Linda Siemsen

Hello!

I'm 44 and my daughter is two. I sometimes wish I was younger but I try to do a lot with her physically but sometimes I have to call a halt. I think I'm a good/better mother in all other respects. My favorite book about this is So Glad We Waited! A Hand Holding Guide for Over 35 Parents by Lois Nachamie.

I have the most problems socially. I'm not sure how to act around the younger moms. I've already worked outside the home, I'm a stay-at-home mom for now, looking to work part-time. I'm much more opinionated than the younger moms I've met and much less willing to listen to authority figures. Anyway I'll be 59 when Katrina is 17 so I have to plan for retirement and an empty nest at the same time. Makes saving for college easy. We just put all our savings into retirement plans since we'll be able to take the money out without penalty after 59.

Linda Siemsen

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Mary

From: "Linda Siemsen" <lsiemsen2@...>

<<I have the most problems socially. I'm not sure how to act around the
younger moms. I've already worked outside the home, I'm a stay-at-home mom
for now, looking to work part-time. I'm much more opinionated than the
younger moms I've met and much less willing to listen to authority figures.
Anyway I'll be 59 when Katrina is 17 so I have to plan for retirement and an
empty nest at the same time. Makes saving for college easy. We just put
all our savings into retirement plans since we'll be able to take the money
out without penalty after 59. >>


I will be 60 when Alyssa turns 18. When I think of it, it doesn't really
bother me. My mom was always much older than my friends moms were. My mom
was the coolest mom and we always had a bunch of kids hanging out at my
house. Well into high school even. My mom is 77 now and is very active and
great with all my kids. You should see her play with the younger three,
especially in the pool!!! Age to me doesn't mean squat!!!

As far as relating, I never had that problem. When I was younger, I always
hung out with much older friends. Like 10=20 years older. So now that I'm
hanging with younger friends, I guess it all falls into place. I kind of
take on the mom role and well that's fine with me. I don't look old and as
Tara says, I don't look like a mom. All of Tara's friends are pretty
surprised when they meet me. They think we're sisters. I guess that helps.
Just being comfortable with who you are, and really loving yourself no
matter what shape or age makes getting along with others so much easier.

Mary B