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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be curious what you would tell your 16 yr old self now?

287 replies

WannabeNigella · 18/11/2010 22:26

Just wondered really, if you could just pass on one little nugget of wisdom to yourself at 16, what would it be?

Inspired by a trending topic on Twitter just in case any of you saw it.

OP posts:
CrankyTwanky · 19/11/2010 12:38

-GO TO UNI, Don't put it off because it will cost in the future.

-You are beautiful.

-Your hair looks shit.

-If a 26 year old wants to be with you, it's not because you're the only one who understands him, but because he's too disfunctional to have a gf his own age, and, frankly, borderline paedo.

MiraArte · 19/11/2010 12:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

NordicPrincess · 19/11/2010 12:50

dont be so fucking selfish, go and visit him in hospital youve really hurt him-he dousnt understand why you wont see him. hel be dead tomorrow.

learn from your mistakes and at least go to his funeral-but you never will.

am in tears now.

sorry bernard, i do love you x

iheartdusty · 19/11/2010 13:02

value yourself.

respect yourself.

expect your boyfriends to respect and value you, otherwise get rid.

decide what you want from life first, and only then think about what others are telling you to do.

When you go to college, do not shack up with that useless alcoholic who will destroy your self confidence. He would be lucky to have you, it is not the other way around.

make and keep female friends.

Sarthrell · 19/11/2010 13:03

You have good friends - keep them, you'll still love them 20 years later

You don't look like a boy

You will loose your virginity (not long to wait) and you will not be crap at sex. Enjoy!

Don't fuck up one of your A-levels because you don't want to take up your Cambridge offer. Just tell everyone you don't want to go and decline it you stupid girl.

Don't regret it if you ever have an abortion - you will make the right choice, it will take you years and 2 children to realise

It's OK not to like your dad very much, he's a pompous twit.

sleepingsowell · 19/11/2010 13:05

oh my god you silly girl R does fancy you and you should FIGHT for him! Idiot! You are being manipulated by a jealous girl and losing him in the process. How can you be so - so - PASSIVE!

indiechick · 19/11/2010 13:09

You are as thin as you'll ever be and you look great. Get rid of that blue jumper and start wearing short skirts. Don't bother with general studies, do something useful and work hard. University is your ticket out of there and with a bit of work you'd get to a better one. Stick with A, she'll still be a really good mate 20 years later. Don't worry too much about S and F, they both turn out to be a bit crap.
Spend more time with your brother, he needs you.
Save up and try and buy a house, 20years from now you won't be able to.

rpickett · 19/11/2010 13:24

That holiday to tenerife you have planned is the start of the relationship breakdown which will happen when your 18 2 days before your wedding (dont waste money on a wedding that doesn't happen).

Do not resort to self harm as now the ugly scars are covered with ugly tattoos that ruined your modelling career.

Everything will turn out great, you will meet the (almost) perfect man and have 3 gorgeous children who are the centre of you world.

Don't waste time in a job you hate, the money is great but it will cost you your health and dignity.

droves · 19/11/2010 13:24

...also STOP the puppydog eyes at M , just tell him you like him. He likes you just as much and it will save you 9 years of wasting time before he gets the courage to show you.

He will give you a bucketfull of self worth.

JennyHaniver · 19/11/2010 13:34

The boy you've just met is a keeper Wink

Don't be safe and do Graphic Design because you think there's more work there. You will be stifled and miserable and have nothing in common with your fellow students. Do the Fine Art degree you eventually get round to - you'll find good contacts sooner.

ElephantsAndMiasmas · 19/11/2010 13:40

Stop worrying high necked tops and big baggy shirts and jumpers for goodness sake. You are actually quite nice looking, and you have great breasts (as people will start telling you in admiring tones the minute you stop dressing like your brother.

Go to the hairdresser and tell them to thin it out ok? Then ask for hair straighteners for your birthday. Right, that's the outer girl sorted out.

