Tell me something that you wish that you'd experienced but haven't...

[Boobahs]

Thinking about things that we’d hope to happen next year, but is there anything in life that you wish that you’d experienced but haven’t so far?

For me, I’ve never lived alone. I went from living with my parents, to living with a partner, then back to my parents when we split, then moved in with my DP and we now have 2 young children.

I've never experienced just having the physical space and time to do whatever I please, whenever I want to. I'm sure that lots of this has been romanticised in my head when I see programmes/films when people live in apartments on their own and obviously there's a flip side to it with loneliness, money worries, etc... so I know it's not all positive. I would never regret my life now, I just sometimes wonder if I missed out on a huge part of life that other people have experienced.

So tell me, is there anything that you wish you'd experienced but haven't?

A big traditional church wedding with all the trimmings, including a huge reception.

Living in London.
Living in New York.
A great childhood with parents who weren’t a bit messed up to give me a great start in life/confidence.
A threesome.

A wedding.
A vaginal birth.
An 'easy' baby that didn't have severe reflux.
Living abroad/travelling

Having more than one child. I've conceived once in 13 years and it ended in.a loss. I really wanted my DS to have a sibling I'm an only child and feel like I missed out.

I wish I could live abroad for a bit. I had opportunities but didnt take them and now I have kids at school I dont think it's fair to uproot them on a whim. Not saying never though, maybe just in 10-15 years at the end of my career. There are plenty of things I haven't done but want to. Working in a blacksmiths forge is one. Riding a motorbike is another. Unfortunately I am a bit too sensible but am looking forward to a wild retirement!

Having enough money in the bank to not have to check it constantly before making a purchase and budgeting for EVERYTHING.

Living alone.

Working at either Walt Disney World or Disneyland Paris.

I’d have loved to have gone off travelling for a year after A levels then gone to university but circumstances meant it wasn’t possible.

But I’ve been bloody lucky in a lot of other areas of life, so swings and roundabouts.

True romantic love.

Just once would do it. Just so I know what it feels like.

Living outside London - have been here all my 66 years, and would just like to experience a different environment. We had a great plan to try it out this year, and then a serious health issue put paid to it. Oh Woodbridge!

Loving parents. It feels like such an alien concept to me. I was at best ignored and at worst abused. Added to that we lived in poverty so I never had enough to eat or toys to play with, got bullied at school for my shabby clothes etc. Even on the odd occasions I did make a friend, was never allowed anyone round or to go to their place. I can’t give you one happy memory from my childhood.

I think that’s why a year of Covid has been a walk in the park for me. Try having 16 years where you had literally nothing to live for, and many times actively wanted to die. Years that are meant to be the best of your life. I’m also used to be alone.

The lack of any “safety net” as an adult has also been very difficult at times. It’s only now I’m 50 I can think “well at least I’ll never have to be a carer for my parents” (having seen how hard that can be for others). My dad died a while back (I didn’t shed a tear) and if my mum needs care, tough luck. I won’t be lifting a finger.

I've always wanted to get married. Not necessarily a big wedding. But I wanted the dress and a husband that loved me.

I never had a relationship with another woman. I assumed I was straight. Now I wonder but it's too late.

There's so much...

I wish I had ignored my father's advice and instead carried on with my education. I didn't really have any idea of what I wanted to do with my life and just coasted around, college would've given me more choices.

Looking back, I had an opportunity to get onto the property ladder when I was in my early 20's and I passed on it. I could've amassed a large property portfolio by now 😆

On a really personal level, I wished I'd come home for Christmas 1999 and spent it with my mum and stepfather. He passed away suddenly in Y2K and that's always been a regret.

An unborn baby's kick.

I wish I’d given living abroad more of a go, but then I might not have met my amazing DH, so can’t really complain.

I wish I’d had normal, non drinking parents. Very bizarre childhood, I’d say. Now mother can’t understand why me and my sibling rarely see her. Where’s the roll my eyes emoji??

@Cooroo

I never had a relationship with another woman. I assumed I was straight. Now I wonder but it's too late.

My grandmother lived in sheltered accommodation.

One of her friends there had been happily married for 55 years. The year after her husband died she fell in love with one of the female volunteers who used to come in and do musical sets once a week. She was 20 years younger.

My nans friend was 80. It's never too late.

(It was the talk of the place though )

Lived abroad for at least a couple of years. I was offered a job abroad when I was 22 but my mum put me off by telling how difficult it would be.
I’m retired now so it’s not going to happen. Although does anyone know if you can do volunteering as an oldie?

Having confidence. My mum always said she wished she'd given us kids confidence, but she was pretty risk averse in a lot of ways and if I mentioned something I wanted to do that was a bit out of the ordinary, she would talk me out of it. I still went ahead and did quite a few things but there were some fairly major life changes (living abroad for a few years, retraining in a particular area) that she shot down and so I didn't do them. A shame.

I would also like a relationship where I knew I could rely on my partner. My last LTR was abusive and although I was always there for him, the one time I needed his help, he flat out refused with a really pathetic reason. I haven't asked anyone for help since, unless it's paying a tradesperson. I don't even like to ask friends to help me, I just struggle on my own. It's daft, because I am 99% sure that they would say yes of course! if I asked, but my ex really did a number on me there.

I've had fulfilling jobs but the kind that aren't well paid and as a result I haven't been able to do them long. I'd like to have had a career or a well paid job.

Contractions, and I've had two children! Just really interested in what they feel like and I'll never know now.

Having children! Although I can recommend living on one’s own and / or in a different country.

A full sibling close in age to me who I had a good relationship with (I only have half-siblings who are much older/ younger).

My wedding, which was cancelled by Covid! Hopefully next year...!

A really lovely relationship where I know someone has got my back

I would love this too.

Travel. I really wish I'd visited more countries and experienced other cultures.

I've never met my solemate. XH and l split a couple of year's ago but we'd been unhappy for years. I had been in love previously but obviously split up with those boyfriends for various reasons. I can't imagine someone falling deeply in love with me and me with them