A single mother who gave birth to her first child at the age of 50 says that it was the "right" time in her life to become a parent. Kelly Clarke, 52, believes that her life experience will enable her to become a better mum than she would have been at a younger age. ,
While Kelly's friends were settling down in marriages and having babies, she was focusing on building herself a successful career, the Daily Star reports. The mum, from Sussex, says that having her child later in life will ensure she can be the ''best mummy'' possible to her daughter, Lyla Rae Clarke - who she gave birth to through IVF treatment in March 2021.
While Kelly felt ready to start a family, she hadn't found the right partner, so when she reached 50 she decided she was going to become a mother on her own. The determined woman flew out to Athens in Greece for an appointment at a fertility clinic, where she used a sperm donor and fell pregnant with her baby girl 12 days later.
Kelly said: “I don’t feel the need to be travelling and partying, I just feel the need to watch every minute of Lyla Rae growing up. I feel super blessed that with the life experience I have I can better guide Lyla Rae now than I would have in my younger years. I can focus solely on her as I am content with what I’ve done.
''I don’t have to rush her youth to be able to carry on with mine. No one’s right or wrong this is just how my journey to motherhood came about and was right for me. I’m happy not to co-parent as I can bring her up as I see fit. I’d been met with a huge amount of resistance from family for deciding to become a single mum at 50.
"Now that Lyla’s here they are incredibly supportive and couldn’t be a better family to her. I don’t know what I’d do without them. She has two amazing cousins who adore her and who she adores, a fantastic aunty and brilliant grandparents, so as far as I’m concerned, she is very grounded."
Kelly had to sign an agreement form with the fertility clinic that stated she would inform her daughter about how she was conceived and admits she sometimes thinks about the eventual downfalls that may come with being an older mum.
She said: “When she’s old enough to understand the situation, I’ll explain it to her. I’ll be honest, upfront and she’ll know that everything’s in place.
'''One thing’s for sure, Lyla is going to know she is loved and how much I wanted her – she’ll know the lengths I went to bring her into my world. Right now, I’m the best mummy I can be to Lyla.”
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here .
