I’ve been jotting down some thoughts as I get older. Some are serious, some are silly, but they are all #truth. So here we go!
The Older I Get…
The more I become like my mother. Seriously. I’m turning into her. I share EVERY detail of my trip to Kroger. I blast “oldies music” (which is now the 90’s) and tell my child, “This is what Mama used to dance to!” I buy Christmas presents in July because THE DEALS! I tell Greyson about his birth story all the time. I worry about my family when I know they are on the road. Just last week my parents had Greyson for the day (I was getting a haircut and having some mommy time) I knew they were eating lunch in town and suddenly, I heard numerous police sirens heading towards their direction. And y’all. I called my mom and said “I hear sirens! Just wanted to make sure you were okay!!!” She died laughing. It’s like she’s passing the proverbial crazy torch on to me.
The Older I Get…
The more I get excited about new appliances. For real. It’s funny to recall how my wish list has changed over my lifespan. I’ve evolved from stuffed animals, to the Barbie Dollhouse to makeup and clothes to appliances. When Lowe’s starts showing their ads each major holiday, I get a little ache in my heart. Really though. Take a newborn to the laundry mat a few times and a shiny new washer and dryer will be the object of your desire. Fifty two sippy cups and a broken dishwasher will make you Lose. Your. Mind. I recently picked up a handheld Dirt Devil and I was like a giddy schoolgirl. IT’S SO EASY TO VACUUM THE STAIRS NOW! Don’t even get me started with the mattress my hubby and I purchased with our Christmas money.
The Older I Get…
The more perplexed I become by the next generation. I guess I should ask my parents if we perplexed them. I’m sure we did. It just seems like they are dealing with SO MUCH outside influence/opinions/pressures at such a young age. Sometimes I look at them and think they look like babies; I see myself as more “grown up” when I was in my 20s. And then other times, it’s opposite, and I’m like….UMMM…I DID NOT look like that when I was 13. I was awkward, still had a baby face, a set of braces, and the layered “Rachel” haircut.
The Older I Get…
The faster time goes by. Remember when a year used to feel like eternity? Or “summer” was an endless season of playing outside until hot sun went down? The older I get, each year seems to pass at a more rapid rate. (Except for the newborn year, that was sheer and utter eternity.) A few weeks ago we got a new mattress and were debating whether to put our old one in the guest bedroom or leave the one that was in there. I told my hubby: “The current one is NEW babe! I bought it in college!” Y’all. I graduated college in 2006. It has clearly passed the “Replace after 8” rule. Honestly, college feels like yesterday. I still look at our wedding china like a proud new bride when in reality it’s been in my cabinet for close to a decade. This really does make the famous statement “The days are long but the years are short” feel very true.
The Older I Get…
The less I like crowds and loud music. Perhaps it’s because I feel like a human jungle gym. Someone is always touching, climbing, or pulling me. And between monster trucks, the PAW Patrol theme song, and a screaming toddler, my world is ALWAYS NOISY. A while back, we joined some friends in a “hip” part of town and went into a place with live music. Other than the concrete floor and fluorescent signs, there was NOTHING in there. My hubby and I were like “Where do we SIT? We can’t hear each other talk!” LISTEN. In college (which was apparently 11 years ago), if it didn’t have loud music and wasn’t shoulder to shoulder IT WASN’T COOL. (Is cool still a word?) Nowadays….give me a quiet restaurant, some good food, and lively conversation. Extra points if you bring tips for potty training.
The Older I Get…
My fashion revolves around comfort and being Mommy-friendly. This is especially true while I was nursing. I was not prepared with nursing friendly clothes after Greyson was born. I essentially wore pajamas for a couple weeks. Then I remember my hubby came home one night and I was like: “That’s enough. Here’s the baby. I’m going shopping”. Granted, I just picked up some nursing bras and nursing friendly “active-wear” (because being a mom is ACTIVE), but it did make me feel much better. With leggings, jeggings, and flowy tops in the mix, there is a way to be really comfortable AND fashionable while you’re leaning, squatting, bending, and all the other positions us moms find ourselves in. In regards to shoes, THANK YOU DR. SCHOLL’S for adding some trendy styles and THANK YOU Tom’s wedges for the days when I really want to be a hip mommy.
The Older I Get…
And finally, the more I admire my parents. Wow. Just wow. My parents had 3 kids within 5 years. My mom didn’t work until I was in middle school. And they never so much as HINTED that things were even “tight”. Now, I didn’t get everything I wanted (I’m looking at you Umbros and Timberlands) but I never felt like I missed out on anything. They provided what was needed for any and every activity we wanted to do. My mom threw us great birthday parties (ALWAYS with a theme), and my dad patiently went to work every day for over 30 years. They tagged teamed who would pick up who, attended all the recitals, and helped with every school project. I’m sure behind the scenes, there were some intense seasons and they probably feel like they failed in some way or another. But the older I get, the more often I just want to call them up and say THANK YOU. And I’M SORRY. ; )
I hope you’ve enjoyed my list and can relate to some of these. I would absolutely LOVE to hear some of yours!
