I have the pleasure of following a blog called Life with three boys! Jenny, the author is pregnant with her fourth and final child, and she says she is a little sad that this is her last. I remember having those same feelings when I was a young mother. I was sure I would go through depression when my childbearing years were over.
Imagine my excitement when I read in the paper yesterday morning about a Harvard research team that has discovered hidden egg stem cells in mice. They think that women might have these hidden stem cells, too. Previously, scientists thought that females were born with a finite number of eggs, and when these eggs were gone, that was that. But that might not be the case with women, just as it apparently isn’t with mice.
I know that it will take the researchers several years to see if women have these hidden egg stem cells and if these could lead to viable eggs, but that gives me time to prepare. I’m picturing what life might be like if I could have a baby in a few years. My babies have always been tiny ones, so that’s good, because I might have trouble lugging a big one up and down my stairs. I’m a little stiff in the morning. Having been a La Leche League leader in the ’70’s, I’m a big proponent of breast feeding. Hmmm…that might present a problem. Mine have shrunk a tad. I wonder if working out more at the YMCA will help. Now I have a new reason to lift those weights! Gee, I hope I will be able to remember where I put the wee babe down. It took me three weeks to find my sunglasses because I left them in one of my traveling bags I had shoved in the linen closet. Surely, the little tyke’s crying will give me a clue to his or her whereabouts. If my hearing hasn’t gone by then. And if I can find my glasses.
You know, I think I’m remembering the feeling I experienced once I knew I couldn’t have any more babies. Relief!
NOTE: This is a real study, and if the research leads to viable eggs, this could prove useful to help infertile women. Young, infertile women. Worth following.
Coming East 
Hi Susan – well I now experience a sense of relief when my children pick up their children after a day spent together.
Yes, it even gets tiring being with grandchildren all day long, doesn’t it, Judith! Don’t know how I coped with three and stayed sane.
I have a few friends who started their second families (with new, younger wives) when they were in their 40’s. When I look at them now, in their early 60’s, dealing with the issues of teenage children, I think how glad I am that my body put a halt to reproduction many years ago! I think I could handle the babies at my age, but I sure couldn’t deal with teenagers again!
I don’t think I could even deal with babies for very long, Margie. I need my sleep!
The only way I would agree to this is if we could still send them home with our grand kids. I’m not about to give up a good thing.
Um, I think it’s just better to stick with grand kids altogether, Al. Toilet training, braces, driver’s Ed, teenage angst? No thank you!
I’m with you, Susan, I don’t think I have the energy to do that again!
Just thinking about those days makes me tired, Patti!
My cousin Jenny sent me over here to read your post and I’m so glad I came! I’m at the same point as she is – just had what will be my last baby and there have been times when I’ve been pretty sad about it. Your post was just what the doctor ordered, a bit of perspective served with a large dose of humor! Thank you!
Im so glad Jenny steered you over here, Jessie. I loved being pregnant, I love being the mom to young children, I loved the whole motherhood thing, so I totally know where you are coming from. But it’s like magic that one day you are actually relieved that you can’t have anymore. I wouldn’t have believed it if someone had tried to tell me that when I was in your position, though. Thanks for sending your sweet comment.
I would LOVE to have a baby at 61, as long as I could have a twenty-five year old at the same time to do all the work.
Great Post!
That’s called being a grandparent, NQO! LOL
I have had a recurring nightmare since after my first child was born that I accidentally left him at a rest stop somewhere in the state of Oklahoma. He is now 30 and I still have those dreams now and then. Perhaps the child in that dream is actually the one I will have in my 60s.
Yikes, Bella! You’ve proved my point about why women shouldn’t keep having babies! Your comment had me howling.
I heard this too and wondered about the usefullness of helping older women bear children. Interestingly, I just read a novel by Ann Patchet, “State of Wonder” which addresses this very issue.
I think I’ll be quite happy enjoying my grandchildren instead.
