Like It Is

Britain’s oldest mother is 62, and is currently on the receiving end of criticism for having a child at such an advanced age.  She and her husband, who is 60, have nicknamed their new child JJ. JJ was conceived by IVF through a donor egg and, because of her age, IVF specialists in the UK refused giving her the treatment, which I think is right. Mrs Farrant therefore had to travel to Russia. Not that Mrs Farrant hasn’t had children – she has three aged 18, 22 and 26 from a previous marriage. But this is the first child for her current husband. And it was their fifth and final attempt to conceive. At around $15,000 a try that’s pretty expensive, but affordability isn’t in question here.

Opinions vary from one end of the spectrum to the other, from calling her absurd to those saying its great as the child was wanted and that those who are critical are applying double standards as after all men father children at 60 and over. True. I find it hard to get my head around becoming a mother for the first time in your sixties if you really are thinking of the child.

But never mind them for the moment.  Did these parents really, honestly think of the child? Did they not stop to consider that when their son is 18 they will be in their 80’s and late 70’s? How will their child feel about introducing his senior parents to his friends? Apparently they did think about it. They say they felt it was the “right thing to do” and that they have plenty of good friends to step in if anything happens to them. I think that is pretty sad. Best of luck JJ.

You can read the full story here.