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y included in that are menstruation and the discomforts of pregnancy and giving birth.It’s bad enough that if you live with other women menstrual cycles tend to sync up and everybody is hormonal at the same time.Add to that the fact that adolescent girls have not yet learned to manage that ebb and flow of hormones. They’re overwhelmed by what is happening to their bodies and mutate into some sort of monstrous, unfamiliar alien.The rollercoaster of emotions is completely unbearable, even for a mother that is young enough to gently walk their daughter through those changes.When my daughter hit puberty I was in my early 40s. We celebrated her transition into womanhood. We jokingly referred to her period as ‘dancing through daisies’ to make it less awkward to discuss around men.It was something I could take in stride.<h2 id="73b8">Now I am 50 and raising a granddaughter who will soon be 14.</h2>This is no walk in the park!<figure id="fdd7"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*Wz_vvosEf91-Y7jKJySfIA.jpeg"><figcaption>Photo Credit Sammie Sander on Pexels</figcaption></figure>At least with her, we know when she will be hormonal and bitchy. Her cycle is like clockwork.I have just entered peri-menopause.I was not prepared for this! I mean, I’d heard some things, and just like every

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one, I’m sure, I assumed it couldn’t be all that bad.I could not have been more wrong!It’s like you have PMS, but then nothing happens. Your body stores up all those precious hormones that didn’t get released and the next month they get added to the regular ones.If nothing happens it just keeps compounding. I was counting down the months. One year. You are considered pre-menopausal until you haven’t had a period for one year.With each passing month, I tell myself that I am that much closer to everything settling down. In the fourth month, I got my period.<h2 id="dad3">Dammit!</h2>Now the countdown starts all over again!All I can do is pray that the granddaughter learns to navigate her cycles and steer clear of me when I’m hormonal.It’s really the only hope any of us have of surviving this torturous journey!If you have enjoyed this piece, please consider <a href="https://medium.com/subscribe/@lindaosipow">subscribing</a> to have my new articles sent directly to your email inbox!If you’d like full, unlimited access to all of my published Medium articles and those of many other writers, please consider a paid membership. If you sign up using <a href="https://medium.com/@lindaosipow/membership">this link</a>, I will receive a portion of your fee, to support my continued writing.</article></body>

Having a Baby After You’re 35

One Thing They Don’t Warn You About

Photo Credit Jonathanon Borbaon Unsplash

If you are 35 or over and considering having a baby, I’m sure you know that there are risks involved.

People talk about all of the pros and cons of getting pregnant when you’re 35 or older quite often.

It’s a commonly known fact that pregnancy after the age of 35 is considered high risk. The chance of complications for yourself and your baby is much greater.

So is the chance of having multiple babies instead of just one.

‘They’ talk about how waiting until you’re older will mean that you are more financially stable and emotionally prepared to deal with parenthood.

What they don’t tell you is…

If you have a baby girl there’s a very good chance that when she hits puberty you will just be heading into menopause!

Let me tell you, THAT is a recipe for disaster!

We women talk about ‘Eve’s Curse’, commonly included in that are menstruation and the discomforts of pregnancy and giving birth.

It’s bad enough that if you live with other women menstrual cycles tend to sync up and everybody is hormonal at the same time.

Add to that the fact that adolescent girls have not yet learned to manage that ebb and flow of hormones. They’re overwhelmed by what is happening to their bodies and mutate into some sort of monstrous, unfamiliar alien.

The rollercoaster of emotions is completely unbearable, even for a mother that is young enough to gently walk their daughter through those changes.

When my daughter hit puberty I was in my early 40s. We celebrated her transition into womanhood. We jokingly referred to her period as ‘dancing through daisies’ to make it less awkward to discuss around men.

It was something I could take in stride.

Now I am 50 and raising a granddaughter who will soon be 14.

This is no walk in the park!

At least with her, we know when she will be hormonal and bitchy. Her cycle is like clockwork.

I have just entered peri-menopause.

I was not prepared for this! I mean, I’d heard some things, and just like everyone, I’m sure, I assumed it couldn’t be all that bad.

I could not have been more wrong!

It’s like you have PMS, but then nothing happens. Your body stores up all those precious hormones that didn’t get released and the next month they get added to the regular ones.

If nothing happens it just keeps compounding. I was counting down the months. One year. You are considered pre-menopausal until you haven’t had a period for one year.

With each passing month, I tell myself that I am that much closer to everything settling down. In the fourth month, I got my period.

Dammit!

Now the countdown starts all over again!

All I can do is pray that the granddaughter learns to navigate her cycles and steer clear of me when I’m hormonal.

It’s really the only hope any of us have of surviving this torturous journey!

If you have enjoyed this piece, please consider subscribing to have my new articles sent directly to your email inbox!

If you’d like full, unlimited access to all of my published Medium articles and those of many other writers, please consider a paid membership. If you sign up using this link, I will receive a portion of your fee, to support my continued writing.