BellaOnline Forums Relationships Marriage mid life mom?

That is a really good idea. I never gave it much thought, but I always babysat for my younger cousins when I was a teenager, sometimes over the weekend. And I thoroughly loved when they were babies, especially the times when I was just rocking in the rocking chair and singing to them. That wound up being my fondest memory of my own children when they were babies, too.

So while a "trial basis" of course won't be anywhere near as stressful OR as joyful as the real thing - it would give you a taste of where you wanted to be.

An easy way to try it out would be to vounteer for nursery duty if you attend weekly church services. EVERY church I know is always needing help in that area, and when you take care of more than 3 infants or 5 toddlers at one time - it can definitely give you the same scatterbrained feeling of a sleep-deprived Mommy, LOL!

I couldn't help but wish after reading your post how lucky a baby would be to have a thoughtful, well balanced and organized mother such as yourself. You are so smart not to just jump in without some real soul searching.

More and more women are waiting to have their babies until they are in their late thirties and early forties and don't seem to be any more tapped for energy resources than myself at a decade or so younger. They are fit, they are smart and have a world of love to offer.

If your husband is on board, supportive and willing to accept the changes that full time parenting will bring; there is no reason not to. The key is to make whatever decision that is necessary to have no regrets.

Best wishes.