We have understood since the beginning of time that being a mother entails a distinct and distinctive duty toward another human being. One of those life-changing events is having a child. Sometimes it comes as a surprise, and other times it is the outcome of years of patient waiting. No matter how it manifests, we should all agree that it is always a blessing.
Most of the time, none of us can anticipate when we will have children. Even though we can try our best to make it happen, life has always been and always will be erratic. Some women give birth to children when they are still teenagers, giving the world a new life. Some women conceive later. Unfortunately, some women experience issues that make it difficult for them to conceive.
Of all, there isn’t just one ideal moment for conception. Every child’s birth should be celebrated, and all mothers should be respected for what they and their bodies go through to bear another human being.
But some women, like Maria Carmen del Bousada, who lives in Cadiz, Spain, face scorn just for becoming mothers. Sometimes they are even bullied for their decisions on when and how they had a baby.
Maria revealed that her family was shocked when she told them she was expecting twins in 2006. You ask, “Why?” Well, she was 66 years old then.
According to the information provided, Maria, who is retired (she used to work as a store worker), sold her home to pay for an artificial insemination procedure that would have allowed her to get pregnant regardless of her age. The woman reportedly lied to doctors at a fertility clinic in California, saying she was 55 years old.
Maria was convinced that everyone should be able to choose when to start a family and not be pressured by society or other expectations. As she told The Guardian, “Circumstances often put you between a rock and a hard place, and maybe certain things shouldn’t be done the way they are, but it was the only way to achieve what I’ve always dreamed of.”
Of course, not everyone agreed with Maria on this matter. The main critics were her family members, who described her as selfish. Maria even said that she hid her pregnancy for a while, and her relatives thought she was joking when she decided to tell them about it.
In 2006, Maria gave birth to healthy twins, Christian and Pau, becoming the oldest mother in the world. Unfortunately, she didn’t see them grow up. Just six months after giving birth, the woman was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. “They are still babies, so I can’t tell them anything,” said Maria. “They’re too small for that kind of thing.”
As a result of these events, Maria’s family was forced to take care of the children and help raise Christian and Pau. The woman died in 2009 after spending only a few years with her boys.
Maria’s brother Ricardo commented on the issue: “I think she did it too late… But they are here, and we love these beautiful boys.” Meanwhile, Pilar Pinto, a resident of Cádiz, the city where Maria lived, gave an interview about the current lives of Christian and Pau.
“They’re well looked after, and they’re doing great,” he said. “I often see them here in the city.” As Pinto said, “God forbade her to enjoy children. He should have given her more time. Maria did not regret her decision to have children at such a late age.”
What a beautiful story. I don’t know about you, but I think all women should have the right to decide when they want to have children. What do you think about Maria’s decision to have children at 60? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
By the way, please share this article if you find it interesting. Rest in peace, Maria!
