Michelle Smiles

Teaching my children to question authority, except mine.

Things making me feel old

September15

Honestly, my birthday didn’t make me feel old.  It is just a day. Sure the number 37 seems impossibly high when in my head I’m still 23 but it is just a number.  Other things have been conspiring to make me feel old lately.

  • The therapist who evaluated Tessa last week wasn’t just younger than me – she was YOUNG.  I would put her at 25 and only because she had a masters degree – otherwise I would have said 22.  When did professionals become kids?
  • My nephew is 15 1/2 (the 1/2 is important because now he can get a permit to drive a car).  I’ve had some email/messenger conversations with him in the past week that have driven home the fact that he is nearing adulthood.  When did that happen?
  • As some of my old friends approach 40, they are considering “What next?” because they will be facing an empty nest as children go off to college.  As I approach 40, I will be considering “What next?” because my children will be going off to kindergarten.  I also remember a woman who was 40ish who started working in my office after her children went off to school.  I remember feeling rather sorry for her – she was bright but had no ambition.  I couldn’t believe she had interrupted her life to stay home and wipe noses and butts.  I was 25 and that was my perception.  Irony is a bitch.
  • I clearly remember my mother being the age that I am now.  That is just weird because she was always “old” (sorry mom).
  • All of a sudden, I find myself holding things with small print a little further away from my face.
  • Without meaning to, I find myself going on a 5 minute rant about how the kids in our neighborhood play in the street instead of their yards.  Next thing you know, I’ll be chasing them out of my yard while wearing my housecoat and brandishing a broom.
  • The kids who are seniors in high school this year are showing off their “Class of ’10 Rocks” spirit which makes me clearly recall sitting in pep rallies proudly chanting “S-S-S-E-N-I-I-I-O-R! S-E-N-I-O-R SENIORS SENIORS SENIORS!”.  Then I realize that no matter how clearly I remember it, it was 20 years ago that I was a senior proudly displaying my Class of ’90 enthusiasm.
  • I find myself telling my husband as he drools over cool new phones that I just don’t understand why he needs his phone to do anything but make and receive phone calls.  He has a camera to take photos, an MP3 player to listen to music, a video camera to capture videos, and a computer to surf the web.  Why does he need his phone to do those things too?
  • When I heard Patrick Swayze died (how sad is that?), it was mentioned that Dirty Dancing came out in 1987.  I was thinking how much I love that movie and then it hit me: how is it possible that was 22 years ago?
  • When I read People magazine, I’ve never heard of 60% of the “celebrities”.
posted under Misc., Uncategorized
13 Comments to

“Things making me feel old”

  1. On September 15th, 2009 at 2:10 pm Laura Says:

    ALL true…I have a twin cousin (we were born same day, same year). She has grandkids!!! Three. I have one who is not even three…

  2. On September 15th, 2009 at 2:13 pm Laura Williams Says:

    When you were talking about the senior class I couldn’t help but think you are now closer the senior citizen discount than your senior year of high school :). Because you didn’t feel old enough.

  3. On September 15th, 2009 at 6:47 pm Kelly M Says:

    So true. Wait until Sabrina is in HS and you feel like you were there yesterday, but all the kids treat you like you are a senior citizen!

  4. On September 15th, 2009 at 6:57 pm Stacy Says:

    My dad had me when he was 25 and had my sister when he was 40. After he got sick, he told me that he literally spent his entire adult life raising children. His friends who had children young, like he had me, were empty nesters. His friends who had children older, like my sister’s friends’ parents, had their 20s to sow their oats. When I think about first starting this parenting thing at almost 40 (omg, how is it even possible that I’m almost 40!), I’m terribly freaked out. But when I see the little girl who sold me her daughter’s old toys off craigslist, I’m thankful I didn’t waste my “good” years staying home on Saturday nights. (I’m telling you, this girl was 21 at the very most.)

    We’re like fine wine. Not that I’ll be drinking much of that any time soon. 🙂

  5. On September 15th, 2009 at 7:13 pm Stephanie Says:

    I hear ya! I remember when my mom turned 40. I was 12 and the youngest! Eli will also just be entering school when I hit 40. It is very strange that people even consider us “older” moms. Isn’t that crazy?

  6. On September 15th, 2009 at 7:49 pm Rusty Gerber Says:

    BITE ME!!! Now you’ve made me feel old. Thanks sis! I could see ya with the broom though.

  7. On September 15th, 2009 at 8:43 pm Yeah So Says:

    I am so with you – especially the third one. Most of my staff are in their twenties and you can just tell by the way they are amused with what I say that they think I am an old lady. I made a reference to “sunday is prince spaghetti day” and no one knew what I was talking about. oy.

  8. On September 16th, 2009 at 4:50 am Becky Says:

    Hey you have nothing on me about being old….you could be my age–50—yes I now can say it without cringing. I remember turning 40, then 50, hated both of them because of my mind set, now I wish that I’d just enjoyed the fact that it was my birthday and not made such a big D*** deal out of how old I was—and I will be 53 when Tabi sets off to school, our friends have grandchildren that age!
    Everyone is younger than I am : ).
    Happy belated birthday!

  9. On September 16th, 2009 at 6:58 am Jody W. Says:

    I never thought of it that way — yes I’m an “older” mom, but I got to party like a rockstar in my 20’s without the responsibilities of kids. That kind of cheers me up!

  10. On September 16th, 2009 at 1:14 pm Laurie Mitchell Says:

    I am turning 39 this week so this hits home with me (although I have the same attitude as my mom…don’t care how old I get as long as someone is still around to bring me a present!!! haha!!). I always feel so young and hip until I get put in my place. Josh’s first travel soccer coach had to cancel practice because he was going down to OU for an interview to get into the College of Business. I told him I was a Bobcat and then the dreaded question…”When were you there?”… I took the time to figure out that my freshman year at OU (beginning in 1988) was right around the year he was born! Uuugggg!!! How did that happen?

  11. On September 16th, 2009 at 2:52 pm Cynthia Says:

    omg – so, so true. i’m going to go hide in a cave now and mope. Plus, I’m older than you and have a birthday next week. *sigh* But happy belated birthday – sorry I missed it!!

  12. On September 16th, 2009 at 8:07 pm Heather Says:

    Okay that is too funny (and sadly, it’s funny cause I can relate to all of them). Jack ‘s teacher (my age…37) is going on maternity leave next month. We met the new sub teacher tonight…she is FRESH out of college (like first job). Still dealing with that one…

  13. On September 23rd, 2009 at 8:22 pm Jamie Says:

    I just turned 40 in August and I know I am the oldest mom at my youngest daughter’s pre-K class. GAH!

    This cracked me up TOTALLY…I remember feeling rather sorry for her – she was bright but had no ambition. I couldn’t believe she had interrupted her life to stay home and wipe noses and butts. I was 25 and that was my perception. Irony is a bitch.

    Happy belated birthday!

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