trying not to feel old

[Tiggeroo]

lately i've been having the feeling old blues. I had my kids kinda young and now i'm 43 with three kids from 19-22. I think about how all the kid years are behind me and get so down. I should be celebrating, i'm only 43 and my kids are grown. In a couple years they'll all be out of college and I can do whatever I want, even with my money. Help.

 

[wdwmom2]

Can I join your pity party???? I will be 42 this year with the youngest in 10th grade. My eyes are going downhill, hard to read really fine print, and I am nursing a back injury from last week. OK, where are the "Golden Years" and how will I feel when I get there?????

 

[grinningghost]

I'm right there with you in a way. My DD will be off to college in the fall, and here I'll be at 42 - just kinda hanging around.

Of course, I do enjoy the fact that I now, for the most part, have the freedom to do what I want when I want - no little kids to worry about - that's kind of nice when you're still in your early 40's.

 

[freckles and boo]

I am forty with a four-year-old and a six-year-old. I wouldn't trade lives with anyone, but I am sometimes jealous of the freedom you must have! One thing that might be fun is to make your "life list". Write down all the things you want to do before you are too old. My husband and I have been thinking about this, but it will be quite a while before we can do most of those things. My kids would whiiiiiine all the way across Italy. You will probably have lots more time to get your list done than I will!

 

[MUFFYCAT]

I'm a few years older then all of you. My younger DD is in the 7th grade.

I felt the "age" this year when I had to wear reading glasses.
I've always worn contact but to wear those little reading glasses
reminds me of the old ladies wearing them.

 

[jonestavern]

I'm a few years older then all of you. My younger DD is in the 7th grade.

I felt the "age" this year when I had to wear reading glasses.
I've always worn contact but to wear those little reading glasses
reminds me of the old ladies wearing them.

Same here, but DS is a junior in high school.
I tell my younger sister--her girls are in their 20's--my son's age is proof positive that I am the younger of the two of us

Yep, the reading glasses thing! I keep wondering when the urge to go buy those granny-style eyeglass holders will set in!
For me that would be the last straw

Jean

 

[Sherri]

lately i've been having the feeling old blues. I had my kids kinda young and now i'm 43 with three kids from 19-22. I think about how all the kid years are behind me and get so down. I should be celebrating, i'm only 43 and my kids are grown. In a couple years they'll all be out of college and I can do whatever I want, even with my money. Help.

OMG I feel like you. My kids are 15 1/2 and 14 1/2 and I am 37. I can't believe all of their young days are behind me, I enjoyed each and every moment and I entered each new phase kicking and screaming because I didn't want to leave each stage behind. I know I will be one of those empty nesters and I have visions of saddness when I think about them leaving for college in not too many more years from now.
Its hard when you enjoy something so much anthen it all changes.

 

[nbodyhome]

I am 40 with no kids! I think it is awesome that you had kids young - if I ever had any, I'd be a senior citizen by the time they graduated high school.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

Same here, but DS is a junior in high school.
I tell my younger sister--her girls are in their 20's--my son's age is proof positive that I am the younger of the two of us

Yep, the reading glasses thing! I keep wondering when the urge to go buy those granny-style eyeglass holders will set in!
For me that would be the last straw

Jean

Please shoot me if I do that.

 

[Disneyfan63]

I'm 43, never married, no kids, lots of self-imposed credit card debt.

Jim

 

[Christine]

I'm 43 and my kids are 15 1/2 and 12. Even though I didn't have them "young", I don't think it matters. There are days when I am just starting to feel old.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Almost 42 here and I have dd's 15 & 10. In addition I also may be a "grandma"....
Maybe this will make you feel better.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1338268

Wanna trade?

 

[ADisneygirl]

Oh, I feel exactly the same way. I also had kids young, and while there are benefits to being a younger Mom, there are also drawbacks. I am 43 and have a 22 year daughter who is out college now and working in the real world, and a 16 year old son in 11th grade. Lately I've been asking myself that same question: what will I do when my youngest leaves home? Somedays I long to have a baby again, to feel useful and to do what I think I do well, but having another baby probably isn't in the cards for me.

