- Moritz Bleibtreu on the issue of childbirth: "I was scared"
The most important question one can ask in life, and whose answer should be well-considered, is: Do I want children? Several aspects play a role here. What is the financial situation? Can I really afford offspring? Actor Moritz Bleibtreu discussed these fears with Barbara Schoeneberger in their podcast "Mit den Waffeln einer Frau". It became clear: Bleibtreu feels regret when thinking about having children.
Moritz Bleibtreu regrets late fatherhood
"If I had known how great it is, I would have started at 18," the actor said. Today, he sees what became a problem for him and his generation: "The fear of children that was instilled in us! The money, and you need this and you need that - and not too early!", women were told not to become dependent. "Much of that is absolutely correct, but much of it is also absolute nonsense," he says. As a father of a soon-to-be 16-year-old, he has learned: "It's all possible."
Schoeneberger, initially not entirely convinced by Bleibtreu's arguments, agrees in the end. "If I had known, I would have liked to have started earlier too," says the 36-year-old mother.
His mother only briefly experienced Bleibtreu's son
"If one starts so late, as most people do nowadays, one misses out on so many aspects," Bleibtreu continues. "Firstly, it becomes difficult to have more children. Secondly, your parents aren't getting any younger. My mother only got to see my son for half a year, because she then passed away," says the film star. He was already 38 when his son was born. Soon after, Bleibtreu's mother, actress Monica Bleibtreu, died. "If I had had him at 18, he would have had a grandmother for 20 years," he explains.
It seems Bleibtreu has given this issue of hesitation about having children a lot of thought. "I think we've created an egg with this 1970s, anti-authoritarian thinking, we're breaking down everything that's traditional and conservative," says Bleibtreu.
According to the Federal Statistical Office, the age of parents at the birth of their first child has indeed been steadily increasing in recent decades. And not only that: The birth rate in Germany is declining unusually quickly (for more on this, click here). There are many reasons for this. Climate crisis, wars, rising inflation and living costs are just a few examples.
Moritz Bleibtreu's message is clear: There's no need to be afraid.
Sources: "Mit den Waffeln einer Frau" / Federal Statistical Office
Despite regretting starting fatherhood later, Moritz Bleibtreu acknowledges the fears and societal pressure that led to his late decision, such as financial concerns and the notion that women should not become dependent. His mother, actress Monica Bleibtreu, only got to meet her grandson for half a year before passing away, as Moritz had his son at the age of 38.
