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By Gary Geyer, Editor-in-Chief LetLifeIn.com In case you haven’t heard, here’s the news: Frieda Birnbaum gave birth to twin boys. (Jake and Jared). Frieda and Ken, her husband of 38 years were delighted. This was a planned birth, not an accident. Frieda and Ken traveled to a center in South Africa that specializes in in-vitro fertilization for older women. Frieda is 60 and the oldest woman in America to give birth. The person most surprised by Frieda’s pregnancy was her obstetrician, Dr. Abdulla Al-Khan. Let the controversy begin Of course, EVERYONE has an opinion -- strangers and family. Frieda finds herself in the strange position of having to defend her decision to have a child at the ripe old age of 60. She says, “I think people need to get ready for what's coming up in our society. Whenever there's anything new, people cannot comprehend or have difficult getting comfortable ... There are a lot of middle-aged women having babies — 40s, 50s, now I just turned 60. That's going to be acceptable. They have to just keep up with what's going on with society.” Frieda’s adult daughterm Alana Birnbaum, 29, doesn’t agree and was not happy with the news. She was quoted in the New York Daily News: “She's youthful for her age but I don't think it's good. She should be going to the gym and taking time for herself — not taking on more stresses and responsibilities. Am I happy at all about this? No. I'm not!” Frieda believes that the decision was hers and her husband’s to make, and she hopes someday others will realize how much freedom modern women have and feel empowered by it. Frieda believes a woman should make her own decisions based on who she is, not what society dictates. So what do you think? Is it none of our business? What about the children as the parents get even older? Do you agree that older people are not what older people were 30 years ago? 60 is the new 40 – right? Is this a perfect example of what “Let Life In” should mean? << Gary Geyer is Editor-in-Chief of LetLifeIn.com (Editor@LetLifeIn.com) as well as editor of the Issues & Controversies section. Reach him at Gary@LetLifeIn.com. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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‘Let Life In’ is an online magazine and InterActive Depot with stimulating content relevant to those 50+. Let Life in focuses on 50+, boomers and senior issues and concerns. Find interesting, fun, and controversial articles by writers such as Gary Geyer, Joel Block Ph.D., Debby Merickel, Jan Cullinane, Susanna Starr, Deborah Nedelman Ph.D. and many others. www.LetLifeIn.com.
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