Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Getting old sucks...

I've decided that I am too old to have children....too old to rear children. Unfortunately, it may be a little late for this revelation. Young people should be having and raising children and letting us old people live out our golden years carefree. Yes, I said "golden years." I realize that I am not THAT old, but 37 ain't exactly young. Today, I am feeling every single minute of those 37 years. I had two children in my bed last night....both hacking their heads off and crying every time they coughed. All night long. A young parent would be able to stay up all night with a sick child and wake up happy and refreshed in the morning. I remember pulling many an all-nighter in college...a diet pepsi in the morning and I was rearing to go. Today, I am chugging coffee like I haven't had a drink in a week, trying desperately to fake some semblance of consciousness. It's not working very well.

My mother had me when she was 18 years old. She went on to have three more kids after me and was done by 25. We were all out of the house and on our own by the time my mom was 43 years old. She was still young and vital...and free! I am afraid that I will be well past my prime by the time my kids are all grown up.

Of course, I would not trade my children for anything in the world. They are the light of my life and the joy in my heart. They make me happier than I have ever been in my life. However, they are exhausting. I just wish I had the stamina I had as a younger woman. I wish my back didn't hurt every time I rolled out of bed in the morning. I wish I could function on less than 8 hours of sleep. I wish I could sit on the couch to watch cartoons with them without falling asleep. I wish I could play tag with them without worrying about whether I will be able to walk the next day....bad knees. I wish that I could giggle uncontrollably with them without peeing on myself (let me tell you...childbirth totally ruins your body). I wish I didn't break out in a sweat at the mere act of getting my kids dressed to go outside in the snow. Yes, snowsuits, boots, coats, hats, gloves...it's a workout! I wish that I could get them in and out of the minivan (I drive a minivan, for God's sake!) without huffing and puffing by the time I am done. Wow....am I out of shape or what?!

Getting old sucks.

3 comments:

-me, Ebeth said...

Great post Shannon. I know exactly what you are saying. I look around at woman that I know having babies at 40 and older and think what on earth are they doing? Don't they KNOW what I KNOW??? Being a mom is hard and exhausting. And that being said... I am so glad that these women have not missed their chance to be moms.

Jen said...

Another Great Post Girl... I'm cracking up down here in Kentucky, lol. I started having my kids at the young age of 18 and was done by 23... I say I would love to have a baby now (34) but in all reality I think I would go crazy. I dont even like chasing my sisters lil kids now that mine are all teenagers.

Anonymous said...

AMEN SISTER!

Happy Mama

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