America’s “Grannymom” who gave birth to twins at 60 celebrates sons’ 18th birthday
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In 2007, a New Jersey woman shocked the country by becoming the oldest known mother of twins at the age of 60.
Her choice drew ridicule in headlines, where she was mocked as the so-called “grannymom,” yet she stood firm against the judgment.
She insisted that age did not determine vitality and that motherhood later in life could be fulfilling rather than selfish.
Now, as the twins she once defended reach adulthood, she reflects on the journey that has carried her through both triumphs and tragedy.
At 78, Frieda Birnbaum shows no sign of slowing down as she prepares to send her sons, Jaret and Josh, off to college this fall.
“The doubters, the critics were all wrong because these sons of mine have kept me invigorated,” she told the Daily Mail while having lunch with her family in Saddle River, New Jersey.
She remembers her critics as relentless, but insists the years of raising the twins have been easier than her early experiences with older children.
Her husband Ken, now 81, remains by her side, still active and sharing in the life they built together. The home atmosphere is more suburban normalcy than media spectacle, filled with talk of pets, paperwork and future plans.
Jaret is headed to Northeastern University in Boston, while Josh will study at Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey, their late brother Ari’s alma mater. Ari, who died of a brain aneurysm two years ago, remains a presence in the family’s foyer through framed photos and sympathy cards.
The twins speak of him often, showing how his memory continues to guide them. The brothers each reveal distinct personalities as they tease their parents and one another. Jaret is organized, reflective, and deliberate about mentioning their mother’s youthfulness at 78.
Josh is more light-hearted, quick with jokes, and candid in describing their family dynamic. Together, they show how their upbringing by older parents shaped them into confident young men ready to leave home.
Frieda admits that raising children in her 60s and 70s came more naturally than in her younger decades. She says the sacrifices—losing sleep, chauffeuring, and managing their activities—were easier because she approached them with more patience.
She and Ken prioritized adventures and family time over social lives, taking the twins sledding, golfing, and even dirt biking on weekends. Both sons emphasize that their parents’ advanced ages never limited them.
Also read: Missing for 63 years! This mom-of-two just reappeared with a confession you have to read
Her story is rooted in determination, beginning when she sought IVF treatments despite age restrictions in the United States. Frieda flew to South Africa, concealed her true age, and underwent treatment that resulted in the twins’ birth at 60.
“Ken had grown by then, and having children became more of a team effort,” she explained, noting how much support she felt from her husband compared to earlier parenthood. She insists the excitement of carrying twins gave her more stamina than she had with her older children.
Criticism came swiftly, and Frieda was branded selfish, irresponsible, and delusional by skeptics. Many argued she would exhaust herself or deny the twins a normal childhood, but she countered with questions of her own.
Why was older fatherhood admired while older motherhood condemned? And why should women fear aging rather than embracing opportunities that come later in life? The harshest reaction came from within her family when her eldest son, Jaeson, cut ties with her for several years after the twins’ birth.
She recalls, “It destroyed him. He was offended, as though I had the twins to spite him.” Eventually reconciliation came, though Jaeson’s later prison sentence added to the family’s challenges. Through it all, Frieda says her resilience grew.
Her perspective on life has always been shaped by her upbringing as the daughter of Holocaust survivors. Raised in Cleveland by parents who had endured a labor camp, she grew up with rigid expectations that left her yearning for more.
She married Ken young, worked to support his law education, and raised two children in her 20s. Yet she recalls a lingering question: “Is this all there is?”
That question led her to earn advanced degrees, including a doctorate in psychology from Columbia University at 46. She established her career as a psychotherapist, specializing in women and couples, while raising her family.
Her first book examined power and equality in marriage, and her second, Life Begins at 60, chronicled her personal story. She became a frequent commentator on television and radio about women, parenting, and aging.
“Women often live in such fear of getting older that they deny themselves the pleasure of enjoying where they are in life,” she has said. Frieda insists that fulfillment in career and family can go hand-in-hand, and later motherhood is one option to achieve balance.
Also read: You won’t believe the controversial name this mom-to-be chose—would you make the same choice?
Her twins, she believes, benefited from a mother who felt more secure, purposeful, and happy in her later years. “Children thrive from having a mother who’s fulfilled,” she explained.
Today, she is not interested in retiring or slowing down despite acquaintances urging her to do so. She continues her psychotherapy practice, works on a memoir, and dreams of hosting her own television show.
She keeps a photo of Lady Gaga on her desk as a reminder of the power of reinvention. “Life begins at any age you want it to,” she says with conviction.
As Jaret and Josh leave for college, Frieda prepares for the empty nest with optimism rather than dread. “The empty nest does not have to mean you become an empty person, devoid of any ambition,” she says.
Instead, she views it as a chance to pursue more ambitions, embrace independence, and inspire others. Her vitality at 78 is a direct rebuke to those who once dismissed her as America’s “grannymom.”
Read next: Tom Hanks opens up after daughter’s emotional memoir shares family pain and healing
Do you think Frieda Birnbaum’s story proves that motherhood later in life can be just as rewarding, or do her critics still have a point about the challenges? Share your thoughts below and let us know if her journey inspires you to rethink aging, parenting, or reinvention.
