Agreed.  My parents were 40 and 41 when I was born.  People would think pne of my sisters (12 and 10years older than me) was my mother, and my parents were my grandparents.  I love it.  Not because of that, of course, but my parents were slightly less strict with me (far youngest child), and had more money to support me (they were able to pay for my college, but wouldn’t have been able to fund my sisters; luckily, she got a scholarship).  And it’s even cooler now (I’m 25), because my sisters are like cool aunts; they are  older than me enough to give me wise advise, without having to go to my parents, who probably would understand me less.  It’s a very unique experience.  Also, all the stories about people being oh so sad with older parents because they die earlier, need to be taken care of etc.  However, that can happen to anyone!  I happen to be lucky, as my grandmother is 100 years old, and she’s not onlyt still alive, but also living by herself and driving (she takes the driveres test every year- she parks better than I do).  However, my uncle has alzheimers, and he’s in his 60’s.  People at any age can die, and people at any age can get sick.  It’s pretty much the luck of the draw. Yes, it’s a higher percentage with older people, but hey, that’s life, and shouldn’t stop a happy couple IMO.

However, I think Margo was a little harsh to the  Med school student.  Yes, she called her sister knocked up, and that’s kind of a harsh term, but I understand, because she’s angry that her sister keeps attacking her lifestyle; it’s grating and mean to do for someone following her dream. The med school student doesn’t seem to be telling her sister to give up her kids for adoption and come join her at med school.  The point is who’s attacking who.  She says she goes home and her sister dogs her about not having kids and settling down.  That’s absolutely ridiculous.  It’s fine she decided to do that with her life, but I think there is definitely a smaller percentage of people for whom that works (have children young and single).  Her pre-med sister is obviously not one of them.  Let’s say the med school girl does brag to her sister about how lovely her life is, etc.  Then the sister needs to ask her to stop; not tell her to have kids.  That’s just irresponsible. Quite frankly,  I think anyone telling anyone of any age that they need to settle down and have kids is stupid, no matter who you are or who they are.  Forcing people to do stuff like that is what gives us all the crappy parents in the world.

same problem with my boyfriend.

his parents were 40 when he was born, so he had to take care of them in highschool. and now that he’s trying to just live life and start his career, they are pressuring him and guilting him into going back where they live to take care of them… you’re father is old and his health isn’t good, mom can’t drive and needs help…

i feel horrible for him. it’s incredibly unfair for his parents to expect their young son to come home and take care of his elderly parents before he has even experienced anything.

if you want kids when you’re older: don’t expect them to be your caretakers. are you having kids for the sake of cherishing your children, or are you birthing your old-age nurse?

Good point Lym….her letter leaves a real question as to who is really jealous of who…maybe her own self professed disinterest is settling down, is really an issue with commitment or a fear of intimacy…

She should keep her lifestyle to herself, as she is aware of what her sister thinks of the "party life". I wonder why she would keep putting her lifestyle up for discussion…perhaps she is rubbing her unfettered lifestyle in her sisters face?

The best advice is to respect each others choices and support each other when needed…

By describing her sister as having been "knocked up" speaks volumes…no woman willingly considers their child some result of being "knocked up", it is their child, somthing that most parents are fiercely proud and protective of. So…that attitude and poor choice of words will not elicit any displays of sister love….I assure her.