Appreciate your friends, they will be there for you even when you get depressed much much later on. But remember you can't sort out all their problems for them - when you start crying because they get dumped you're going a bit far :)

Don't worry that you haven't met your future husband at school - your friend has read too many romantic stories and is talking crap, so no point trying to force yourself to fall in love with them. You will meet a lot of smart boys who actually read books next year. Do kiss that sarcastic one - it won't work out but he is an excellent kisser and a lovely boy. Borrow a camcorder and record your elderly relatives before they all start dying off. Don't worry too much about your mum - yes the menopase has made her depressed but she will get over it. Your best friend is developing anorexia. Go to the doctors with her before she spends the next few years looking like a cadaver.

Otherwise, just keep on doing what you're doing. You're not going to fail your GCSEs. Oh - and if you can remember this, in a couple of years time you will meet a gorgeous man with great cheekbones. DO NOT get into a serious relationship with him, you will meet the man of your dreams the next day but will be too nice to dump cheekbones man, and regret it/wonder why forever after.

MrsYamada · 19/11/2010 13:40

Don't be such a bitch, especially to I. He really likes you and you know it, don't lead him on, he's your friend you witch! Angry

Also, you are always going to be a geek so get used to it. Being shit-faced does not make you look cool and nor does that ridiculous orange jacket.

ALovelyBunchOfCoconuts · 19/11/2010 13:41

Don't Smoke

Don't get those god awful tattoos

Don't move in with that boyfriend, he will become a violent abuser

Be young and be confident.

ElephantsAndMiasmas · 19/11/2010 13:42

Also - wear waisted dresses and tights. Jeans are not an invisibility cloak.

Likesshinythings · 19/11/2010 13:59

Your Mum is wrong, there are some men who like intelligent women and one day you will be married to one of them.
Your boyfriend will dump you next year. It will be painful but you'll get over it and spend the next 20 years being so very grateful that he did it.
Spend more time with P, she is the best friend you could ever have. She'll be there the day you get married, she'll be there to see your newborn son, she'll be there to paint your toenails when you are too pregnant to do it yourself!
And finally, perms are not a good look. Ditto floral skirts.

sparkle12mar08 · 19/11/2010 14:35

Oh and PPS - LEARN TO BLOODY DRIVE WOMAN!

Lynli · 19/11/2010 14:57

Your mother is right, strangely, it does not happen often. He is not goood enough for you.

Run

TheMeow · 19/11/2010 15:03

When mum tells you to get out of the house and don't come back - don't. Let her calm down and then go home the next day. Don't leave for 9 months, she will never forget or forgive you and life will be so much easier.

Psammead · 19/11/2010 15:05

Stop being so bloody stuck up.

pommedeterre · 19/11/2010 15:09

Your body is so cute, your boobs are so perky! Don't waste all your time hating the way you look and abusing your body trying to change it.
Be careful with alcohol - it does you no favours. You are not a nice drunk.
There is nothing to rebel against - why are you so angry?

Cannot believe my message to my 16 year old self included the word 'perky' ..!

earlymorningwaking · 19/11/2010 15:09

Eat more food. You are not fat - you are very very thin.
Don't start smoking.
Stop putting boys before school. You are pissing away golden opportunities and wasting your intelligence.
Don't choose that boy to lose your virginity to, he is a complete and utter twat with a laughably tiny penis. You will be very disappointed.

Stop worrying your mum. She's actually a very lovely and reasonable person, and when she is gone, the guilt of being such a selfish little shit and driving her to tears through your terrible behaviour will make you want to die every day for many years.

Oh this has made me cry. I'm going to think of advice to give myself now, to avoid fucking up even more than I have already.

upahill · 19/11/2010 15:20

There would be no point telling me anything - I wouldn't have listened!

mummaxmas · 19/11/2010 15:48

buy a flat, coz they were so cheap back then!! would have been a great starting stone!

Save your money and dont get credit cards!!

dont drink so much!!

mummaxmas · 19/11/2010 15:49

love the comments about not listening to your mum, its so true, you think they know everything, but as im a mum myslef now, i know they dont !!! lol

twirlymum · 19/11/2010 15:59

You will get over him. You deserve better.

A spiral perm will never look good with your hair, it's too thick.

Be a shepherd, not a sheep.

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