I have lots of memories of my mom as a young woman -- with her waist length hair and light blue eyeshadow (ok, she still wears that), driving her gold VW Beetle. She was a fun mom -- she did gymnastics with us in the yard, played water games at the beach, did the monkey bars at the playground. She was pretty cool, and quite full of life.
She seemed so youthful in my childhood days, because, well, she pretty much was a youth. By the time she was twenty-four, she had three kids. My kid won't have any memories of me in my twenties. Or thirties for that matter. If all goes well, I'll be two months shy of thirty-nine when I deliver this baby. And, you know, for the most part, I'm just fine with that. It wasn't my plan to wait this long, but hey, I'm thankful that it's even happening at all.
But I came across this about a month back, and it just made me shake my head:
What do you think the advantages are of being a younger mom?
My mom was a young mom, and I've looked up to her. I just feel that its so important to instill so many good beliefs in your children. I think I'm younger doing that-Ill have more energy in being able to bring up more positive kids than if I'm 40! But there are parents that are 40 that do a damn good job. I always wanted to be a young mom.
Well, it was nice that Britney acknowledged the possibility of parents doing a good job despite being 40 -- 40. Imagine! How do they drag their old, tired asses out of bed and do what it takes to instill "good beliefs" in their children? Oy.
Somehow, I think I'll manage. Of course, I expect it to be exhausting. Especially in the beginning. But I think it is for pretty much everyone, no? You have to rely on a sense of love and responsibility to drive you forward. And as far the running, jumping, flipping, etc.? Bring it on. I have years of stored up energy and desire for that stuff. This near-40-year-old body can take it. It will, in fact, revel in it.
I do, however, think about how I'll look over the next ten years. I know it's pretty insignificant in the larger scheme of things, but I'd like my kid to have some memories of me as a "young" woman. Or at least not a very "mature looking" woman. Thus the sunglasses, hats, etc. Let's just say that they're part of a conscious preservation effort. There's more to it than that, of course. But those are a few things that will be a permanent part of my routine. Thank goodness over-sized sunglasses are in. Let's hope they are for quite a while.
And if they're not? Oh well. Don't most moms hang onto certain fashions from their youngers days? The sunglasses might have to be my version of the sparkly blue eyeshadow.