If you could go back in time and do one thing differently ...

[annie987]

... what would it be?

Stayed with my ex h and never had kids.

Had a small family wedding- we would have enjoyed it more.

Exercise more

Stayed in contact with people more.

Take the Assistant Scientific Officer job I was offered and not let my mum persuade me to go to Commercial College to become a PA. She had my interests at heart because I earned a shit-load more money and ultimately enjoyed it but I still hanker back to what I think was the job for me.

Took money off siblings for mums funeral. They got away with that as well.

To appreciate that sex on the first date need not be a bad thing.

So many things. Most of my serious regrets relate to instances when I was selfish and obtuse rather than empathetic towards others.

Like others, i probably would not change many of the big decisions in my life because I would not have ended up with the exact same amazing DD and the idea of that is indescribably sad.

Totally refused to go to VI form.

Some of these are very sad.

125% mortgage in 2008

Worked harder in college and do the courses I wanted to do the instead if following my friends. Who are now nowhere to be seen.

friendlymum67

You did the best thing for your son. You couldn't have known and it's not your fault.

Same as TemporaryPermanent - Probably nothing. Even things I bitterly regretted at the time have taught me a lot and I can't now at some distance untangle them from the person I've become.
Or in the words of the song 'je regret rien'
... Although there was was one experience I turned down as I feared what the people involved would think of me, I often wonder what it would have been like. But maybe if I had followed through, there would have been far reaching consequences, that would mean I am not where I am today.

Made a different decision about a teenage pregnancy.

I would go back and INSIST on changing schools, and simply refused to attend if unchanged.

I suffered years of bullying and abuse at my crap comp. I didn't have the confidence to stand up to the teachers and parents when I complained about it and they did the typical "victim blaming" that was common in those days, i.e. "stand up for yourself", "hit them back", etc.

Even now, decades later, I still can't quite believe that they sat back and did bugger all about it despite knowing what was going on. I still can't believe the teachers were so stupid that they even continued to make me sit on the same table/desk with the very same people who they knew were bullying/attacking me!

Not only did it ruin my education, it has impacted on my adult life due to chronic lack of confidence, self harm, etc. It's only now, in my 50's that I've started to recover my self confidence and am starting to stand up for myself. All because of crap teachers at a crap comp.

I was having a conversation with someone and I know if I had made my feelings known it would have meant my life would have changed for the better

After I married my first husband I had a horrible, inescapable feeling that I'd accidentally taken a path parallel to the life I was destined to live, and I could never get back. My life was going on here, but just over there was the life I was meant to be living. It was awful!

I wouldn't change the DC but I often wonder what my life would be looked like. I had a warning, too - on the way to my first date with him I distinctly heard a voice in my head say, "Turn back now," but I didn't.

I pay attention to ALL "signs" now.

Got married when I was pg with DC1 instead of waiting for nearly 8 years.

Other things would change who I am now so wouldn't change them. Life is good at the moment.

School.
I wish I tried harder to concentrate, go to university, get a decent respected job.

I'm happy with DP and DC but would be so much happier if financially secure or a home owner.
It is to late for now.

Not stayed with my first love so long

Stayed single and emigrated!

I would have married my wife 15 years earlier. Would have saved us both a lot of heartache and abuse.

Not got married either time.

I don't know where to start! I've made so many mistakes that I'd have to revisit my past several times. I'd go back to the worst and then work forwards but there's no way I'm laying them bare on here, anonymous or otherwise.

Be more careful about how much I ate when I became pregnant !

I would not have retired.