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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How did you deal with turning 40?

85 replies

BeyonceZ · 02/07/2017 22:26

I'll be 40 in a year's time (turning 39 soon) and I just can't wrap my head around it.

Does life drastically change? Do hopes and dreams change?

OP posts:
TequilaSunshine · 02/07/2017 23:46

Meh. Did go through a "waaah, I'm getting old" train of thought but then thought "feck it" and I don't really care any more. It's just another number. Smile
You get to 40 and find you couldn't give a fk any more lol.
Had a birthday night away with DH, another meal out just me and DH and then an actual birthday day meal out with both the dh and the kids.
so basically I gave myself a birthday week as it was my 40th Grin

TequilaSunshine · 02/07/2017 23:48

I don't feel grown up enough yet!

Same. If anything happens I always want a "proper" adult to sort things for me as I haven't got a clue Grin

TittyGolightly · 02/07/2017 23:50

I'm having a birthday year. Grin. 4 amazing trips planned with different people so far....

Original poster
BeyonceZ · 02/07/2017 23:51

Do hopes and dramas change? Why on earth would they confused

Dreams.

Well when you're young, you aim for the skies. So I am wondering if when you're older, do you get to be more practical and start dreaming of easier, more "probable" things to accomplish.

OP posts:
RJnomore1 · 02/07/2017 23:51

I took up competitive weight lifting.

This may not be for everyone I realise.

theluckiest · 02/07/2017 23:57

I'm 40 in a few days time. I was thinking about it earlier today actually and I've realised how much I have to be thankful for. Lovely DH, two hilarious DCs, a job I enjoy and fabulous colleagues. I'd love to have a bigger house but my little house does us fine and hey, it's mine. I also have my health and considering my (super fit) uncle had a heart attack younger than I am now, I'm doing ok. (he's fine now btw, had a heart op, it's a genetic heart valve thing)

Wanky stuff over now - I think the best feeling about turning 40 is that I used to be painfully aware of what everyone thought of me. Now, I genuinely give absolutely not a shit. It's very liberating Grin

useristired · 03/07/2017 00:01

I was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer a month before turning 40. My life - what's left of it in ruins.
Don't worry about getting older, worry about not being lucky enough that more years is a given.
I'm devastated.

WishfulThanking · 03/07/2017 00:05

useristired I am so sorry
SadFlowers

LurpakIstheOnlyButter · 03/07/2017 00:06

Flowers useristired

Sending you love, hope and wishing you all the best.

DancingLedge · 03/07/2017 00:08

I went into labour. As distraction activity from the possibility of feeling older, quite successful, if perhaps unnecessarily extreme.

DancingLedge · 03/07/2017 00:10

User Flowers so sorry
Unintentionally insensitive cross post.

BenLui · 03/07/2017 00:15

useristired Flowers

Butterymuffin · 03/07/2017 00:18

useristired Flowers wishing you strength

WorraLiberty · 03/07/2017 00:25

What is there to 'deal' with?

You get another year older every year. I would have thought by 39 you'd be used to this idea?

My sister died just after her 36th Birthday. I'm sure her kids would have loved her to have had such a trivial thing to worry about.

Just live life as it comes OP.

useristired Thanks

BeachyKeen · 03/07/2017 00:31

I'm turning 40 in 3 months, and I am going back and fourth between being giddy about a whole new stage ( youngest just graduated high school, wages finally going up, finally paying off shit) and panicking about getting old , like, second puberty (what's with all the hair?!) and reconciliation with the fact that I'm not the hot girl any more.
It's weird and fun and scary and all that

PicaPauAmarelo · 03/07/2017 00:55

My friend would have been 40 yesterday. He would have had a massive celebration but he died 3 years ago. For me though, I will be 40 on Friday, it's just another day. No big celebration, I'm just thankful for what I have.

Is anyone else 40 this coming Friday? If you are you'll know why that's significant.

useristired Flowers

AvaCrowder2 · 03/07/2017 00:57

Useristired Flowers my sister had stage four. It is devastating. Wishing you all the best.

Twofurrycats · 03/07/2017 01:56

I cooked up 3 huge vats of food, bought a load of alcohol and invited anyone I cared about to tip up. I went on a special holiday earlier in the year.
My take on it is based on a statement from my gran. On her 80th she was looking across at the neighbour who's birthday was a similar time but 10 years older and said 'I wonder what it's like to be 90?'
She did get to find out Smile

WishfulThanking · 03/07/2017 02:03

pica I just googled it and their birthdate is 7/7/77!!!!!

WishfulThanking · 03/07/2017 02:04

Awesome! Wow! 😁😁

WishfulThanking · 03/07/2017 02:05

In case you missed it guys, if your bday is on Friday your birth date is 7/7/77 😁

WishfulThanking · 03/07/2017 02:07

I'm sure they know this, though Blush. That was for everybody else 😂

IAmNotAWitch · 03/07/2017 02:45

I got far too drunk. Had a bit of a wobble for a day or so and then got over it.

And yes, remembered the friends I had lost to the alternative. :(

MaMisled · 03/07/2017 02:55

My marriage had broken down and I met the love of my life at 36. At 40 we were juggling 7 kids between us (aged 8 to 20) whilst quietly ravishing each other at every opportunity! I found acceptance of myself and others, grew in confidence, learnt that my needs are important too and that housework really doesn't matter. I stopped being self conscious about my facial hair and the gap between my front teeth. I dropped some positivity leeching friends, let go of some guilt and found huge joy in walking in the countryside, picnics and birdwatching. Oh....and.....organs got soooooo much more achievable, lengthy and intense!

Embrace it!

MaMisled · 03/07/2017 02:57

*Organs??? Orgasms! !!