I think my current mindset has all the markings of a midlife mothering crisis. It’s difficult to describe just what a midlife crisis feels like. Lately I’ve heard it termed a midlife transition, which sounds less frightening to me. I think I’m currently stuck in one of those transitions. My 10 year old twins are in fifth grade, so that means I gave birth to them at age 45, and if I do the math right, that would put me at about age, 55!
Perhaps my current uneasiness is due the fact that I didn’t follow the path that many of my former classmates did. Nope I had to do it all differently, which is OK, but I sure could have used a mentor when I was making some of those decisions!
I’m a late-bloomer, I went to college and graduated later, started my career later, got married at 40 and had my family at 45. Because of those choices I made, I now have numerous questions that need answering. What do I want to do; will I be able to restart my career after raising my kids; should I switch career paths; do I have the time and energy to pursue another degree, and should I continue to be an SAHM (Stay at Home Mom) until my kids rocket off to college? Then what?
So while mothering my two 10 year olds in midlife, I find myself needing more, more of what? Education? Accomplishments I can share with my kids and be proud of? What would those be? I’m also a proud member of the sandwich generation. Is it possible to be there for my kids, my Mom and myself?
So, here’s the million dollar question, “Does midlife mothering represent the new midlife crisis?” In my situation it certainly does! I don’t want my kids to grow up any faster than they need to, but on the other hand, how does Mom meet her needs while taking care of others. Or do I just chalk it up to water under the bridge?