So you’re a mom in her 30s. Good for you. Maybe you wanted to establish your career, maybe you recently got married, maybe you feel that it’s nobody’s damn business why you became a mom in your 30s. No matter what the case, there are certain pains (like those aches that weren’t there a few years ago) that you experience and your younger mommy friends cannot understand.
Your preference to watching Headline News opposed to The Bachelor is just a small matter compared to these 7 struggles that moms in their 30s only know about:
1. Your skinny jeans were thrown out years ago
Skinny jeans: be real. Those were whipped out long before you can remember. You accept your vivacious curves and make a constant effort to jam all that stuff into the new jeans you have now. No longer are there pants a size too small hanging in the closet waiting for the day when you will wear them again. In fact, you have traded most of your jeans in for yoga pants anyway.
2. A “crazy” weekend night consists of drinking two glasses of wine and then feeling it the next day
Unlike when you were in your 20s, you rarely go out for a night on the town. And when you do, you consider it to be a “crazy” evening when you and your husband go to the Olive Garden at 7, and you drink not one, but two whole glasses of wine, and then you find yourself getting giggly. Fast forward to the next morning when you are immediately rummaging for the Tylenol.
3. You go to bed by 9 PM every night, including the weekends
Even after a “crazy” weekend night, you still make sure you are in bed by 9. You need your beauty sleep, and you know your little nugget will be waking you up at 5.
4. You received the medical diagnosis–“Advanced Maternal Age”
If you are 35 or older and get pregnant, you receive the diagnosis: Advanced Maternal Age.
When I first saw this in my doctor’s notes, I chuckled. Why don’t they just slap on a name tag that says “old mom”? Advanced maternal age sounds, so, ugh!
5. Chasing a toddler takes place of your morning run
You used to go to the gym regularly. Now, you make an effort to go once a month. Instead, you chase your toddler from 5 AM until after the sun goes down. The way you see it, this is more than equivalent to 30 minutes on a treadmill.
6. Your only hairstyle is a bun
When you were in your 20s, the “Rachael” hairstyle was in. You used to rock this. You also used to ask your stylist for angles, highlights, and more. Now, you tell her that you need to be able to put it up…in a bun. After all, you wear this mom dew with style.
7. Your young mom friends ask you for advice about 401Ks
Although you are not even technically halfway to retirement, your younger friends see you as the Yoda of personal finances, especially anything relating to the retirement spectrum. They ask you about the differences between a Roth and traditional IRA and all that fun stuff. Oh, and they also get very needy during tax season.
But you take this as a compliment because you—mom in your 30s—are patient and wise. And you wear those yoga pants and bun like a rock star while chasing a toddler and offering financial advice.
And like wine, you tend to get better with age.
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About the Author: Amanda Clark resides with her family in Ocala, Florida. In addition to contributing works for Peace Quarters, she also creates educational content for Atlas Mission. She is recently transitioning from a full-time middle school English teacher to a stay-at-home mom, tutor, transcriber, and writer. She has written four books of poetry: Looking at the Moon, Beautifully Mixed-Up World, Flying Fall, and Through the Blinds. She loves technology, juggling pins, and playing with her two-year-old son who will become a big brother in February. She also is a pro at multitasking.
