# How old were your parents when you were born? What was their age difference? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 31, 2010, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-your-parents-when-you-were-born-what-was-their-age-difference/552191 "2010-08-31T22:28:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![anu-la1979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@anu-la1979](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anu-la1979)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-your-parents-when-you-were-born-what-was-their-age-difference/552191/81 "2010-09-01T13:42:11Z")
My father was in his latish mid-30s, my mother had just turned 30. By Indian standards for the day, they were considered “older” parents. But their first child died and they went through several years of infertility (and other stuff that was even worse) right after. They got pregnant with me a few months after my father recovered from a year-long partial paralyzation. I never noticed any difference growing up because they’re both extremely energetic-I guess the only thing is that I can’t think back to a time when my parents weren’t established in their careers. They always had seniority, so I don’t remember them working like crazy or going to school or anything, the way some of my friends can. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-your-parents-when-you-were-born-what-was-their-age-difference/552191/82 "2010-09-01T15:30:28Z")
My dad was 27 and 7 months. My mom was 20 and 10 months. My wife and I have no kids, but she is exactly 6 years, 6 months, and 6 days older than I am. Joe ---
**Author:** ![Ninja\_Lauren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/46a35a/32.png) [@Ninja\_Lauren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ninja_Lauren)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-your-parents-when-you-were-born-what-was-their-age-difference/552191/83 "2010-09-01T16:23:28Z")
When my parents first got together, Mom was 16 and Dad was 20. I told him he’s lucky this was back in the 70’s, or he’d probably be in jail for some CSC! They got married at 21 and 25, and had me (firstborn) at 28 and 32. Three years later they had my little brother. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-your-parents-when-you-were-born-what-was-their-age-difference/552191/84 "2010-09-01T16:27:41Z")
Father 32, mother 31. I became a father for the first time at the age of 32, and I expect to be a grandfather for the first time at the age of 65. ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-your-parents-when-you-were-born-what-was-their-age-difference/552191/85 "2010-09-01T16:47:11Z")
Mom was 38, dad was 36. ---
**Author:** ![GilaB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@GilaB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GilaB)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-your-parents-when-you-were-born-what-was-their-age-difference/552191/86 "2010-09-01T16:52:14Z")
My parents were 24 (Dad) and 23 (Mom) when I was born. They’re a little over 18 months apart in age. I’m the eldest of three; they were 27 and 25 for the middle child, and 31 and 30 for the youngest. My mother is the twelfth of thirteen children. Her parents were about 23 and 18 when the eldest was born (I’m not exactly sure, but they were a little over five years apart in age), and about 49 and 44 at the birth of the youngest. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-your-parents-when-you-were-born-what-was-their-age-difference/552191/87 "2010-09-01T16:53:47Z")
My father was 35 when I was born; my mother was 30. My father’s father was 35 when he was born. My mother had her first child at 18 and her last at 45. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-your-parents-when-you-were-born-what-was-their-age-difference/552191/88 "2010-09-01T17:03:35Z")
**Sampiro** , I’d just like to put in a request for whatever summary you do of the data in this thread to be posted here. I’d also like to see how you interpret these ages and assorted extra facts in terms of your generational issues. If you haven’t read it, there’s some useful (though debatable) exposition on that sort of thing in [Generations (book)](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generations_(book)) where their spans are more like 22 years, as mentioned in > [@](#): > > Generations (ISBN 0-688-11912-3) (1991) is the first book by William Strauss and Neil Howe that describes a cyclical theory of history based on repeating generational archetypes. It examines Anglo-American history by dividing it into saecula, or seasonal cycles of history. A saeculum is about 90 years long - the length of a long human life - and is further divided into four “Turnings” that are about 22 years long - as long as the period between birth and adulthood. Children raised during a particular Turning share similar historical and cultural experiences, resulting in distinct generational types. The book suggests that interactions between generations explains why major crises occur roughly every 90 years (e.g. 1773 - 1861) and why spiritual awakenings similarly recur halfway between those crises. > > Although Generations and related books are occasionally referenced in scholarly articles, some scholars do not find the theory compelling. The other hypotheses in the book are fascinating if not persuasive, since the “generations” that have come since their publication may or may not conform to their analysis of other previous generations and their attributes. As you may have determined from threads like this that I have started, I like the summary concept and I am highly tempted to do something of my own with your data. But I will stifle that urge as long as you plan to give feedback on the contributions you’ve gotten. Great thread, if it’s not obvious from these remarks and the great turnout you’ve had! ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-your-parents-when-you-were-born-what-was-their-age-difference/552191/89 "2010-09-01T17:12:29Z")
Dad 28, Mum 26 ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-your-parents-when-you-were-born-what-was-their-age-difference/552191/90 "2010-09-01T17:24:10Z")
