibling relationships go when they get older, I think there is alot my husband and I can do now and as John grows to help foster their relationship in the future.

My boys are 18 years apart in age. As my oldest son entered college his younger brother was five months old. My
older son was a senior in college when his brother was in pre-school. It has been a wonderful experience for our family and the two boys are very close now at the ages of 19 and 37. The younger son is a doting uncle to two little girls adopted from China. He is
in college now and often calls his brother for advice, plus comments frequently on what a good husband and
father his brother is. Each of the boys
have had life experiences that would not
have occurred if they were a few years apart in age. The boys have different
fathers from different marriages and yet, never consider each other half brothers. Our family has been very
blessed with this experience.

I was 17 and number 2 out of six when my parents told us they were expecting another. The youngest at that point was 10 and seeing as how they already had 6, we thought(and they thought)they were done...needless to say, shocking! After the initial resentment and anger at our parents, we really warmed up to it. Helping pick out names and knowing we would be in the delivery room with my parents was very exciting. My brother is 5 now and is extremely(lovingly)spoiled and has two very active parents who are up to any task they were in their twenties. To this family, it was just another added blessing. Of course there are negative comments and nosy people, but that comes along with anything you do, and as I've gotten older, it is easier to ignore. Pretty neat thinking that our kids will be able to play together with their uncle.

I am the "Love Baby" referenced in comment #2 from my sister Barbara. I am blessed to have Barbara as my sister and my brother, a Vietnam Veteran, as role models in my life. Unfortunately our mother passed away when I was seven years old and Barbara quickly stepped in to make sure I was taken care of as only a Mom would. I never take for granted that my sister, 21 years my senior, conciders me a "Best Friend"

I am positive there are many people who share a similar path through life and cherish it for all that it holds.

Hello to all from San Francisco.

I caught this piece while I was getting ready for work this morning and noticed that the experiences/issues that the younger child will deal with where missing.

I am the youngest of 4 by 9 years. My oldest sister was married before I was even in kindergarten. We never really got that time to bond as sisters and at times she has treated me more like her kid then her sister.

Also, when I was little I wanted to be just as grown-up as my siblings so in a way I got to be a teenager twice.

I guess what I want to say is that parents need to be aware of what that youngest child will feel like. They won't share allot of the grouping up memories that their siblings and more then likely cousins will. At times they will feel very left out within the family.

The article/segment brought out a lot of great points, but missed this one.

I was soooo excited to see this segment today!!! I rarely see anything that addresses this issue. I have 2 sons 15 years apart. My husband and I were 20 when our first son was born and thought that he would be it for us. We had thought about having others but by the time we were settled and stable enough to consider another, we felt like it was too late. Son #2 was a complete surprise. Our sons are 17 and 2 now and so far, it is has been such a wonderful experience! Our older son is such a great brother and our younger son has brought such great joy to our family. It is difficult sometimes and if I think too much about it, I feel a little frightened about all the years still to come but I wouldn't change a thing. All the things mentioned in the article are true, too. Our older son was a little icked out when he first found out and people do assume that they are from different fathers. Also, we had someone think that my older son was my husband and that my younger son was our baby! We got a laugh out of that!!

I had my youngest daughter when my other daughters were 9 and 10. I was 38 years old. This fall my middle daughter starts college in NY; my oldest just finished freshman year in DC. I live in Atlanta. So I have postponed my empty nest years and am very happy about it. My youngest started complaining a year ago that she doesn't want to be left alone at home with me. She worships the ground her sisters walk on, and they love her to death. They are like surrogate parents to her. They still manage to argue with each other however, and sometimes she will defer to them for information over me. She of course is worldly beyond her years because of their influence; I call her a short teenager. I would not trade this experience.

Imagine our shock when I discovered I was pregnant at 44 years old. That was two years ago! The "baby" is 20 months old and absolutely adores her older brother who is 21 YEARS old and her older sister who is 12 YEARS old. We've had all of the typical comments - grandparents? same marriage?, etc. We choose to look at the positive part - what a blessing that we were new parents again. Did we plan our family this way? No.....do we sometimes worry about the "future"? Yes...however, we learned that we must take each day as it comes and cherish every moment in life.

Please give it some thought before deciding to have a child later in life. It doesn't always turn out for the best.

My siblings are 12 and 14 years older than I am and they resent that I've had many more advantages than they had.

My mother was always tired, which led to her divorce from my father. People say that I grew up with lots of material things and not much supervision...and that I'm spoiled. I guess I am, but why not take what they're willing to give me? After all, I've been taught to be the baby of the family. How can it be my fault?

All I know is that I have no friends because kids my age are jealous that I've always gotten my way and my family is always telling me what a brat I am. I feel like I've been set up to be "the baby". They made me what I am, so why are they complaining?

I'm a teenager and I just found out that my dad and his wife are having a baby. I am really happy for them, but I am really worried too. My dad and his wife live in another state and really far away from me. I like the idea that I will have another sibling, but what if I don't really get to bond with the child because of the distance?

I really still can't believe this is all happening because I never would have expected to find out that I am going to have a little brother or sister when I am a teenager! It just feels like a big joke.

Is there anyone else that is in a similar situation?

Hi there! Your site is cool!

It's nice when families make it this far.

Bruce

My two were 15 and 17 when I found out we were expecting another child. Boy was that a shocker! We never planned to stop having kids, it just didn't happen so we just figured it was a no brainer. My eldest children adore their baby brother and I have to say that this has been an eye opening experience for all of us! In a day and age where babies are having babies, this has really driven home the fact that little ones aren't babydolls and that it takes real work to take care of an infant (no picnic). My middle child is excitedly thinking forward to when he can walk his baby brother home from school.
Not everyone who has a late life child PLANS it. When we found out Ian was coming, my kids were a bit ick'd out, but I told them that we do what we must and aborting was not an option. I'm now even more glad that he is here. We've just learned that their Daddy has MS and Ian helps give him incentive to keep going and not give up.

Lou Ann, Only in the south would people assume you are your child's grandmother at your age. You were 39 yrs. old when you had her! Most women I know are your age and having babies. That's life, after college, and a career and finding Mr. Right. You fit in with the rest of us just fine. Enjoy your daughter. I'm sure you do.

i am looking for assistance to help me deal with our 2 middle age sons. i am 67 my husband is 72. we are devoted to our grandchildren. our older son has not seen us for 10 years. our younger son sees us but his borderline personality daughter in law suddenly dropped us. we did more for them and their 3 children. i loved her since she was 14 and came to our house daily. my son is a wimp and doesn't help us. i am in serious pain. any help you can give us will be greatly appreciated. thank you sonia

My Teenage daughter earns pocket money for changing her brothers nappies and feeding him so she loves looking after him.