What would your younger self make of you now?

[VladmirsPoutine]

I came across a similar thread on Twitter and thought it would be interesting on MN.

What would your younger self think of you today. Let's say your late teenage years / early 20s girl make of what your life looks like now?

My teenage self would be very impressed - I did most of the things I had considered. I am probably a lot more boring than I would have anticipated but in terms of career I did end up working in my dream job and travelling to the countries I wanted to live in. I also randomly got into Oxford which my sisters had a bet on. I don't have kids or a husband which I thought I would but whatever.

I don't know. Like on paper I have a good life, I've been to uni, got 2 degrees, spent a few years backpacking the world, lived and worked in another country. So I think if the younger me was told ''you're going to travel to so many countries, get 2 degrees" then I'd be happy. But as a kid/teenager you sometimes gave this rose tinted unrealistic view of things. I think I'd be disappointed that I'm not currently a multimillionaire living in like New York or Beverley Hills or something!

She wouldn’t recognise me at all. Literally I am a different person.

From 16-20, I was a soldier in the army. Travelling all over the place, getting very drunk, doing some pretty questionable shit with my friends/colleagues.

I’m now a 25 year old, married mum of 3, who’s morphed into a bit of a hippie

I think she'd be proud.

She'd be horrified at how fat I am but gobsmacked at my house

Depends when.
My pre 20 self would be horrified about how little I've achieved.
My post 20 and six months self would be amazed that I managed to stay alive, astounded that I graduated with a good degree, went travelling, worked for the Civil Service, got married and had kids.

She'd be disgusted at how I've let myself go and how dh has now seen me without make up. She'd feel sorry for me because I can't afford to buy new clothes and shoes every week!

She would be annoyed and ashamed that I had let people I love and loved treat me so badly.
But she would be proud that I'm still standing!

I think she’d be disappointed that I still haven’t got a horse and pretty horrified that I don’t even ride any more! But pleased with where I live and that I have a dog. And amazed but proud that I’ve become a runner.

Probably also pretty shocked that I have a child... she was dead set against any of that nonsense

My teenage self would be horrified at how standard my life has turned out to be - married, kids, living in a small town, mid level job although secretly impressed at my wild uni years but my early twenties self would be relieved that my life has ended up so settled and with the broad things I want in it and the man I met during those wild years a permanent fixture

I think she’d feel sad that all the dreams she had didn’t become a reality. I’m a mum to three kids. Two of the kids have special needs and life is hugely restrictive because of it.

Mine would be so lost for words, so disappointed and so upset. Adult me is so upset!

She'd be gutted.

‘Whoa fatty!’ She would say ‘what happened? I thought we would always be naturally rake thin? What did you do?’
And ‘hey, I thought we were going to live abroad, somewhere by the sea!’ Also ‘someone wanted to marry you? Did you pay him?’

She’d be impressed with my assets, so to speak, but saddened by my family. She’s find me extremely boring too I imagine!

Mine would think ‘cmon! You can do better than this. Sort out your weight, career and house!’
I’ve just got a bit lazy

She'd think I was rich and be really surprised and impressed that my partner was a woman. She'd be a bit shocked at our age gap. She'd love the fact we have DC.

She'd be sad the anxiety she feels now is still there 20 years later and that her mum is lost to Alzheimer's.

Overall she'd be glad I'd made it this far without the drugs and partying she's doing affecting me too badly.

She would be pleased by my lifestyle, job in an office I always wanted, married to a cool man and twin boys. I also have a house full of cats but no dog. She wouldn't understand why I'm so unhappy and full of anxiety, I used to be so confident and forceful and I've lost that part of myself. She would probably tell me to get my stuff together and cheer up, it was a hard slog to get here and I should be proud.

She'd scoff that I could no longer drink a yard of ale, do the splits, or walk a tightrope

I think she’d be quite proud. I don’t think she’d be happy of some of the decisions I made but she’d be proud of how I dealt with them

She’d be amazed I managed to get my shit together and looking forward to her 30s

Annoyed at how fat i got 😂
But pretty bloody impressed with my general life/lifestyle (job, house, holidays, handbag collection!!! )
It still surprises me sometimes...
I think if i could have had a glimpse into the future, current day (ie mid 30s) is def where I would want to see so i knew it turned out great in the end.
(My 20s were frankly fucking a bit ropey)

She'd be horrified I'm fat. And she probably would not be able to see beyond that to see that I've traveled the world, have escaped my tiny village to live in a major world capital, in a niche 6 figure salary position, as the breadwinner for a lovely, healthy family that I had when I was good and ready, and the first person in my family to earn a Master's Degree....yeah, she'd see fat.

My teen self would be disappointed that I'm not richer and living in a warm climate with bilingual children.

My early 20s self knew the first time she met my DH that she would marry him so she'd be pretty impressed that came true!

Both would be in disbelief that I've become a SAHM, they had a glittering career planned

She'd think complete loser.

Oh and she'd wonder how I'm skinnier than her!