Get to an age where you think "Well the best has past?"

[Sooooootired01]

Or is it just me?!!
I'm 43 so my "best years" well and truly behind me!

I know, but can you change schools, take on a new challenge. Change the way you teach?

To be honest I think that's a ridiculous notion at your age.
Wait until you get to your early 70s and then maybe it will be valid. I would give a lot to be 40 something again.

🙌🏼

I'm 47 this year. I accept that some things are behind me, including youthful good looks, and falling in love (sticking with my husband!). However there is so much to look forward to, my children growing older and becoming interesting adults, a career I enjoy, and if I'm lucky enough to get there, a nice retirement. I'm also enjoying being more certain of who I am and what I like which seems to have come with age. Op you may have another 43 years left, so try to enjoy them!

@neilyoungismyhero What did you enjoy about being in your 40s?

@tunainatin Another 43 years quite frankly fills me with dread! I don't even own my own house so unlikely to have a decent retirement!

I guess stages of Motherhood are very overlapping and stretched for you as such a big age gap between your children. Out of interest what did you want to retrain in ?

I'm a few years older than you OP and don't feel like that. I suppose I used to look better and was thinner but looking good and being thin is no guarantee of a good time. I have more money now, a DH and some solid friendships decades old. The good days are now and in the future just as much as they are in the past.

@ViciousCurrentBun Masters in Child Counselling as always been a passion of mine. But financially not looking likely.

I'm 56. My best years certainly aren't behind me. I'm still living them

Aren't masters government funded via student loans. And can you not find a uni that will do that distance learning?

@KarateSchnitzel Partly, but that's not the issue. The issue is I will still need to be working part-time in order to pay the bills and that's proving incredibly difficult. Finding work as a part-time experienced teacher is hard.

I'm 40 and don't remotely feel like that. I'm hugely looking forward to the rest of my life.

That’s a shame as it looks like a valuable career where there would be work.

When I think of firsts I have loved, some cost money and some cost nothing. climbing a mountain, being kissed under a waterfall, trying windsurfing, whale watching, paddling in a freshwater stream, walking along Hadrians wall, ice skating, different types of dance lessons, growing tomatoes, building a snowman with my DS, making a set of replica armour out of Eva foam, it took about 50 hours, training my dear little cat to give me her paw to shake, reading certain poems.

I don't want this to come across as a stealth brag at all but... I did my degree part time, (in person) while working full time bringing up my two year old pretty much on my own. If it's something you want to do then you have to make it happen. There's always a way!

Nice to read that. Me too.

Why not have another child, that will sort you out

@KarateSchnitzel I couldn't full time teach and do a part-time Masters unfortunately.

In a way yes. As a teen I always wondered how my life would be. I had so many hopes and dreams

If my younger self could see me now she would slap me

@ludicrouslycapaciousbags Definitely not but I can't anyhow.

@ludicrouslycapaciousbags How?

I am 67 and still feeling the best is yet to come. Life is pretty good and the alternative pretty bad.

I'm 51. I feel past it. Currently waiting for a few years to pass us by while we clear debt. I'm chasing every pay day. Married, DC. What next ? I have no interest in anything. Don't want to retrain or change jobs or do another hobby. Love to travel but expensive. Constantly chasing the dream of getting all the jobs done in our house. They will never happen due to money. In the meantime, I'm working a 50 hour week. It feels never-ending.

Got pregnant at 43 & had my first baby.

@Chipsfishseasaltandvinegar I feel very similar. Well, apart from the house bit. Can't do much there as privately rented. I try to keep it clean and tidy(ish) though!