Baltimore- It took her a little longer than she’d hoped, but a Baltimore woman has finally achieved her lifelong dream of becoming an NFL cheerleader — at age 38.

Molly Shattuck , a former college cheerleader and now the mother of three children younger than 7, had come up with a list of 10 things she wanted to do before she died — “cheer for the NFL” was on it. But after marriage and then kids, the dream was pushed aside. Plus, “When I moved to Baltimore, they didn’t have a team,” she recalled. “And when they finally got a team and a squad, I was either pregnant or nursing during tryouts.”

Finally this year Shattuck got her chance to do the month-long audition — and made the final cut: “I was thrilled. I cried.” But what about the kids? For the two practice nights a week, a babysitter takes over at home. “I miss putting them to bed twice a week, but I almost always prepare their meal ahead of time,” she noted. And her husband, Constellation Energy President and CEO Mayo Shattuck ? “He’s incredibly supportive,” she said. “He goes to games with his binoculars, video camera and digital camera.”

According to a team spokeswoman, the average age for Ravens cheerleaders this year is 23. Shattuck’s seniority hasn’t gone unnoticed. “I can’t tell you how many letters I’ve received from people that I don’t know that say, ‘You are such an inspiration,’ ” she said. “I had no idea of the impact this would have. I was just going out to be a cheerleader and do something I love.”