Likewise, Ms Liu Ling Ling, a 61-year-old singer and actress, said that there was a time years ago when she was carrying her son and then her legs suddenly felt weak and almost gave way. After that, she rarely carried her son for too long.
Finances are also a key consideration, with older parents saying that they try to set aside enough savings to support both their children and their own ageing needs.
And given that their own parents are also older, these parents find that they have a smaller pool of relatives to whom they can approach for caregiving help.
The children of older parents have their own worries, especially about caregiving and their ability to financially provide for their ageing parents while they themselves are still schooling or freshly establishing their career.
Others mentioned generational gaps and differing interests, given the wide age gap between themselves and their parents.
Some, like 24-year-old Megan (not her real name), said that having older parents has made her more risk-averse than her peers.
The final-year undergraduate — who agreed to speak to CNA TODAY on the condition of anonymity — is an only child. Her mother and father, who were 45 and 44 years old respectively when she was born, are almost 70 this year.
Megan said: “I feel that there are a lot of things I cannot do, especially if it involves being away from family for an extended period of time. My friends who have graduated all talk about taking gap years to travel, (or are) starting their careers overseas.”
She yearns to do all this as well, but feels duty-bound to take care of her ageing parents.
“I’m always worried … what if something bad happens to my elderly parents while I’m thousands of miles away? Because of this, I feel like I can’t truly ‘live my life’ and make the most out of my 20s, (which is) supposedly the time when people have the most freedom and energy to pursue idealistic and risky dreams.”
She added that she also felt compelled to choose a higher-paying career that she does not necessarily enjoy, so that she may provide financially for her ageing parents’ healthcare needs.
THE UPSIDE OF BEING OLDER PARENTS
Older parents may lose some advantage in fitness and support, but those interviewed by CNA TODAY pointed to the silver lining of being more emotionally mature and financially stable.
Mrs Lejtenyi said: “I’m better placed financially now than, say, 10 or 15 years ago when I would have struggled to finance private preschool fees, language classes, or rugby and soccer sessions.”
Another parent Yuen Tat, 64, who has 14-year-old twins, believes that with age, he has gained more perspective and a better understanding of himself.
The freelance tech consultant and sales coach said this means that he has greater clarity in decision-making and is more emotionally available for his children.
Similarly, Ms Liu the singer believes that she is better equipped to love her son as an older parent. She might have been more concerned about her career as a young parent, but she is clear about her priorities today.
Reflecting on her own 15-year journey towards motherhood, Ms Liu said that this has made her all the more appreciative of her son and life stage today.
