She was ridiculed as 'Grannymom' for having twin boys at 60. Now a heartbroken empty nester, she has a message for her haters
Mocked in news reports as 'the grannymom', Frieda Birnbaum refused to apologize for daring to have kids so late in life.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
A shocking tragedy at sea. A mother seeking answers over her teenager's death. Revealed in a new book, a story that has haunting parallels with last year's Bayesian tragedy
Just before 4am on June 3, 1984, the Marques – a magnificent 120ft wooden sailing boat taking part in the Tall Ships Race – was hit by a sudden squall off the coast of Bermuda. She keeled over to one side, flooded with water and sank in just 45 seconds.
The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
‘Deeply concerning': reading for fun in the US has fallen by 40%, new study says
The amount of Americans who read for pleasure has fallen by 40%, according to a new study. Researchers at the University of Florida and University College London have found that between 2003 and 2023, daily reading for reasons other than work and study fell by about 3% each year. The number saw a peak in 2004, with 28% of people qualifying, before falling to 16% in 2023. The data was taken from more than 236,000 Americans who participated in the American Time Use Survey and the study was published in the journal iScience. The definition of reading in the survey wasn't limited to books; it also included magazines and newspapers in print, electronic or audio form. Jill Sonke, study co-author, called it 'a sustained, steady decline' and one that is 'deeply concerning'. 'Reading has historically been a low-barrier, high-impact way to engage creatively and improve quality of life,' Sonke said. 'When we lose one of the simplest tools in our public health toolkit, it's a serious loss.' While all groups saw a decline, there were bigger drops among certain groups such as Black Americans, people with lower incomes or education levels, and those in rural areas. More women than men also continue to read for fun. Daisy Fancourt, study co-author, said: 'Potentially the people who could benefit the most for their health – so people from disadvantaged groups – are actually benefiting the least.' The study also showed that those who read for pleasure have tended to spend even more time reading than before and that the number of those who read with their children hasn't changed. 'Our digital culture is certainly part of the story,' Sonke said of explanations to the figures. 'But there are also structural issues – limited access to reading materials, economic insecurity and a national decline in leisure time. If you're working multiple jobs or dealing with transportation barriers in a rural area, a trip to the library may just not be feasible.' Last year in the US, sales of physical books rose slightly after two years of declines. Adult fiction was the main driver, with Kristin Hannah's The Women leading the pack. The literacy level in the US is estimated to be about 79%, which ranks as 36th globally.
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Terrifying audio of American Airlines plane declaring 'mayday' over Boston after plane suffered multiple failures
An American Airlines pilot was heard frantically declaring 'mayday' just moments after takeoff in harrowing air traffic control audio. The Philadelphia-bound flight had departed Boston Logan International Airport at 6.45pm on Sunday but was forced to turn around after just 10 minutes as the 2013 Airbus A321-211 suffered multiple failures, flight data shows. In air traffic control audio, the pilot could be heard telling air traffic control back at Boston that he was lowering the plane from 8,000 feet in the air as he declared an emergency. 'Mayday, mayday, mayday, American 2616,' the pilot said quickly. 'We need to return back to Boston,' he continued, explaining: 'We have a loss of the autopilot, loss of auto-thrust and we have a position disagree[ment] between both of our [flight management systems].' He later emphasized: 'We have multiple failures, including navigation and automation as well.' The pilot also informed the air traffic control that there were 200 'souls on board' the commercial plane and it had 237 minutes worth of fuel. The pilot ultimately needed guidance from the ground to land back at Boston Logan International Airport, but was able to do so 53 minutes after its original departure, data from FlightAware shows. It was met by a firetruck at runway 22L, according to the air traffic control audio, though the pilot told emergency crews there did not appear to be any structural issues with the aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration has since confirmed to PEOPLE that the flight 'returned safely' to Boston Logan International Airport at around 7.30pm after crews 'reported a possible flight system issue.' An American Airlines spokesperson also cited 'maintenance issues' on the Airbus for the unexpected U-turn. 'The flight landed safely and taxied to the gate under its own power,' the spokesperson said, noting that the aircraft 'has been taken out of service to be inspected by our maintenance team.' The spokesperson added that the customers onboard the doomed flight would be accommodated. 'We never want to disrupt our customers' travel plans and apologize for the inconvenience.' The Federal Aviation Administration is now investigating what may have gone wrong onboard the Airbus. But the American Airlines flight was not the only one departing from Boston that was forced to turn around on Sunday, according to Delta Airlines Flight 464 destined for Salt Lake City also had to return to Logan due to an 'indication related to one of the aircraft's doors,' a spokesperson for the airline said. 'After inspection by maintenance, the aircraft was cleared and continued its journey, landing safely in Salt Lake City.'