I guess what I am saying and the OP probably feels is that there is a feeling of ending when we feel we are too young to be having "endings". Some of my 40 something year old friends are just having babies now.

 

[Buckalew11]

I'll be 42 next week with a 13 yo. Honestly, I wish I had not waited to have a child. I feel the age thing also, in a way but I am loving my 40s. I just don't think I can relate to your feelings about it. I have thought about the fact that 5 mre years and she is off to college and that is hard to believe and a bit sad to me. But, I think I'll be ready for what that next step brings and am looking forward to the next phase of life!

 

[MushyMushy]

I turn 40 this weekend and for the past few weeks, I've been really depressed about it. I'm starting to get some knee problems, I can't see things close up, and I'm getting some hearing loss. Plus my mind just isn't as "quick." I got my tubes tied when DD was born, and I've regretted it over the past few years. I don't know if I would have had another baby, but it would have been nice to have the option. I miss having a little one around.

 

[PolyHereWeCome]

I'm 43 and my kids are 15 1/2 and 12. Even though I didn't have them "young", I don't think it matters. There are days when I am just starting to feel old.

This is how I feel, too. Had our children in my 30's, which I'm glad about, it's just the aging thing that can be a bummer. Body just isn't like it used to be, but then there are some days I feel like the ol' dancing banana.

So here's to lots of days like this .

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I don't know which camp I'm in, which makes me even more confused. In December I celebrated the 7th anniversary of my 39th birthday (I just can't say 46 ) and I have children who are 19 (in college) and 16, 13, and 7. If I had of stopped with my older two I'd almost be to the empty nester stage, but I kept going and had that caboose. But I don't feel that old and I most certainly don't act it. I'm a kid at heart, am active, and am reasonable healthy. So I don't feel old, but I do feel old.

Here's a thread that I started yesterday that you will appreciate of you missed it. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1349832

 

[ToriLammy]

Oh, I feel exactly the same way. I also had kids young, and while there are benefits to being a younger Mom, there are also drawbacks. I am 43 and have a 22 year daughter who is out college now and working in the real world, and a 16 year old son in 11th grade. Lately I've been asking myself that same question: what will I do when my youngest leaves home? Somedays I long to have a baby again, to feel useful and to do what I think I do well, but having another baby probably isn't in the cards for me.

I guess what I am saying and the OP probably feels is that there is a feeling of ending when we feel we are too young to be having "endings". Some of my 40 something year old friends are just having babies now.

But endings happen all the time in your life, you end being a child, a teen, a student, single, childless, etc. It's just the natural progression. I'm 46 with a 20 and 21 year old, both in college. While the idea of them moving on when college is over makes me a little sad cause I'll miss them I am so excited by the possibilities they have in their futures.

I agree with the poster who said make your life list. That's what I've done and now I'm looking forward to 50! I've got a little over 3 years to prepare and it's going to be great!

 

[powellrj]

I am soon to be 48 and I have kids that are 23, 15 and 10. I feel like I have been a parent forever. I know people talk about the empty nest, but somedays I don't think mine will ever be empty. I thought we were doing the right thing waiting 5 years after we were married to have our first child and then waiting so many years between them so we could devote more one on one time to each child.

Boy, if I knew then what I know now. My hair is grey without color, my knee is made of titanium and I am going to parents night with kids who could be my kids!!

Ignore my vent, I just had it out with DS who is 15 because its MY FAULT they didn't have a snow day. Who knew I was that important that I could call snow days?????

 

[Snowysmom]

I am 51 and feelng older by the day. My oldest DS is 21, is graduating from college in May, and hopefully going to medical school in the fall. Younger DS is 17 and will be graduating from high school in June and going to college in the fall. I have to get a full time job in the fall. I currently work part time which allows me to have some down time. I know the empty nest won't be completely empty as the kids will be home on breaks and younger DS on some weekends since he will only be 30 minutes away. I also take care of things for my father who is in poor health in a nursing home. The hair is starting to get white, knee hurts (again), and I get tired way too easily. In spite of all this, some days I do feel young again when talking with friends or co workers, thinking the grocery clerk will yell at me if I put an item down someplace where it doesn't belong, and planning new trips to WDW or thinking of old trips.