I became a mum at 57, now my son’s four and I’m still breastfeeding him at 61, strangers stare but I don’t care
“While lots of my friends are great about my decision to keep breastfeeding, I know that society judges nursing mothers,” she says.
“And when the mother is 61 as the child is four? That’s more raised eyebrows than usual.
“That could be one of my more old-fashioned relatives asking, ‘Barb, when are you going to stop?’ or the stares in public when Jack runs over and asks for ‘boop’.
“Most of the time I choose to nurse at home, cuddled up on our sofa. But I will do it in public in a discreet way. At Disney I’ll be on a bench and in a restaurant, I’ll feed him in a booth.
I’ve also fed him on a plane without a second thought.
“I am so grateful to be Jack’s mum, and thankful to my body for bringing him into the world and allowing me to feed him. That’s what we have boobs for in the first place.
“Nursing also means that we can bond in the most incredible way. I know that I will miss it when he’s ready to stop.”
The times when people see them out together and assume she’s Jack’s grandma don’t bother Barb.
Whatever people might think or say, I really don’t care
Barb Higgins
“Although there are some parts of older motherhood that give me pause,” she says.
“I lost my dad in October when he was 82 and my anxiety about the passing of time is definitely increasing. When I’m 82 Jack will be 25.
“Then I remind myself that my sister, whose 80, has just finished a 600-mile walking tour of Italy and mum is still active at 82.
“As I learned from losing Molly, age has nothing to do with when you die.”
Barb is focused on living and says that having a four-year-old is the perfect way to stay young.
“As well as my usual Crossfit and gym workouts, Kenny and I are out shooting hoops with Jack,” she says.
“We all went to Bali for a month over Christmas and had a wonderful adventure.
“So whatever people might think or say, I really don’t care.
“I’ve learned to listen to my gut and follow my heart. It led me to being Jack’s mum and that’s a pretty wonderful place to be.”
Listen to Barb’s podcast at athousandtinysteps.com