Tell me your own version of 63 up!

[Shitsandgigglez]

I've really enjoyed watching 63 up and have found their lives fascinating and thought I'd do my own version. Please feel free to join me as would love to read them - wherever you're up to 21/28/35/42/63/70 up and beyond! I'm going to try to describe what was happening in my life and my personality and feelings at the time as much as I can.

7 up - living with my parents in South East of England at local state primary school. We lived in a small 3 bed house which I have so many fond memories of. Parents married and both teachers but mum had been part time/supply while me and my younger bro were not yet at school. She was probably just thinking about getting a more permanent job as my brother would have been 4 and nearly at school. Happy life.

14 up - now at local state secondary. Very shy and navigating teenage life in a very awkward way. Often seen as the posh girl but I wasn't - I guess I was a rarity in that my parents had been to university and had professional jobs. Struggled with a group of particularly nasty friends, one who's parents were in the process of going through a divorce and I think this may have had a big effect on her at the time but she was horrible to me and made me feel very very sad a lonely at times. I think looking back, I represented what she was losing - a solid, secure family.

We had moved house by this point and were in a slightly larger 4 bed detached.

21 up - at university in the North West studying English Literature. Having lots of fun with friends. No boyfriend. Unsure about what I wanted to do in life and probably not working as hard as a could. Bit of a coaster! But coming out of my shell socially and slightly more sure of myself (although still shy!)

28 up - living in my first house with boyfriend that I met at work just after university. Engaged and looking forward to getting married. After w couple of years of leaving uni I trained as a teacher. Enjoying house parties and a wage each month and really enjoying teaching (secondary).

35 up - now married and two kids and a house move but still in North West. Life no where near as easy with two children and permanently exhausted. At work part time and very little social life at the moment but WAY more confident and know who my people are and who is not good for me in terms of friends.

I'm now 37 so can't go any further but excited to see where I'll be at 42!! Probably pretty similar to current situation

Tumbleweed 😂

7 moved from idyllic farm life to city centre. Tiny 3 bed Terrace at local primary school
Stayed in my room a lot as sibling wouldn’t let me play with local kids
14 mum on second marriage. Sibling and I loving alone ina house Dad moved Abroad. Sibling in abusive relationship and I suffered an injury due to benignly neglectful parenting
21 married and other parent also had moved abroad
28 parent back in uk. Trying to conceive
35 4 yr old via surrogacy
42 still married. Still at job I took when child was 2
49 as above 😂

7 up living with my parents and older brother in a nice house with lovely neighbours. Attending the local primary school. At weekends we loved going to the local blockbusters and choosing a video each or going to the local country park, museums etc in town. We would go on a 3 week holiday to France every year.

14 up I was starting to discover boys and had plenty of boyfriends during my teen years. Still enjoyed things like swimming and cinema with friends though. At age 16 though this had turned into going to friends 'empties' at the weekend and getting drunk.

21 up I'd finished studying and was working full time earning quite well. Met my DH at 23. Going out a lot at the weekend having a fabulous time.

28 up we married when I had just turned 28 and had ds 11 months later. We owned our own home and have recently made a lot of improvements. Now working pt and love the balance.

Currently 31 and ttc second child.

Good idea OP :)

7 up - only child, small local primary, living with mum, dad and maternal grandparents, wanting to be a teacher. Mum is sahm with RA, dad office worker.

14 up - at independent secondary school and hating it. Feel totally like a fish out of water. Much loved nana died when I was 11, mum (always anxiety ridden) devastated. Looking advice think she was suffering from undiagnosed depression. Still want to be a teacher.

21 up - last year at university and I have absolutely loved it! Just met future DH and having a wonderful time. Set for pgce next year.

28 up - secondary teacher. Living with partner, having bought previous year. Enjoying everything pretty much. Lots of holidays and generally happy.

35 up - married with a ds, sahm and really enjoying being so. Made lots of new friends. Lost my mum and fil.

This year will be 42 up so .... dad passed away a few years back. Now have 2 DC and still sahm. Was widowed last year, but am coping. Have some truly wonderful friends.

Love reading these!

@DrEmilyCrabtree sorry for your loss

7- Living in an odd halfway house in the south east because we were homeless. Parents still together, just. My little brother lived with us too. Once drank too much Ribena and threw up purple vomit (not envy)

14- Living in a fairly decent 3-bed council house with my mum & stepdad, little brother and baby brother. I was very quiet. Didn’t really have many friends outside of school so spent a lot of time in my bedroom reading, writing and drawing.

21- At university training to be a teacher and doing well. Living in a flat with my fiancé (until he had a mental breakdown and I temporarily moved in with my grandma. I did a lot of caring for her as she was unwell). I had a lot of trauma between the ages of 16-18 but everything was good by this point, family health aside.

28- Married (Same partner as before- he thankfully recovered). Living in a lovely little 2-bed house. Quit teaching after 5 years because it was awful. Started a masters degree. Travelled lots, took better care of myself than ever before and all in all felt the best I had in my whole life. Although sadly my grandma died this year.

I’m not 35 yet, so that’s as far as I’ve got. Still very happy though!

Great idea for a thread!

7- living just me and my mum. Dad married in a very toxic relationship we whim EOW. 'family' holidays are with mum, her best friend and her son.
14- high school doing well in a terrible school. Good set of friends. Dad back living with grandparents. Family holidays the same
21- final year at uni. Met a boy in home city and became way too infatuated and coasted through exams. Mum had mental breakdown. Moved back to home city in an ok job
28- had spent a year travelling and now studying an MSc with my live in boyfriend (not the same one as 21)
35- I turn 35 this year so I'll do this one. Lived in London for 4 years after MSc, moved back to home city. Got a 2 year old and getting married this year. No contact with dad and minimum contact with grandparents due to him living with them.

7 - Living with mum and dad and my sister in Scotland. Lovely school and friends, quite a rural, outdoorsy life. Mum at home so lots of home cooked meals and cakes. Dad around a lot. Very, very happy.

14 -. Secondary school. Was OK, nice friends no major issues. Moved to a different area, bigger house. Mum back at work part time. All good at home.

21 - Married to my first love. Convinced we'd be together forever. Working in London .

28 - Divorced and not sure what the fuck to do with my life. Moved home to mum and dad to sort myself out. Found a job I loved.

35 - Engaged to my now DH and planning our wedding. We move to the SE for my job.

42 - SAHM living in a small rural village with DH and our 2 DCs. Lose both my parents within a short space of time. Absolutely grief-stricken for the next couple of years. DH and I experience some problems.

49 - We're settled. Still in the same village. DCs are happy, DH and I back on track. I retrained as a teacher and working in a school I loved.

52 now.

This series resonates with me as I am 63.
7 - very anxious child due to loving but unstable childhood

14- still very anxious and living with other family members. Stayed with them from 12-16. Physically I am very beautiful ☺️

21- married first husband at 19, on our way to divorce already.

28- I've arrived! Married amazing 2nd husband at 25 and have a lovely home and daughter.

35- Had 2nd daughter at 30. I'm very happy. Working part time.

42- girls are growing up, money is tight but we have a good life. Started a new career after years of part time jobs

49- girls at university. We are working hard. I love my job. We have a very good life. Money not so tight.

56- husband has retired. We have moved across the country and I have a great part time job. Life is good.

63- still working part time. Plenty of money for adventures and to help our girls who visit with their families a lot!
I never thought I would end up this comfortable and happy.
Sometimes there are happy ever afters (although husband does drive me mad at times!). I'm still a very attractive women and now have the confidence not to give too many fucks about the things that don't matter.