40 And Dating
to Being 40…….
Fortylicious.ca
Now, where do I start? Maybe from the beginning. I LOVED the single life –going out and partying with not a care in the world and no one to report to. Then hubby came along and things changed.
I actually enjoyed going out with him, sharing my good times and bad times with him and knowing I had someone to come home to – my new best friend. Now let’s fast forward to KIDS. Was I ready for kids – NO! I wanted to continue my travels and go out without having crying children I knew I had to come home to.
Things must’ve changed when I turned 32 because then I REALLY wanted a child! Had the one and then thought “THIS IS WHAT I’VE BEEN MISSING?!” so, I went ahead and had another one. I felt great and a new sort of happy that came with these little people in our household. Feelings I couldn’t even express.
Fast forward again – it was when I turned 40 that a self realization struck – I still thought I looked good, and I was definitely feeling better now that the kids FINALLY slept through the night, so it was time to get out there and have some fun!
This feeling was further justified when I would go to the school yard and heard fathers and mothers a like saying how they wanted to run a marathon now that they had the time to train, or go away “without” the kids for a weekend. They were talking about movies they wanted to see, restaurants they wanted to go to and various projects they wanted to start now that their kids were more independent. So “DO IT” I thought to myself. Well, I took that thought one step further.
If they were just going to “talk” about it, I was actually going to do it and maybe motivate some people along the way. Don’t get me wrong – I am not saying my kids don’t need my attention anymore, (which I’m kind of happy about), but they need less of it and my husband is more comfortable being left alone with them.
I thought turning 40 could go two ways: 1. I could be upset that I was now aging and not having kids anymore, in fact, moving on to the “second half” of my life per se OR 2. I could embrace it and celebrate it. Turning 40 is a great time in your life – one is still healthy and able to do a lot of physical activities. It’s a great time to take up a hobby or make a change in your career, as you are still young and have the time to do so. I am so happy I went with option number 2, because now I look at being 40 in a whole new light.
I make a point of working out 4 times a week – I even tried running, however that didn’t really pan out. My husband and I have done a couple of weekend trips including Vegas when I turned 40 – LOVED THAT ONE! Speaking of which, it’s time to get “romantic” again with the hubby and maybe throw in a “date night” here and there. My parents take the kids every Monday night, which gives us time to ourselves – usually that involves a little “wachickawawa” in the bedroom, followed by a nice walk and then either dinner at home or in the hood. It really has brought us back together as a couple instead of just a “mom and dad”.
I am also thankful for a great group of girlfriends that I can get together with and have fun, whether it be going to a movie, shopping, to a restaurant or bar – even had a couple of “girls” weekends which were quite memorable indeed. But that’s another story!
I find when I am happy everyone else is happy too. So, the moral of this blog is not to dread turning 40 and if you’re there already – embrace it because it is a special time in your life that won’t be coming around again!!
For further inspiration and your opportunity to meet some wonderful people who have chosen option 2 – please join us at www.fortylicious.ca
Now go get your 40’s on!!
Heather
http://www.fortylicious.ca/blog/
