She thinks we’re too old for children

Q

I’ve just had my first child at 43 and my husband is 49. We only met a year ago. I thought I would be someone who missed out on children. I’m very grateful and I know I’m very lucky. But my mother-in-law thinks we’re too old to have children and that it’s unfair on the child that we will be in our 60s when they are a teenager. She was 19 when she had her first, and had all three by the time she was 25. I want to tell her to be quiet but I don’t want to be rude. Daisy, London

A

I’m not surprised and I think your husband needs to say something to his mother. You have a child, which is wonderful and, yes, you are lucky. You’re not going to send them back, so there’s no point in her saying anything! If she had said it before you got pregnant, her viewpoint might have been worth hearing, although I’m not sure about that. You know you’re older, as are many parents nowadays. With a bit of luck, you might live till your 90s and your child will be middle-aged!