When career and life coach Allison Task stared down her 35th year, she decided to have children on her own, since no stable partner was in sight. But as soon as she attended some meetings and browsed sperm donors online, the right man showed up and asked her out on LinkedIn. At 39 they married, and she gave birth at 40. Her previous life of travel, intrigue, dating and career growth took a different route in her 40s -- especially with a 3-year-old, two 4-year-olds and a 16-year-old stepchild. "There were things in my life that had been unknown that were now known -- my husband, my children, where I live and want to put down roots. When you have stability in key areas, that frees you up to have more fun and explore in other areas," she shared. "Until 40 I was free and spontaneous. But that freedom gave me stress about all the unknowns. I enjoyed putting down roots as I turned 40. That certainty, for me, was true freedom."
