What is your biggest regret?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Getting fat

This too. I lost 20 pounds, then gained it all back plus 10 more. UGH.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish I had found a career I loved.

+1

This is probably mine, too, though I'm not really sure what that would be, even now, so perhaps that is why I've never found it?

I often regret moving to DC because I just did it on a whim after law school because I knew people here and it seemed like it would be fun for a few years. DH came with me and it was all my idea. He now has a very DC-specific career and we'd both love to move closer to our families (both in the South) but there are no jobs for him (and harder for me to get a job). In retrospect, i wouldn't advise moving anywhere random just for a few years if you don't think you really want to stay there.

In reality, though, my first thought for an answer to this question was that I don't have any major regrets.

[Anonymous]

I regret some financial decisions. I find it so hard to be cheap with things for the kids - like camps, daycares, vacations and snacks. Our overall financial picture is good, but not flawless. We have a ton of equity in the house, but have credit card debt (and we can't get money out of the house without selling it). I guess I wish I'd stayed more on top of financial stuff.

I regret the choice of OBGYN who delivered my oldest. I feel like something about that emergency C caused scarring and secondary infertility. But I love my younger IVF kiddos, so I guess that's all good.

[Anonymous]

Oh, where to begin ...

Not saying good bye to a nanny who took care of me in some tough times.

Not doing better in high school - I could have applied myself more and had more self confidence. Would have given me more options for college.

Not signing up for the Peace Corps or other volunteer corps after college. I think it would have changed the course of my career.

Wasting valuable years in a dead end job before finally recognizing I needed to get a grad degree and move into another field. I'm 40 and most of my peers are in their 30's.

Not buying that one bedroom condo on 16th Street (just below U street) in 1998 for $60K. Yes, $60K.

Marrying DH. I love him. He is a good man and a great father. But he doesn't get me and I suspect he proposed to me because he felt he had to, not because he actually wanted to marry me (didn't realize that at the time, but have come to think that). We make it work, but I think we both know in our hearts that we probably would have been happier with someone else.

Ah, that felt good. Happy Friday.

[Anonymous]

I like that too - personally I'll be in my late fifties by the time my kids go to college and I plan to go do some more footloose traveling

Me too! My DH and I were 22 when we had our first child. We have three in college and two quickly following. We are almost empty nesters. We are already experiencing more freedom and it is amazing! We will be about 52 when our youngest graduates from college. My DH will retire at 55. I am only working part-time. We are going to travel, sail, and play!!! I don't feel old at all!

[Anonymous]

Drinking in high school and college. Waste of time and you do stupid things. Unhealthy habits.
Dating guys that were not so nice in my 20's.
My career choice. Should have changed my major in college but I was afraid.
Letting toxic relatives/in laws(alcoholics) effect my life.
Moving away from family I loved and then they died and I will never have that time back. Long distance relationships with family are not the same.
Worrying too much about the past and future and not paying attention to the now.
Not realizing how quickly your kids grow up. Time speeds up once you have children.
Many regrets!

[Anonymous]

I regret being a total pothead and cigarette smoker from 15 to 21. Wish I would have not been so hard on myself as an adolescent that I needed to escape.

I regret not treating my significant others during this period better. I was so wrapped up in the drugs and my misery that I couldn't handle a real relationship.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is your biggest regret in life? Would you change it if you could have a do-over?

buying a house before selling the other one first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I like that too - personally I'll be in my late fifties by the time my kids go to college and I plan to go do some more footloose traveling

Me too! My DH and I were 22 when we had our first child. We have three in college and two quickly following. We are almost empty nesters. We are already experiencing more freedom and it is amazing! We will be about 52 when our youngest graduates from college. My DH will retire at 55. I am only working part-time. We are going to travel, sail, and play!!! I don't feel old at all!

wow. My DH is 51 and our youngest is 12

[Anonymous]

Abortion in my lower 20s with a crappy ex boyfriend. Now I am married to an older man and we are having fertility/miscarriage issues. I fear we will never have kids and if he dies before me I will be alone for the rest of my life. I honest to God think that pregnancy was my only shot at being a mom and God is punishing me for it.

[Anonymous]

Dull career choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dull career choice.

What is it?

[Anonymous]

Definitely a few trolls with agendas posting now...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Definitely a few trolls with agendas posting now...

Which ones?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have regrets I guess, but I can see with each one that if I had made a different choice, something else awesome in my life wouldn't have happened. So it's hard to regret...you can't just pick and choose different paths, once you go down one path it shifts everything else.

Good post. Agree.