Her choice drew ridicule in headlines, where she was mocked as the so-called “grannymom,” yet she stood firm against the judgment.
She insisted that age did not determine vitality and that motherhood later in life could be fulfilling rather than selfish.
Now, as the twins she once defended reach adulthood, she reflects on the journey that has carried her through both triumphs and tragedy.
At 78, Frieda Birnbaum shows no sign of slowing down as she prepares to send her sons, Jaret and Josh, off to college this fall.
“The doubters, the critics were all wrong because these sons of mine have kept me invigorated,” she told the Daily Mail while having lunch with her family in Saddle River, New Jersey.
She remembers her critics as relentless, but insists the years of raising the twins have been easier than her early experiences with older children.
Her husband Ken, now 81, remains by her side, still active and sharing in the life they built together. The home atmosphere is more suburban normalcy than media spectacle, filled with talk of pets, paperwork and future plans.
America’s “Grannymom” who gave birth to twins at 60 celebrates sons’ 18th birthday. Image source: ABC News / YouTube
Jaret is headed to Northeastern University in Boston, while Josh will study at Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey, their late brother Ari’s alma mater. Ari, who died of a brain aneurysm two years ago, remains a presence in the family’s foyer through framed photos and sympathy cards.
The twins speak of him often, showing how his memory continues to guide them. The brothers each reveal distinct personalities as they tease their parents and one another. Jaret is organized, reflective, and deliberate about mentioning their mother’s youthfulness at 78.
Josh is more light-hearted, quick with jokes, and candid in describing their family dynamic. Together, they show how their upbringing by older parents shaped them into confident young men ready to leave home.
Frieda admits that raising children in her 60s and 70s came more naturally than in her younger decades. She says the sacrifices—losing sleep, chauffeuring, and managing their activities—were easier because she approached them with more patience.
She and Ken prioritized adventures and family time over social lives, taking the twins sledding, golfing, and even dirt biking on weekends. Both sons emphasize that their parents’ advanced ages never limited them.
Also read: Missing for 63 years! This mom-of-two just reappeared with a confession you have to read
Her story is rooted in determination, beginning when she sought IVF treatments despite age restrictions in the United States. Frieda flew to South Africa, concealed her true age, and underwent treatment that resulted in the twins’ birth at 60.
“Ken had grown by then, and having children became more of a team effort,” she explained, noting how much support she felt from her husband compared to earlier parenthood. She insists the excitement of carrying twins gave her more stamina than she had with her older children.
Criticism came swiftly, and Frieda was branded selfish, irresponsible, and delusional by skeptics. Many argued she would exhaust herself or deny the twins a normal childhood, but she countered with questions of her own.
Why was older fatherhood admired while older motherhood condemned? And why should women fear aging rather than embracing opportunities that come later in life? The harshest reaction came from within her family when her eldest son, Jaeson, cut ties with her for several years after the twins’ birth.
She recalls, “It destroyed him. He was offended, as though I had the twins to spite him.” Eventually reconciliation came, though Jaeson’s later prison sentence added to the family’s challenges. Through it all, Frieda says her resilience grew.
Her perspective on life has always been shaped by her upbringing as the daughter of Holocaust survivors. Raised in Cleveland by parents who had endured a labor camp, she grew up with rigid expectations that left her yearning for more.
She married Ken young, worked to support his law education, and raised two children in her 20s. Yet she recalls a lingering question: “Is this all there is?”
That question led her to earn advanced degrees, including a doctorate in psychology from Columbia University at 46. She established her career as a psychotherapist, specializing in women and couples, while raising her family.
Her first book examined power and equality in marriage, and her second, Life Begins at 60, chronicled her personal story. She became a frequent commentator on television and radio about women, parenting, and aging.
“Women often live in such fear of getting older that they deny themselves the pleasure of enjoying where they are in life,” she has said. Frieda insists that fulfillment in career and family can go hand-in-hand, and later motherhood is one option to achieve balance.
Also read: You won’t believe the controversial name this mom-to-be chose—would you make the same choice?
Her twins, she believes, benefited from a mother who felt more secure, purposeful, and happy in her later years. “Children thrive from having a mother who’s fulfilled,” she explained.
Today, she is not interested in retiring or slowing down despite acquaintances urging her to do so. She continues her psychotherapy practice, works on a memoir, and dreams of hosting her own television show.
She keeps a photo of Lady Gaga on her desk as a reminder of the power of reinvention. “Life begins at any age you want it to,” she says with conviction.
As Jaret and Josh leave for college, Frieda prepares for the empty nest with optimism rather than dread. “The empty nest does not have to mean you become an empty person, devoid of any ambition,” she says.
Instead, she views it as a chance to pursue more ambitions, embrace independence, and inspire others. Her vitality at 78 is a direct rebuke to those who once dismissed her as America’s “grannymom.”
Read next: Tom Hanks opens up after daughter’s emotional memoir shares family pain and healing