I have that book, HG, but haven’t read it yet. I didn’t even know what it is about ( a friend gave it to me after she read it), but now I’m looking forward to reading it.
I, too, worried about how much I’d miss having my babies, toddlers, teenagers, in our house. I had no idea how satisfying it is to interact with grown up children, and their spouses. The diminshed workload matches my reduced energy, and I cherish the awareness and consideration that adult children bring to my life. And then grandchidren . . .grandchildren are the icing on the cake!
Well said, Helen. I love to visit my grown children, and those two beautiful granddaughter are such a bonus.
Both you and Helen (my mother-in-law) have shared many words of wisdom with me about the joys of growing older and enjoying what my family will offer me later on. Many times Helen tells me, “there is a reason why my body can’t have more babies.” I will cherish these years as they fly by at the same time I will look forward to relationships with my adult children and grandchildren.
Helen is a wise woman! Yes, Jenny, there is so much to look forward to with family relationships. I love spending time with my adult children.
Thanks for mentioning me in your post. Your post is great and very true.
I heard about that study yesterday. I hope that some day young, infertile women can be helped!
I love checking in with your blog, Jenny. And, yes, wouldn’t it be wonderful if infertile couples could be helped!
You are correct that this is exciting news for young infertile women… As for me, nine years ago I brought home an 8 week old terminally cute golden retriever puppy. I cried for a week because I was so overwhelmed by this little ball of furry love who needed constant attention, wanted to play non-stop 24/7, cried at night, had a bladder the size of a pencil eraser and wasn’t house broken, and was always hungry. Overnight my life was no longer my own. A baby that matures at a much slower rate? No thank you. I’ll get my cuddles by baby sitting for those young women and handing the little droolers over before I go home, thank you very much!
Babies are certainly a lot of work, but they are much more trouble when they get older, unlike puppies who actually settle down.
My niece, Jenny, passed on your blog to us to read because you mentioned her in your latest one. I totally enjoyed your post and your sense of humor is awesome. I also love the comment made by E.C. I totally agree with her comment to. It would be nice if they would do research to help aging peoples aches and pains go away. I personally am turning 67 in a few days and I relish each day that I wake up in the morning to enjoy another day with my husband and my family and friends. I have been blessed, so far, with good health – mind while that’s another story – forgetfulness is a curse. I enjoy my hobbies of making jewelry for myself and gifts and I am currently working on knitting baby blankets to give to my grandchildren for their first born – if and when they have them. Hopefully that will be in the future and I will be around to enjoy that. I was thinking of starting a blog myself regarding my jewelry making efforts.
Have a wonderful day.
Anita, it was such a delight to hear from the auntie of Awesome Jenny! I’m sixty-three, so I know what you mean about the aches and pains and the forgetfulness. You should definitely start that blog. Blogging helps keep you sharp, I think. And it might help with the forgetfulness. I’m forgetful sometimes, you know, or did I already say that?
I read that study the other day and the only thing I could think of was if they could get my aging body to have it’s youthful glow and vigor again then it’d be worth restocking the eggs, as long as I didn’t have to hatch any. 😉 lol
I’m with you on that, E.C.!
Oh my gosh, I’ve laughed reading your blogs. Jenny, a former co-worker and friend, sent me to your site and I’ve enjoyed every minute reading them. I’m also a grandmother of 5 and felt the same way Jenny did. When I was young and heard other young women complaining about being pregnant I thought I must be weird because I loved it. Being a mother of 3 adult children and now being their friends is the icing on the cake. I never thought my daughter would end up being my best friend. Hopefully, she doesn’t have to end up being my caretaker. I’ve warned them, what goes around, comes around. Thanks ladies, for the belly laughs today.
Thank you for your kind words, Rhonda. So glad Jenny sent you to my blog and you had a good laugh. There is so much to laugh about growing older. One time my youngest son, when he was an older teenager, said that he would never put me in a home; I could live with him when I got too old to live alone. Then he thought about it for a minute and revised that. “Well, it will be a really good home.” Gotta love it!