[rob62521]

I married a man 14 years older than I was. Before we married, we talked about everything. He was 43 and still lived at home. We decided due to the age difference and his age, not to have children because I would be the one doing most of it and if something happened, he didn't want to leave me trying to raise a family alone.

If she really wants this, she needs to have a major financial discussion with this gentleman. They need to be able to afford excellent life insurance because even if she has the first baby right away, it's still almost 20 years before that one is grown and there's college and expenses to consider.

On a personal note, my mom and dad were older when they had me. Not 50, but in their 40s. I was an accident. Both had been married before and both had children from previous marriages. I really felt like I missed out on stuff because my parents were so much older than everyone elses parents and my parents would work all day and then basically fall asleep in the chair watching T.V. They didn't have the time or energy for me to join girl scouts or do any of the after school activities. And we certainly didn't do mother daughter or father daughter activities because they didn't feel up to it. I'm in my 40s and spent the past few years looking after them the best I could as well as working. If your friend really wants kids, she better be prepared to be the parent who does the most and also will be able to look after the spouse if and when he declines.