The average age for U.S. mothers having their first children is 25, but many women today are waiting — for a variety of reasons. Some reasons are education and career, later age of marrying or problems with infertility.
Two area mothers who had their first babies in their 30s see their age as a non-issue — or even as an advantage.
Amanda Sexton Ferguson, 39, and her husband, Keith, 40, have a 15-month-old son, Dean.
The Fergusons live in Carrollton, and Amanda is editor and publisher of the Carrollton Conservative and The Winona Times, with her office in Winona.
Amanda says the age factor doesn’t matter to her. In general, she feels having a baby at a more mature age is not a bad thing.
“I think we realize what a heavy responsibility it is. You see what can happen. It makes you more aware of the momentous responsibility,” she said. “I might be a little overprotective.”
Ferguson said she did not meet her husband until age 32, and they married when she was 36.
They don’t plan to have any more children, but they feel they are very blessed with Dean. “Maybe if we had gotten married sooner we might have had other children, but we are very happy with our little family.”
She said she didn’t worry about having a greater possibility of birth defects in children born to older mothers.
“I didn’t dwell on that. We didn’t even have the test. It wouldn’t have mattered,” she said.
Dean is “all over the place now” but hasn’t been a difficult baby, so night wakefulness hasn’t affected her ability to work, she said.
“We are wrapped up in it completely,” she said. “We waited so long and are so happy.”
Heather and Tommie Williams of Greenwood are reveling in new parenthood with 5-month-old Smith.
They are in their early 30s – she is 33, and he is 32 — but they say it was a long and difficult journey to have Smith, and they are thrilled to be parents.
“A five-year wait wasn’t in our plan,” Heather said. “We wanted kids a few years after marriage, but we struggled with infertility. We went through a lot of treatments and a lot of heartache, but I can finally look at my baby, Smith, and know that God’s plan was perfect.
“Motherhood is wonderful,” she said. “It’s the best thing that has ever happened to me. It’s worth all the struggle and pain I have experienced.”
Williams said she always wanted children. “I knew I would be a mother but wasn’t sure what plan God had for me. Turns out his plan truly is the best. I am blessed with my precious baby boy. I don’t take it for granted.”
Like Ferguson, Williams believes being an older mom brings real appreciation for motherhood.
“I believe I appreciate it a lot more than I would have in my early 20s,” Heather said. “Due to my experience, I appreciate the good, the bad and the ugly. I have prayed so hard for a baby and am so very thankful.”
As for any disadvantages, Williams says there aren’t any. If she is older than her son’s classmates’ parents, “there’s always Botox,” she laughs. “I don’t believe it will matter. Some of my very best friends are younger and older than me. I have always had friends with a variety of ages.
“I may not be the cool mom, but neither was my mom. She was 27 when she had me, and now she is my best friend, so it will all be OK.”
