I’d settle for 30. But I get it.

(shrug) I'm 55 and I'm having fun. It's a different kind of fun, and to be honest, probably a better kind of fun.

I don't miss being young. My early 20s were unremarkable. Academic grind, working hard, I don't recall it being amazingly special or fun. I'm 40 and I have more money and do more things now than I did when I was 25. I do also have more responsibilities and perhaps that is what you might be feeling?

As long as I am healthy and fit I will never have reasons to envy the young 20-somethings. And, frankly, I'm healthier than many 20 somethings I see.

Anonymous wrote:Seriously!!! Though I got married and had kids late - BEST DECISION EVER! So my twenties and lower thirties were awesome. Teens were fun but really was happiest when I was single and working. I do try to build the fun back in...vacations with friends, going out with friends, still seeing concerts/dancing ..my kids are are getting older now so I feel like I have more fun in my fifties then I sure did in my 40s! Hang in there.

Yes. I met my husband at 26, got married at 28, but we waited to have our kids until 34. We had a lot of time being carefree and lots of disposable $$$. We traveled and lived abroad and partied. By my mid-30s I was ready to cool it for a bit.

My mom and dad had a great time as empty nesters. They traveled so much and were always hosting dinner parties and going out to fabulous restaurants. My mom talks about her 50s/60s as some of her happiest times---without responsibility of care-giving anymore. I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel with my kids heading to HS next year. My kids are so independent now that the 'burden' of care-giving has lessened. They can get up, eat, dressed, do schoolwork, out the door, without me having to say anything. If I could just have me weekends/weeknights back from kid sports I would be lovin' it. I will be eligible to retire when they start college. Let the parties begin!

My early 20's sucked and I wouldn't want to re-live them.

Anonymous wrote:Ugh YES. I'm not even sure that I miss my skinny young dumb body so much as I miss the feeling of freedom and independence; of most of my biggest life decisions and events yet to play out (marriage, kids, career). Time moves much faster now and the days have so much predictability. I have a better idea of what we'll be doing in 5 or 10 years. There's so much more comfort, stability, and love in my life than there ever was when I was young and I wouldn't trade that for anything. But I long for those days of driving around with a car full of friends, windows down, music blaring, no idea where the night or your life is going to take you!

So this!! The feeling of freedom and just being with friends and having barely no responsibilities! What I miss even more though was around age 27-32 when I started making good money and could just pick up and travel anywhere I wanted to... I got married after that and those days ended. I love my husband and my kids mean more to me than anything in the world but there's just something about being single and not being tied to anyone! Again- it's that feeling of freedom that I miss so much!

Whenever I feel like this I try to remember that in another 10 or 15 years I will probably miss certain things about this current stage of my life as well!

I had a blast in my 20s, that's for sure. I had great friends, had fun dating, met my DH, we had over 8 years together before we had our first kid. So many fun trips, and dinner and happy hours that went one or two drinks too long.

But I don't really think it's productive to pine for another time. I do want to make sure I am healthy enough to enjoy life as my kids get more independent that's for sure.

Ugh YES. I'm not even sure that I miss my skinny young dumb body so much as I miss the feeling of freedom and independence; of most of my biggest life decisions and events yet to play out (marriage, kids, career). Time moves much faster now and the days have so much predictability. I have a better idea of what we'll be doing in 5 or 10 years. There's so much more comfort, stability, and love in my life than there ever was when I was young and I wouldn't trade that for anything. But I long for those days of driving around with a car full of friends, windows down, music blaring, no idea where the night or your life is going to take you!

Anonymous wrote:Youth is wasted on the young!

+1

Same here OP. No clue what to do about it, but you're not alone.

Seriously!!! Though I got married and had kids late - BEST DECISION EVER! So my twenties and lower thirties were awesome. Teens were fun but really was happiest when I was single and working. I do try to build the fun back in...vacations with friends, going out with friends, still seeing concerts/dancing ..my kids are are getting older now so I feel like I have more fun in my fifties then I sure did in my 40s! Hang in there.

Youth is wasted on the young!

Yes, it's a good time, and I think most people, me included, don't fully appreciate it while it's happening.

I agree with you some days. I'd like to know what I know now and still have that fun. Though, my idea of fun was plotting world peace or stuff like that. I'm no Greta, but I can't wait to see what she thinks in 20 years.

47 years old and I have to admit, I miss my youth. And by youth I mean those glorious years between 18-25 when everything is so much fun. My life now is fine, I have a great husband, kids, job that I'm satisfied with, hobbies. But nothing beats the absolute effortless, goofy, silly FUN you have in your late teens/early 20's . It's so sad that such a magical stage passes so early in life. Sorry for being a Debbie Downer, not really looking for any advice just need to get it off my chest.