Ah, my early 20s—those seemingly distant days of wild nights, spontaneous adventures, and questionable decisions. While the memories of tequila shots and impulsive piercings may feel fresh, the reality of my current life is a stark contrast to that youthful chaos. Perhaps it’s my petite frame that still leads strangers to believe I’m fresh out of high school, or maybe it’s the fact that my kids have graciously allowed me some actual sleep, keeping my skin looking decent—just kidding, that’s a total myth.
My husband and I have always thought of ourselves as pretty hip, navigating parenthood with a dash of coolness. Sure, we have our fair share of adult responsibilities, but we definitely don’t fit the mold of those boring old folks, right?
Wrong.
Last week, we seized a rare opportunity for a day out without the kids. It was pure bliss—a six-hour round trip that felt like heaven. We turned off the endless loop of children’s music and indulged in whatever tunes we wanted. We munched on snacks without a single crumb being shared. And I even managed to catch a nap. Who knew road trips could be this relaxing without the little ones?
On our way back, we decided to stop for dinner at a local burger place. While my husband ordered, I claimed a cozy booth and checked in with our babysitters—aka our friends who probably regretted their decision to volunteer for the day. Just as we were about to dig in, a group of young guys settled in next to us. Tanned, muscular, and sporting tank tops that left little to the imagination, they looked like they had just come from the beach. Despite living in California, we were nowhere near the ocean, but that didn’t deter them.
As they lounged and tossed their sun-bleached hair, my husband leaned over and whispered, “Do you think they’re in college?” I squinted at them, pretending to be engrossed in the menu. “Definitely,” I replied. “College kids, for sure.”
Moments later, a gaggle of girls bounced in, clearly friends with the boys. They were giggling, high-fiving, and flaunting their barely-there outfits. It was as if they missed the memo about dressing appropriately for a casual dinner.
Their laughter was, well, loud—way too loud for my taste. I exchanged a glance with my husband, and we rolled our eyes at the scene. “That’s a bit obnoxious,” he muttered. I rubbed my temples and complained, “My head is killing me, and it’s too noisy in here. We should get home; it’s getting late.”
And then it hit me like a ton of bricks. My life isn’t like that anymore. I don’t dress like that. I don’t act like that. Did I ever? Just moments ago, we felt victorious over dinner before the sun set, while these young folks were just getting started, likely not heading to bed until we were waking up. What once felt like my recent past now seemed light-years away from my current reality.
I looked down at my outfit: a conservative cardigan and sensible flats. (We had been walking around all day, after all!) My husband was in a polo and khakis—not cargo shorts, thank goodness. We looked decidedly older, at least compared to them.
We had just come from an exhibit on the Vatican at a presidential library, and, yes, we enjoyed it! We even found a typo in the museum and felt like grammar detectives.
So, maybe it shouldn’t have taken a bunch of sprightly young adults to make me confront the fact that I’m on the path toward muumuu dresses and classic cocktails. For now, I’ll embrace my yoga pants and a nightly glass of pinot grigio like the fabulous 30-something that I am. Life is speeding ahead, and I’m just going to keep getting older, grayer, and a tad crankier. And that’s perfectly okay with me—because I’m cozy in my cardigans and definitely wouldn’t be caught dead in a flimsy tank top.
Besides, I can still navigate hashtags, so I’m not entirely lost, right? #FuddyDuddyForLife
In conclusion, while life changes and youth fades, there’s comfort in embracing the present and all its quirks. And if you’re curious about home insemination, check out this excellent resource on pregnancy and learn more about it on BabyMaker. For more on privacy policies, you can visit our blog.