It seems my mommy status has changed.
It's no secret that I had Carissa when I was 19. In anyone's book, I was a young mom. Most of the time I like being a young mom. Now that she's a teenager, I'm one of the youngest moms, meaning I'm a cool, hip (sometimes) mom. I still dress pretty trendy, I listen to a lot of the same music that she does, I can play the Wii like no other. Sometimes I regret not living it up before I started having kids, but I think that my retirement years will be all about living it up. Spring Break 2025, here I come!
But, I also had a child when I was 31. Which isn't old, but it's "older". And I'm starting to notice. When I go to functions at Carissa's school a lot of the parents are quite a bit older than me. When I go to functions for Xander (Jocelyn isn't quite old enough for "functions") I notice I'M THE OLDER PARENT! Many of the parents at Xander's functions are just starting their families. They're young and cute and thin and full of energy. I am, almost always, the only one with a teenager AND a 3 year old (and also an 8 year old and a 2 year old)! And THAT I don't like one bit!
I don't want to be the "older" parent. I don't want to be the uncool one. The, dare I say, grandmother-like one! I vow to stay cool and trendy and YOUNG until all my kids are at least through high school! Heck, maybe I'll be in Cabo in 2025 in a thong, with all my tats and wrinkles hanging out! Woo hoo!
The good thing about being the "older" parent, though? The younger parents are so fresh they don't know any better. THEY want to volunteer for everything. Sure, I'll coach. Sure, I'll be team mom. Sure, I'll bake 30 cupcakes. They all volunteer and I can just sit back. Because I was once just like them. And now that I'm ancient, no one expects me to do any of it!
That, or else they're thinking, "That old mom doesn't volunteer for crap!"! Haha!
I'd say I am about the same age as most of the moms. We're all cool.
Cool ain't a number, baby.
;)
Posted by: Sybil Law | November 17, 2008 at 06:09 PM
I am the old, antisocial mom. He he he.
Posted by: Ingrid | November 19, 2008 at 06:13 AM
I'm am generally the youngest in the mom groups I join, and I catch flack for it. But now that I'm getting closer to 30 I'm not feeling AS young. I think it's cool that you are both the young mom and the older mom at the same time - multitasking. :)
Posted by: Jessica Moore | November 19, 2008 at 06:47 AM
Back in small town OK, one of my biggest adjustments is being one of the oldest moms of preschool/toddlers. It's kind of a bummer . . . but maybe it will pay off when the girls are older and someone had to bake the class cupcakes! ;)
Posted by: Megan@SortaCrunchy | November 19, 2008 at 02:10 PM
I am still figuring out the 'mom' role I find myself in. (step mom that is). I am the same age as most of her friends mom, thankfully
Posted by: mielikki | November 19, 2008 at 04:29 PM
Ancient...haha! Those are some funny observations. I never thought of it that way!
Posted by: Mary Ann | November 19, 2008 at 07:31 PM
I can totally relate. Even though we were 24/25 when we had Kaitlin we were the youngest in our prenatal group. We were the young, fresh parents when kindergarten started. Having had Skylar at age 35, I'm noticing a huge difference. I'm the "older" parent. I'm not part of the "group" or clique anymore, not invited into conversations,etc. I guess I'll have to deal with it and make the best of it as long as it doesn't affect Skylar's social life. :) At least I try to be hip and fresh and don't dress too dowdy.
Posted by: Helen | November 20, 2008 at 08:32 AM
Crap I should have said I was 38 when I had Sky. Yikes, the age thing is really creeping up on me now. :(
Posted by: Helen | November 20, 2008 at 08:33 AM