TL;DR
An essay reframes the 'biological clock' as a reminder of mortality rather than fertility alone, using personal family stories and public examples to show how delaying parenthood reduces the years parents share with children. The author uses life-expectancy calculations and cultural observation to argue that social norms about postponing adulthood obscure the finite duration of intergenerational time.
What happened
The writer begins with the recent death of Nabi Tajima, who at 117 was, for a time, the oldest living person and the last person born in the 19th century. From that datum he moves to personal history: his father, born in 1940, is dead, and the author reflects on shared moments across generations. He says that for much of his life he did not reckon with mortality when making decisions about marriage, career and when to have children — a pattern he characterizes as cultural training to treat time like a resource to accumulate rather than a sandglass that is constantly running down. He notes examples such as wealthy older parents who can rely on resources but not on being present as their children age (citing Mick Jagger fathering a child at 73). Using the Social Security Administration life-expectancy calculator, he illustrates the arithmetic of remaining years, and stresses that postponing parenthood necessarily shortens the shared span parents have with offspring. He frames this perspective as an often-avoided truth underlying conversations about fertility and life choices.
Why it matters
- Reframing the 'biological clock' from fertility alone to include mortality changes how people might evaluate timing for children and caregiving.
- Delaying parenthood reduces the likely number of years parents are alive to share life events with their children, with implications for family relationships.
- Cultural expectations that treat adulthood as something to defer can obscure the finite nature of intergenerational time.
- Life-expectancy projections can make abstract concerns about aging and timing concrete, affecting personal planning and priorities.
Key facts
- Nabi Tajima died at age 117 and was the last surviving person born in the 19th century, according to the author.
- The author notes his father was born in 1940 and is deceased; he attributes part of his father’s shortened life to smoking.
- The essay’s author was 47 at the time of writing and describes having two sons, the younger of whom is seven.
- The author used the Social Security Administration’s life-expectancy calculator: for an average man born on his birthday the calculator showed 34.9 more years remaining, for a total of 82.0 years.
- When the author first checked the calculator while drafting, it showed 35.4 years remaining; the calculator also indicates that reaching age 70 would change the remaining-expectancy estimate to 86.7 years.
- The piece uses public examples — such as Mick Jagger siring a child at age 73 — to illustrate that wealth can provide material support but cannot guarantee parental presence across a child’s life.
- The author contrasts cultural messages that urge delaying milestones until one is 'ready' with the reality that postponement shortens the time available for shared family life.
What to watch next
- How advances in longevity research might alter average life expectancy and thereby change intergenerational timeframes — not confirmed in the source
- Policy debates or workplace changes (parental leave, childcare support) that could influence when people choose to have children — not confirmed in the source
- Trends in fertility technology and their social impact on timing of parenthood and family structure — not confirmed in the source
Quick glossary
- Biological clock: A common phrase referring to the biological limits and timing related to reproduction and aging.
- Life expectancy: A statistical estimate of the average remaining years of life for people of a given age or cohort.
- Social Security Administration life-expectancy calculator: An online tool provided by the U.S. Social Security Administration that estimates remaining life expectancy based on birthdate and demographic assumptions.
- Intergenerational time: The period during which members of different generations (for example, parents and children) are alive at the same time and can interact.
Reader FAQ
Who was Nabi Tajima?
The essay identifies Nabi Tajima as a person who died at age 117 and was the last surviving individual born in the 19th century.
Does the author recommend having children earlier?
Not confirmed in the source.
What data does the author use to make the point about remaining years?
He cites the Social Security Administration’s life-expectancy calculator and provides specific numbers for his birthdate and hypothetical remaining years.
Does the essay discuss solutions like fertility technology or policy changes?
Not confirmed in the source.
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION, TOMBSTONE HEADER PHOTO DEE E. WARENYCIA, ROSEVILLE, CA, BABY CARRIAGE CTK VIA AP IMAGES Your Real Biological Clock Is You’re Going to Die PUBLISHED ON OCT 18, 2018…
Sources
- Real Biological Clock Is You're Going to Die
- Rec | YOUR REAL BIOLOGICAL CLOCK IS YOU'RE …
- Your Real Biological Clock Is You're Going to Die
- Your real biological clock is you're going to die (2018)
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