What would she think of you now? And what you’ve become

[Elbowismyjam]

Your 15/16 year old former self?

" My god, what the hell happened to our 16 " waist? Good to see we eventually grew a pair of boobs, though."

She would probably say, "so, you're not a famous artist OR musician? So unfair!" She would also hate how I've not maintained a slim figure, but 15 yr old me was desperately skinny and throwing up meals, so not a very happy teen. She would hopefully be relieved that I'm happy now and have made peace with my past.

She would be horrified to discover my partner has a beard. The beard would undermine all my other life choices, whether she would have approved of them or not.

She'd wonder why I'd become such a doormat with men. But she'll find out why in a couple of years, when her/my Dad has a MLC affair and blows up her/my family.

She'd be so disappointed that I'm 'only' a wife and mother and haven't had the exciting career she expected but wasn't prepared to study for and that I haven't lived a more 'independent woman' type life. Of course she had no idea about any of the things that would lead me here and 47yo me is not disappointed at all but I freely admit I knew nothing at 16.

I'd want to be me!

My 15 year old self would be horrified.

But not surprised.

I think my lot in life was destined to be shit despite repeated attempts to escape. Always another crisis. Always another responsibility. Never freedom.

She'd have been devastated, and also not at all surprised.

She'd be surprised and pleased - and relieved, I think. I found it impossible to imagine an adult life, my adult self, when I was a teenager.

I think she would be pissed off that I'm still so hard on myself and still my own worst enemy. On a positive note, proud that I'm a strong, independent woman and a fantastic mum.

Delighted with where I live I often walked passed it with my Friday night vodka on a way to a friend's and always admired the garden. Shocked at the fact that I have a career and get paid really well for someone who was always told she was stupid and left school with only three GCSEs at grade C.

Disappointed that I settled down so quickly and stopped partying at 20 although I did start partying wayyy earlier than most people. Proud that I saw a decent junk of the world with DH before the baby came along.

She'd be amazed (and horrified) that she now weighs nearly twice as much.

I think she’d wonder why I currently feel so lost and then she’d sit and overthink and worry about it.

She’ll get to my age have a breakdown and suddenly she’ll be trying to remember a time where she wasn’t worrying about things.

@joystir59

Somewhat surprised and quite happy that she turned out to be a lesbian, that she gained so much confidence and that she eventually understood she was never to blame for being sexually abused 13-15, delighted that she grew to love her female body and get her disordered eating under control. Happy that she became kind, grounded, built a skill around her artistic talents, ended up living by the sea.

Wonderful!!

I think she'd be pleasantly surprised that I'm not dead/homeless. I was an absolute nightmare off the rails mess of a teenager.

Now I'm a boring engaged data analyst with a mortgage.

She'd be surprised I'm still alive, my younger self was an out of control "wild child" 😜

Contemptuous.

She’d be disappointed I didn’t marry Leonardo DiCaprio, shun cars to ride horses everywhere and live cut off from society on a beach.

She's be relieved I'm living the life she hoped to be living at my age. She'd tell me to lose a bit of weight and sort out my wardrobe. She'd be horrified I've never been to New York; she was desperate to go. She'd be absolutely in awe of 15yo DD as am I

Disappointed.

I'm crying at my answer to this. I feel like I give nothing in life and I have no purpose. Honestly feel I wouldn't be missed if I went. Feeling so low today. I'd want to apologise to my 15 year old self for being so pathetic and not making anything of my life.

I think she'd be amazed at the fact that I went to a good uni and have an exciting-sounding job. Aghast at how few markers of adulthood I have i.e. marriage, kids, house, dog at this great age (30s).

And pissed off beyond words that my partner is blond rather than the (compulsory) black hair/ blue or green eyes combo I was looking for.

Dearest arrowheart

You are not alone today.

Wishing us both a happier day tomorrow. 🌻

She wouldn't be in the slightest bit surprised at how my life turned out. She'd be delighted at how I've done financially though.

My 15 yo self would want answers from my adult self. I've learned alot but i'm not sure it would benefit my 15yo self.