Halle Berry, Sarah Palin, Sarah Jessica Parker, Nicole Kidman, Selma Hayek, Julia Roberts, Lisa Hartman Black, Sheryl Crow, Jane Seymour, Helen Hunt, Courtney Cox Arquette, Mariah Carey, Meryl Streep, Brooke Shields, Madonna, Susan Sarandon, Annette Benning, Holly Hunter, Cheryl Tiegs, Jane Kaczmarek, Mimi Rogers, Nancy Grace, Marcia Cross, Naomi Watts, Iman, Helen Hunt

Salma Hayek "When Valentina was not even 1 month old, my aunt [gave me the best advice]: 'Put her to sleep yourself every night. Sing to her and cradle her in your arms and sit by her side - every night. Because one day you won't be able to, and it's going to happen really fast." Reprinted with Permission of Hearst Communications, Inc. Originally Published: Hottest Celebrity Moms Over 40 KMazur/WireImage Mariska Hargitay "Before you have kids, when you're on a plane and there's a screaming kid, all you can think is, Give me earplugs! As soon as I became a mom, though, I got it. You find yourself asking, 'What can I do? You want me to hold him?' Because you think about the time your kids was screaming, and there was the one parent who looked at you and smiled. And that compassion was everything." Reprinted with Permission of Hearst Communications, Inc. Originally Published: Hottest Celebrity...Sarah Jessica Parker "As a working mother high heels don't really fit into my life anymore - but in a totally wonderful way. I would much rather think about my son than myself." Reprinted with Permission of Hearst Communications, Inc. Originally Published: Hottest Celebrity Moms Over 40 WireImageBrooke Shields "Trust me when I tell you I'm on my girls. And every time I am, I know from the outside it looks like I'm an overbearing, controlling parent. But I don't think we are responsible to anybody but our kids and ourselves." Reprinted with Permission of Hearst Communications, Inc. Originally Published: Hottest Celebrity Moms Over 40 WireImage Tina Fey "I think every working mom probably feels the same thing: You go through big chunks of time where you're just thinking, 'This is impossible - oh, this is impossible.' And then you just keep going and keep going, and you sort of do the impossible." Reprinted with Permission of Hearst Communications, Inc. Originally Published: Hottest Celebrity Moms Over 40 John Shearer/WireImageFaith Hill "Before, my career came first. All I had to think about was myself. Now my children prevail. It doesn't mean my career is less important; I just have to position things differently." Reprinted with Permission of Hearst Communications, Inc. Originally Published: Hottest Celebrity Moms Over 40 Steve Granitz/WireImage.com WireImage.com Nicole Kidman "My instinct is to protect my children from pain. But adversity is often the thing that gives us character and backbone. It's always been a struggle for me to back off and let my children go through difficult experiences." Reprinted with Permission of Hearst Communications, Inc. Originally Published: Hottest Celebrity Moms Over 40 WireImage

There.  I’ve done it.  After swearing I’d never do this, I’ve posted the names and photos of some of the most famous celebrity mothers over 40.  And now I’m attempting to write this blog post.  Have I gotten your attention, yet?

Four years ago, when I began my Midlife Mothers project, now titled NURTURE: Stories of New Midlife Mothers, I desperately tried to reach out to several celebrities for inclusion. While some responded, ultimately none were included. However, while seeking their participation, I was continuously struck with the sense that all the other women were truly the celebrities. That the pioneers, suffragettes and leaders – those women over 40, 50 and 60, who were having/getting/obtaining children – were the people worth celebrating, honoring and commending for their courage, honesty and conviction.

Women like: Shirley Pollack with two grown children, who at age 55 saw a documentary about the proliferation of Chinese children in orphanages, and after much prayer went on to adopt three Chinese children of her own (with her husband). Or, single mother Beth Bruder, now 56, who adopted four children internationally while over the age of 50.  Vicki Smith, 50, “GranniMom,” became a mother to her granddaughter after her daughter was murdered.  Surrogate Susan Ring, now 50, birthed children for five families while in her 30’s and 40’s (in addition to having two children of her own) believing that her true calling on earth was to channel her abilities to bring joy to other women/couples. Some of the oldest  (new) mothers in this country: Aleta St. James, Frieda Birnbaum and Janis Wulf, birthed children at 57, 60 and 63. They remain the litmus test for women choosing to push boundaries – the result of breakthroughs in medical technology, greater socio-economic freedoms for women, and a shifting of traditional family mores.

So there you have it. I hope I’ve educated you. I also hope that I’ve enlightened you. As new Midlife Mothers, we’re all out here and deserving of your attention, too.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]