I have a friend at work who is a few months older than me. He is a total party animal still, single and living it up. I joke with him all the time about how he is older than me and he needs to start acting his age. He knows deep down that he needs to be a more responsible adult, but apparently he's having too much fun, which I can totally understand. He jokes back with me and says that since I have kids I'm automatically older than him. Is this true? Does having kids make you older? Or, does it make you feel young again because you get to see the world through your children's eyes. I guess it's a little bit of both. You're forced to grow up and change your priorities, but at the same time, you get to have fun, be silly and enjoy your children (or feel like pulling your hair out, it depends on the day!).
As we were having this discussion, another co-worker chimed in and asked why he needed to act his age. She stated that she doesn't act her age either. So, I guess the question is--when is it really time to stop trying to act younger than you are and act your age? Is there a cutoff? Does it all depend on where you're at in life? Does it contribute to where you're at in life? I'm not saying that we should stop living life because we're getting older, but are people in denial as they get older and try to act like they are 10 years younger? And why not enjoy each stage we go through in life whether it be age 21 or age 50, just to embrace it?
The other funny thing is that I have two younger girls that work for me (26 and 24, so not that much younger) and they didn't know me before I got married and had kids. I think they definitely think of me as the "mom" or "grown-up." I always laugh because I wonder what they would think of me if they knew me before I "settled down." Perception is such an interesting thing as we come across new people who didn't know us in our previous life!
You've landed on a really deep concept... speaking from a completely different end of the spectrum age-wise, I think you hit the idea that having kids makes you feel BOTH younger and older is right on...and it's definitely the better adjusted approach. If you're a parent and continue to act totally like a kid - not good. Being a parent means a ton of responsibility and finding the ability to make hard decisions. On the other hand, if having kids means you're no fun ever again - that's not good, either. Sounds to me like you've adjusted to the life-changing experience of parenthood perfectly, Jen :)
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