<p>Ohgod, YES!!! But I don’t know what I’m gonna do next! See, we already have four dogs, three cats, two guinea pigs, and assorted fish! :eek: Not to mention the <em>real</em> animals…the five left at home! </p>
<p>It was funny, I got one of my cats when my hubster, fearing that I’d be lonely when my youngest went to school full day (and knowing that our one cat was not overly cuddly as he had found US after being abused), adopted one from the humane society. You’d have to know how NOT fond of cats he is to realize the thoughtful sacrifice he made there! <em>lol</em></p>
<p>Dadguy, I was thinking exactly that! If my mirror doesn’t lie to me, most of the actresses younger than me look older even wearing tons of make up.:D</p>
<p>To those who are concerned that their 50-year old bodies aren’t what they were at 30, I’ll swap my current body for my 50-year old one - or probably yours - any time!!**</p>
<p>** exceptions made for any bodies not in reaonable health</p>
<p>I swear that for years, I’d suddenly startle and reach around expecting to grasp a small hand in mine, only to find no one there. It took me literally a YEAR to shake the “something is missing” feeling that always unnerved me.</p>
<p>I still sometimes thrust my hip up and sway side to side when waiting in a long line, to calm a phantom baby.</p>
<p>Though there is a part of ANY of us that would like to have back our youthfulness, I find that I am not that unhappy with my body.</p>
<p>Maybe it’s 'cause it’s been been formed and molded by the carrying and nurturing of my most precious “possessions.”</p>
<p>Maybe it’s 'cause through it all, I have still retained the feelings and passions of my youth, so I just don’t SEE it as being “old.”</p>
<p>Or maybe it’s 'cause I have a husband who tells me DAILY that he likes my body more now than at any time in the past! (And yes, he has appreciated it thoughout all of its various permutations, particularly pregnancy!) :)</p>
<p>Some days, though, I’d sure like to wear some of the things I could in days gone by! ;)</p>
<p>Ahh, the perks of being a teenage mom arrive at last! I’ll only be 37 when D graduates from high school, and if she finishes in 4 years, I’ll only be 41 when she graduates from college. By then, my younger one will be heading into high school, so I’ll be 45 when she graduates from HS, and optimistically, I’ll only be 49 when both my kids are done with college.</p>
<p>Of course, when I was a 19 year old mom, I never would have used the phrase “only 49”.</p>
<p>My mother met Robert Redford last year and had her picture taken with him. They look about the same age. (She was 71 to his 64). </p>
<p>I’m cautiously optimistic about this next phase which starts Jan 20th when S2 leaves for Gap–only because I had a heck of a time between 18 and 28. </p>
<p>Irish, you remind me of my MIL. She married at 17 and had 4 kids by the time she was 25. Her biggest wish was to be a 50 year old granny. She was 49.</p>
<p>Well, Irishmom, you got the jump on me at the start, but I will also be 49, for exactly a month, when my youngest finishes college. I figure I kind’ve missed my 20s, but my 50s will be all mine! (oh, and any grandkids that come along, but not too soon!!!)</p>
<p>I only have two kids- but I had them 8 years apart-
Which was nice, but frankly-* D2 was so challenging that I felt like I missed at least 5 years of each of their growing up- since I was like the walking dead*
I don’t know how D2 is 16, let alone D1 24? </p>
<p>I don’t really expect grandkids from either of them- so if they do it will be happy surprise- they have a long time yet- before they are in that place anyway thank goodness.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, my H thinks he is old at 52, and is ready just to sit in a rocking chair and watch football for the rest of his life.
But our neighbor is still going places in her 90s- and I am using her as a role model!</p>
<p>My youngest sister is pregnant with her third child, due in January. I can’t wait to get my hands on him…oh just to smell that baby flesh again. I would sell my soul too, except I believe I must have sold it already to have the two I have.</p>
<p>I started early (wasn’t really thinking clearly at the time) and should be 50 when the youngest graduates from college. With any luck, he is leaving in August for school. S and H have taught snowboarding at a NH resort for several years. This year, they talked me into teaching skiing. I surprised them and myself by offering to teach a seasonal program for three and four year olds. Looking forward to being out with the little kids. I have several friends my age with kids not much older. Got to be the “little hands” thing. Practicing for grandchildren.</p>
<p>garland and irishmom, I think I <em>win</em> as I will be 48 when my youngest graduates from college :o</p>
<p>BTW, I already have stepgrandchildren but they are really like “real” grandkids as my stepson lived with us since he was 2 years old (his ‘real’ mom gave up custody when he was 5 months old ). So in that sense I was a grandma at 37 :eek:</p>
<p>I was 47 when we dropped our son off for freshman year. Met the kids on the hall, chilling in the dorm room, etc. Didn’t give it a second thought. Later, we attended the presentation for parents… and sitting in an auditorium with others of the bald and greying persuasion, amid long gathered skirts and notable dorkiness and extra pounds, it came to me: OMG! THESE are my people! This is “where” I am and what I look like!</p>
<p>I will be 45 when youngest graduates from h.s. in 2008 so that puts me at 49 if he manages to graduate from college 4 years later. That’s a big if, lol.
I know lots of people who are older than I and have younger kids. Most of these people assume I am their age or older because of the age of my kids. I’m sure it couldn’t be the silver streaks in my hair!<br>
Everyone has unique situations but I am glad to have started and hopefully finish child rearing while I am still somewhat (and I use this term loosely) young.</p>
<p>Ahh, all this talk of the smell “baby flesh” takes me way back…and I still turn around in stores when little ones cry “Mom”, after all it has been my only name for the last 18 years! I had my two late in life, and will be absolutely ancient when they graduate from college …I picture myself blue haired with a walker, and jet rocket strapped to my back… :eek:</p>
See, we already have four dogs, three cats, two guinea pigs, and assorted fish! :eek: Not to mention the <em>real</em> animals…the five left at home! 
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