Reinventing Ourselves Archives - Page 6 of 14

Show and Tell

by Michelle Meyer

When I was in kindergarten, “Show and Tell” was one of my favorite things. One day, I brought in pictures of my mother’s youngest brother, Danny. I was so excited about showing them to the class and telling them that my grandmother had a new baby.

The teacher questioned me several times about exactly who gave birth and explained that this child could not possibly be my uncle because “grandmothers don’t have babies.” I stood my ground, insisting that I was not making up a story – these pictures were really of my Uncle Danny, who was just a few weeks old at the time. […]

Cyma Shapiro Interviews Serena Kirby, author of Better Late Than Never Baby

Hi, Serena – I’m so happy to be interviewing you, today. As my Australian compatriot, I see so many similarities in our midlife experiences, despite being half-a-world away.

Today, I’d like to focus on your wonderful book, Better Late Than Never Baby. Having read all manner of like-minded books, I expected to be reading another “same-old.” But I’m so happy to report that this book is refreshing, informative and so understanding of those women who have chosen new older motherhood/midlife motherhood.

Q: As a new mother @ age 43, you must have had your hands full. Yet you chose to write this book. Please tell our readers a little bit about how and why you did so.

A: When I became pregnant with my first baby at 42 I went looking for pregnancy books written for my age group. Occasionally, I stumbled across a chapter or paragraph dedicated to older mothers, and in several cases bought a book purely for its snippet of relevance. What I really wanted to read was how my older age may impact on my pregnancy, my baby, my body and my life. But finding an up to date book written by a first time later life mother, proved as elusive to me as pregnancy had previously been. […]

Cyma Shapiro Interviews Faydra Koenig, Author of Two Homes for Daniel

Hi, Faydra – welcome to Mothering. As America’s Divorce Coach, I’m happy to be presenting you to our group and exploring your latest venture, Two Homes for Daniel – the story of a child of divorce. Please tell me what inspired you to create this book?

A: I have been writing for adults for some time now, helping them cope with the stress and guilt associated with divorce and my coaching clients have been asking for ways to help their children. I created the book to offer a conduit for mom’s, dad’s and extended family to talk with kids about the issues that come up during and after divorce. I thought about my own children and how we managed the issues when we faced them. […]

My Journey to Motherhood Was a Battlefield

by Michelle Eisler

My journey to motherhood was a battlefield; my mothering experience has been one of joy and thankfulness.

But, in recent months there have been little cracks developing in who I am as a person (aside from being a mother). A child is an incredible gift – one that has the power to make you become acutely aware of what was tarnished, broken or missing from your own childhood.

I have learned I will never be able to be the mother I hope to be until I deal with the child I was. […]

50 Is The New 40

by Maggie Lamond Simone

They say 50 is the new 40.

I’ve been hearing that more and more lately as my half-century mark is winding down its tenure. Most of my friends are saying it with a kind of trepidation in their eyes, a hopeful “please don’t freak about this – you’re not going to freak about this, are you?” sense of panic lingering just behind their encouraging smiles. Most of my friends are younger than me, because their children are friends with my children, and I started … late, let’s call it.

The truth is, I have been kind of freaking out about this. It simply doesn’t seem accurate. I remember clearly when my mom was this age, and I remember it clearly because I was pushing 30 myself. In contrast, my oldest child is pushing puberty. Our combined hormones could generate enough power to light a small town. And I’m happy when I remember his name. […]

100% Responsible Mothering, But Never Alone

by Lora Freeman Williams

Image courtesy of www.artfulparent.com

I was a single parent for one month shy of four years – the first years of Isaac’s life. Prior to having a child, I’d considered getting a dog thinking I was finally ready to take on that weighty responsibility. However, just before I took that step, I took a pregnancy test. So much for the dog.

Fortunately, I had learned a vital lesson about responsibility, while in my early 20s.

I’d been floundering with an eating disorder for a five years. I’d sulked and skulked my way through college, therapy, churches, and friendships, looking for someone to rescue me from myself. I’d found no prince nor adoptive parents, and I was deeply depressed. I wanted to die. […]

Nine Tips On How to Prepare For (New Older) Mothering Over 40, 45 and 50!

by Cyma Shapiro

Photo by Shana Sureck

You are so happy! You see the finish line before you and are racing toward new older motherhood with joy and trepidation. However, you haven’t thought out the rest of this journey. In fact, I’ll bet that you haven’t thought much past the blessed event.

Whether you are marrying into a family with children, are adopting, fostering, having children through a surrogate, undergoing natural childbirth or IVF, or becoming a guardian, the end result may be the same.

Here are nine tips for planning in advance:

1) Shore up your support team – whether it is friends, family, a therapist or support group. You are about to be embark on the ride of your life. Having cheerleaders around you cannot hurt. […]

New Mom, New Year, New Beginnings

by DeAnna Scott

Courtesy, DeAnna Scott Photography

This is my 46^th New Year and my 1^st as a mom! As I hold my daughter Phoebe, I start thinking about all the firsts that we, as a family, have to look forward to this year. It is all so joyously overwhelming! My twins will learn how to crawl and then walk; say their first words, and maybe join them together to make sentences. They will learn how to hug and kiss. And, most exciting of all, they will turn One! Oh yay, a birthday party! For these reasons, I embrace the New Year like I have never in my past 46 years – with a new gratefulness and excited anticipation. […]

Becoming Jewish

by Janice Eidus

The first time my husband and I (both middle aged) gazed at the photograph we’d been sent of the black haired, ten-day-old baby girl who we were in the process of adopting from Guatemala, we instantly fell head over heels in love with her. And we knew we wanted to raise her to be Jewish, something neither of us had predicted.

I’d grown up with atheist, left-wing parents, lifelong, fiery champions of the oppressed, via civil rights and union activism. They considered themselves Jewish – and were sensitive to anti-Semitism — but didn’t celebrate or observe any Jewish customs or traditions. When asked directly about their Jewish identities, they declared themselves, “Atheists first, Jews second.” […]

Through the Eyes of A Midlife Mother

by Shana Sureck

Everyone was having children. Except me. Co-workers. Friends. The teenagers I taught in an afterschool program. The moms at the mall who yanked at their children’s arms and made them cry with curses and slaps.

I received birth announcements. Baby shower invites. I wanted to celebrate and feel joy for my friends, but each new announcement brought a yearning for what I couldn’t have. […]