Remember those “30 Under 30” lists that used to make everyone feel like chronic underachievers? Well, thankfully, the tide is turning — especially when it comes to motherhood.
The narrative around the “perfect time” to have children has been slowly unraveling. Gone are the days when hitting 35 meant crossing some imaginary threshold into “geriatric pregnancy” territory (seriously, who came up with that term?). Instead, women are increasingly choosing to write their own stories, biological clock be damned.
Take Libby Greenstone. Her recent TikTok video — which has racked up millions of views since early 2025 — struck a chord with viewers precisely because it wasn’t trying to. At 70, speaking with the kind of wisdom that only comes from actually living through the experience, she shared her journey of becoming a mother at 37 and again at 42. No filters, no sponsorships, just raw honesty.
“When you have children in your 30s,” Greenstone explains, “you’ve had time to figure out who you are.” She pauses, then adds with a knowing smile, “And trust me, that makes all the difference.”
The celebrity world — traditionally a pressure cooker of impossible standards — has started showing cracks in its perfectly curated facade. Sure, tabloids haven’t completely abandoned their obsession with post-baby bodies (looking at you, gossip sites still fixated on “bounce-back” photos). But something’s different now. Maybe it’s the influence of social media, or perhaps society’s finally growing up.
Katie Greenstone, Libby’s daughter, offers a perspective that resonates with many young professionals navigating these waters in 2025. “Mom’s story hit different,” she reflects. “Here I was, stressing about my biological clock, when she just… wasn’t.” That ellipsis speaks volumes about the generational shift in thinking.
The conversation has evolved beyond just timing — it’s about readiness, both emotional and practical. With remote work becoming the norm and companies finally offering decent parental leave policies (thanks to the Working Parents Act of 2024), the practical barriers to later parenthood are slowly crumbling.
But perhaps the most refreshing aspect of this cultural shift? The growing recognition that there’s no universal “right time” to start a family. Some women are ready at 25, others at 45 — and both choices deserve equal respect.
Between AI fertility tracking and advanced reproductive technologies, the biological clock isn’t ticking quite as loudly as it used to. Though let’s be real — the pressure hasn’t disappeared entirely. It’s just shape-shifted into something more nuanced, more personal.
The message emerging from all this? Motherhood isn’t a race. It’s not even a marathon. It’s more like… jazz. Sometimes you need to improvise, sometimes you need to wait for the right moment, and sometimes you just need to trust your own rhythm.
And maybe that’s exactly what we needed to hear.
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