ok so just realised my last post probably wont get posted! but one thing that gets to me is that people comment on the personality of someone they haven’t met, i.e that they are really nice. if someone has a different opinion i guess it doesn’t get posted. all i can say is that as someone that has met this woman i have had experience that she isnt always as nice as the general public think. enough said.

i really hate to burst the bubble of those posters above you say ‘debbie is a really nice woman’, i met her as few times and she REALLY isn’t. i dont mean to be cruel but its a fact. Moody and quite unkind i’m afraid.

I agree, 62 is just too advanced in age! Until you’ve had a kid or even been a grandma it’s impossible to know the time and energy you need for a child. I’m in my 20′s and my toddler is exhausting!! My 60 yr. old mom can’t keep up. Best of luck to her, though. It sounds like she had good intentions.
Perhaps she can channel this late maternal desire to tutoring, mentoring, or volunteering with children in need. To become a new mom at 62 though is in my opinion, unfair to the child and will be a big strain on her – no matter how fit she is.

I Europe, generally adoptive mother should be no more than 45 years older than a child. Sometimes a little flexibility is allowed one year, or so, but 62 is pretty old to adopt. When I had my daughter my mother-in-law was 62 and I can’t imagine her being a mother to a little one. Now, that my daughter is a toodler and my mom-in-law visited us, she was not able to carry my 30-pound daughter for more than 2 minutes, not to mention more straining activities like running around with the child etc. And also, please remember that Ms. Harry will not be getting any younger and you need a lot of energy with a 2, 3 and 4 year old, too.

I can’t understand why women don’t make a decision about giving birth or adopting earlier in their life? I am not talking about having kids early – there is a lot of time in one’s 20s, 30s and 40s to have kids. Why wait till 62? Why should adopted children get old parents, for whom they will soon become caregivers or worse if those parents die on them? The wealth of the child should matter more than one’s desire to be a mother at 62.

I agree with the post that Debbie should consider foster care as she could really be useful there…Or she could befriend some family with young kids and substitute for a grandma. She is a sweet lady afte rall.

I don’t know about the legal situation in the States but in Germany single adoptive parents must be no more than 45 years older than the child they adopt. Given Debbies age, she could only adopt a child age 17 or up.

I love Debbie, but I’m not going to lie and say I think adoption at the age of 60+ is an ideal situation. I’d have my doubts about someone aged 52 adopting, let alone 62. I just don’t think it’s fair to the child. Even if Debbie lives to a ripe old age in perfect health, that still only gives a (hopeful) average of 20 years to commit to the kid. I lost my mum when I was 17 and I can testify that even in late teens it makes an unfathomable impact on life. Also, I know Debbie isn’t your typical older woman, but at some point she’s going to become unable to kick a ball around the park with her kid, or chase a toddler around the house all day, or drive a teenager and their friends to the cinema every week. I know that no parent is perfect, but I think that sort of thing ought to be a consideration when permission to adopt is being decided.

Annie? Not only was she herself adopted, but she thinks she was Marilyn Monroes secret love child…

I think she’s too old. The kid train has left the station and she’s at least 12 years to late for it IMHO.

I’m sure Debbie is a lovely woman, but I’m sorry, you have to see what is best for the child. There is a time when you’re simply too old. Even if she adopted an older child, the age difference would be about 50 years. I think it’s unfair to the child.

OH MY GOODNESS! I had no idea she was so old, she looks extremely well for her age! I would have put her about 48, seriously. From what I’ve seen of her she seems like a great person, and I think she’d be a wonderful parent, maybe to a teenager or older child?