Bloomin’ Mom: A Later Mom Shares By Michelene Irving, Greenville, SC Chapter Head

I have always considered myself to be a “traditional” woman meaning I’ve always wanted to do things in a traditional way: first get married, and then have children. But things didn’t work out quite as I had thought. I have a wonderful little boy, but I’m not married – not because we don’t want to, but I want the big “traditional” wedding – the kind I always dreamed of – but we can’t afford it yet. I’m willing to wait…even if that makes me somewhat “untraditional.”

I didn’t intentionally get pregnant. But when it happened, I was thrilled. I was 39. I had waited so long. I was in love with the man whom I knew I was meant to be with and he was excited about the baby too. Everything fell into place and I took it as a sign that everything was as it should be despite the fact that nothing was the way I had thought it would be.

My partner was once a high school sweetheart and friend. We went our separate ways and led separate lives for well over a decade. In that time, I had been engaged but it didn’t work out and he was married for 13 years with kids of his own. After his divorce, he found me on MySpace and we reconnected. When we met again, it was like we’d never been apart.

My pregnancy was, fortunately, mostly uneventful despite the cravings for Sonic chili cheese dogs in the first trimester and a bought of sciatica in the second. The third trimester brought a craving for Ben and Jerry’s “Strawberry Cheesecake” ice cream that wouldn’t quit. I could eat a pint a day in 5-10 minutes…easily.
So everything was fine, at least until the start of my 36th week when I spontaneously took my blood pressure at the grocery story. It was high. Too high. I knew that could be dangerous for both me and my baby so I called my mom in New Jersey as I headed for the hospital.

The doctor decided I needed to be induced that night, to deliver the next day. That next morning, my mother was on the first plane out. She wanted to be there for the birth. She made it with 6 hours to spare before Rhys was born via C-section. My baby spent the night in the NICU, but was in my room with me by the afternoon of the next day.

Rhys is now 3 ½ years old. He is a happy, healthy, sweet and smart little boy and I am completely in love my little non-traditional family.

BIO

I’m 41 and have always been a “traditional” woman. I wanted to wait until I got married to have children. So I waited….and waited….and waited. The right man didn’t come along until I was 37. Amazingly enough, he was a high school sweetheart. We reconnected, I moved to Greenville and 2 years late,r we had our beautiful son, Rhys.

I graduated from culinary school in NYC specializing in Pastry Arts. In my spare time (what’s that?) I love to bake, and my son loves to eat. I work part-time and occasionally I get to sleep. I’m so happy I waited to be a “mom of advanced age”. He was totally worth the wait and is the most amazing little boy ever!

Tags: Michelle Irving