It’s almost my birthday so I guess it’s time to write a somewhat cliché blog post about turning 40. I remember when my mom turned 40 and for that fact, I remember when my mother-in-law turned 40 as well. She was a young mom, only 38 years old when I started dating her son who was a senior in high school. Um, so the same age I was almost two years ago! Say what?!? That can’t be how old she was when we first started dating, I mean she seemed so much older than I did just two years ago.
I’ve been a mom for almost 17 years now yet I most days I wonder who’s in charge and then realize it’s me. I was 23 years old when our first daughter was born. I now have two children in high school, one in junior high and one in elementary school. Somedays, I feel like my 16 year old daughter is more mature than I am. Then, two weeks ago she told me she doesn’t know how to use an ATM. Which then causes me to freak out that I am not teaching them all they need to know and I remember that I am the mom. I am sure I have failed her in many ways. Will my kids be prepared enough for adulthood? I remember thinking these same thoughts right before kindergarten started. It’s going to be ok, we all made it through kindergarten just fine!
When do I transition from purchasing my clothes from Maurices, Target juniors department and stores my teenage daughters shop at? Is there a store for middle age women? Or do we go right to clothing with cardinals and pumpkins on them? Do I need matching earrings for my sweatshirt with snowmen on it?
Who’s going to teach me this stuff? I mean, we teach kids how to adult but does anyone teach adults how to become old? When do I buy shoes with velcro? When do I stop dyeing my hair and let it go gray naturally? How do you know when to hang up the sexy underwear and jump into granny panties?
Speaking of jumping, anyone else tired of peeing their pants when they laugh, cough, sneeze, run or jump? Is this 40? Does it get worse? When do you decide you need support for your lady parts? And what do you do with chin hair? Why? Why do we have chin hair? I have resorted to carrying around tweezers so when I see the chin hairs glisten in the sun while in my vehicle I can pluck them like they’re hot!
It’s not all bad. I do feel like I am starting to care less about other people’s opinions. I now go to Target in clothes that I used to only reserve for Walmart emergency runs. Some days I leave the house looking like a model and other days it looks like I’ve been on a three day bender. I’m definitely more “comfortable in my own skin” than I used to be.
I know what I like. It’s taken me a while to figure it all out but I know now what I like and I don’t. I listen to myself, I do have some wisdom to share and I’m not stuck in my ways, yet. I am still young enough to start a business, be a fun mom for my kids and maybe even be a younger grandma eventually!
In ways, 40 is the sweet spot. My kids are old enough to do a lot for themselves but they still definitely need me. I can do most everything I could 10 to 20 years ago, well minus jumping on a trampoline. I have learned a lot since becoming a mom and have chilled on a lot of things. I know that things change, kids grow, we learn and nothing stays the same.
I think I’ll go put on a pantiliner and jump on the trampoline while I’m still 39! But after all, age is just a number and 40 is the new 20!