Mom was 31 and Dad was 41. First marriages and first kid for both (I feel the need to add that in, since people ask). But the **littlestbluth** was born to mom at 39 and dad at 49. An accident and a blessing! ---
**Author:** ![AmericanMaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@AmericanMaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AmericanMaid)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-your-parents-when-you-were-born-what-was-their-age-difference/552191/91 "2010-09-01T17:33:10Z")
My mom was 25 and my dad was 44. Born in 1951 and 1932 respectively. My father was married before my mom and is closer to age to my grandpa than my mother. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-your-parents-when-you-were-born-what-was-their-age-difference/552191/92 "2010-09-01T17:35:59Z")
My mom was 38 and my dad was 48. Born in 1941 and 1931, respectively. It’s my dad’s second marriage; I have an adoptive half brother who’s 17 years older than I am. ---
**Author:** ![LilyoftheField](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/13edae/32.png) [@LilyoftheField](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheField)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-your-parents-when-you-were-born-what-was-their-age-difference/552191/93 "2010-09-01T17:36:58Z")
> [@wipetheclock](#): > > My dad was 33 and mom was 34 (4 month age difference) when I was born. heh, heh - ditto! although my mom was 5 months older than my dad. I was the second of four - my parents got a relatively late start 'cuz my mom had been married before and was a war widow (WWII) when she married my dad. She was 41 when my youngest sibling was born. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-your-parents-when-you-were-born-what-was-their-age-difference/552191/94 "2010-09-01T17:39:47Z")
I was 37 and wife 27 when LOUNE came along. When my parents were married ,the average man was 3 years older than the wife. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-your-parents-when-you-were-born-what-was-their-age-difference/552191/95 "2010-09-01T17:48:56Z")
My mother was 29 when I was born January 13, 1980. She didn’t turn 30 until November of that year. My father was 23 at the time of my birth. He turned 24 2 months later. As I’m sure you can tell, my parents had about 5.5 years between them. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-your-parents-when-you-were-born-what-was-their-age-difference/552191/96 "2010-09-01T18:22:28Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > My parents got married at 19, and had me, the oldest, at 26. Yes, they are both the same age–off by only a month. Same here, except I am not the oldest, but the third of four. My dad jokes that he had his kids nine months and fifteen minutes apart, but he is exaggerating by a little. My oldest sister was born in August. My older brother was born a year and a month later, in September. I came along in January, a year and four months later, and my sister in May the following year. My mom is a month older than my dad. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Ms.Hazel\_Ice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Ms.Hazel\_Ice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms.Hazel_Ice)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-your-parents-when-you-were-born-what-was-their-age-difference/552191/97 "2010-09-01T21:04:45Z")
Mom: 26, Dad: 30 When my sister was born: 28, 32 Brother: 30, 36 Generations are a funny thing–both of my parents have siblings who are 14-16 years older than they are, so I have first cousins who are 20 years older than I am. On my dad’s side of the family, my uncle’s grandson is only two years younger than me. Because of these gaps, we have several generations overlapping at various stages: Grandmother E. -\> Aunt H. -\> Cousin E. -\> His daughter, E. At one point, we had an even crazier set up: Great-great uncle A., who was the uncle to my grandmother E., my grandmother E., my uncle P., my cousin R., my cousin J. ---
**Author:** ![Electric\_Warrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Electric\_Warrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electric_Warrior)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-your-parents-when-you-were-born-what-was-their-age-difference/552191/98 "2010-09-01T21:19:02Z")
Mom was 39, Dad was 40. I am the oldest of three. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-your-parents-when-you-were-born-what-was-their-age-difference/552191/99 "2010-09-01T21:53:23Z")
Mom was 26 and Dad was 27. They’re slightly over a year (almost exactly 13 months) apart. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-your-parents-when-you-were-born-what-was-their-age-difference/552191/100 "2010-09-01T22:23:17Z")
I was born in 1957, my father in 1926, his father in 1890, and his father in 1849. So that’s 112 years for three generational steps, averaging 37 years. My mother, though, was only 17 years younger than her mother. My parents were 3 years apart. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-your-parents-when-you-were-born-what-was-their-age-difference/552191.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-your-parents-when-you-were-born-what-was-their-age-difference/552191.md?page=6)