The other day I got a note from a collge friend on Facebook. He said his daughter had turned 13. I couldn't belive it. How could someone I went to college with have a 13 year old daughter.
But then I realized, I graduated from college almost 18 years ago. That's the age of a college freshman. Yikes! I'm old.
I know that I am old. I'm going to be 40 this year. That is no secret. And it doesn't bother me in the least that I am going to be 40. Do you want to know why?
Because I feel young.
And its not in the you're only as old as you feel kind of a way. Its a bit harder to explain than that.
Growing up, I was one of the younger kids in my class. I had a September birthday and the cut off was December 1st. So there were some kids who were almost a year older than me in my class. I was one of the last to start driving, one of the last to reach all the major milestones. I was always the baby of the group.
When I entered the workforce after college, I was clearly one of the "young ones." And I had no idea what I was doing so I felt young and naive. That feeling stuck with me. To this day if I am new to a situation and am learning the ropes, I always assume that the person showing me how to do it is older than me. Even if its clear they are only 18. They possess more knowledge of a particular subject therefore they are older.
Strange I know but its true.
When I went back to law school at 26, I was one of the oldest amongst my friends. But I was in school so I felt young. In school = young in my book (and I wonder why I want to go back to school now).
Now that I'm a mom, I feel young. I only have one child, a pre-schooler. I'm new to this game so I must be young. The more seasoned moms, with a few kids, must be older than me. I was with the wife of a law school classmate recently. She has three kids. She is sage and wise. She was giving me advice on preschools and dance classes. I started to have that feeling of being younger than her, when I realized that she is at least 8 years younger than me and I had to laugh
So here I am a young 39 and I'll soon be a young 40, but somedays I honestly feel like I'm only 25 (ok maybe 30).
Monday, February 16, 2009
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5 comments:
I absolutely feel far younger than I actually am. This started when I turned 30. Suddenly - I was in a whole new context - so "new" to the 30s... Then that just never went away. And while I do feel young when I'm reading blogs written by 20somethings and younger 30somethings (especially when they're SINGLE), in general - I still feel fairly young. And once I turn 40 (in just a little ovef 3 years), I'll be a baby all over again! An ingenue to the 40s...
Oh I feel the same way. Both my husband and I look much younger than we actually are and people are always shocked to find out we've been together for 15 years and have three kids. It's all relative.
I've always felt young too. But, I'm too old to look young! It is an odd contrast.
I was always the youngest one in my circle too... until one day, I wasn't! gasp! How did that happen?! and I'm only 42!!! I think the thing that freaks me out now, is that I'm the mother of a ten year old! WTH?!!
Me, too! ;) Isn't it great?
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