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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Would you go back in time if you could? When would you go to?

65 replies

DitheringDillie · 03/02/2021 16:49

I have an almost overwhelming longing for Times Past! I'd go to the early 2000's or the 90's. And would really try to make it last. Savour it all.

Youth definitely had some very difficult bits for me - but overall I just had such a sense of confidence about me.

Would you journey back in time? To what point, and why?

OP posts:
Mara2021 · 03/02/2021 19:46

May 2001. The next couple of years were probably the happiest, and easiest, overall of my entire life. I seem to remember you were allowed to laugh at work (you were still expected to work hard, but you were allowed to have a sense of humour) and things were generally good. I enjoyed it a lot at the time. But if I could go back, knowing what I now know about the next 20 years had in store, I'd enjoy it even more.

ludothedog · 03/02/2021 19:49

@Missreginafalange

2012, the day my 17 year old step-brother went to a party and never came home.

I would lock him in the house so he couldn't have gone and got killed.

I'm so sorry. That's horrendous Flowers
LApprentiSorcier · 03/02/2021 19:51

The very early 70s - just before I was born. Just to wander round and look at everything - places that have been demolished now. I'd also try to find my mum - who'd be considerably younger than I am now - and have a chat with her, without letting on who I was.

AlbusSeverusMalfoy · 03/02/2021 19:54

January 2020 maybe November 2019 to be safe and tell boris everything and get him to shut the boarders ASAP.

LunaNorth · 03/02/2021 19:55

I’d go back to 1992, dump my XH (then boyfriend), go to uni in London, find now-DH and shag his brains out.

Or, you know, see the Tudors (ahem)

Bythemillpond · 03/02/2021 19:57

Another one for 1975. I really thought about running away as a young teen but couldn’t pluck up the courage. I wish I had.

Or to a particular day in the early 2000s which if I had turned left instead of right my life would have been completely different

oneglassandpuzzled · 03/02/2021 19:58

I’d like fleetingly to return to the 1940s before motorways carved up thr countryside near me. But I would prefer to avail of today’s gynaecological treatments.

waltzingparrot · 03/02/2021 20:10

@SisterAgatha

Oh and why is just because the summer of 1992 had the best music, the best weather, the best smell, and I was really happy then. If I could go back I’d have a good word with my teenage self!!!
1992 - the best music you say? I think not. That would be 1982. Of course, yours could be a typo Grin
Scout2016 · 03/02/2021 20:20

Not sure there's any bit of my actual life I would want to go again. I think about the past a lot but, meh, it's done.
If I could be me now and just teleport to a time / place I'd like to see Elvis or Nirvana live. I'm assuming we just visit, we don't get stuck there? Not the most ambitious wish I know.

Songsofexperience · 03/02/2021 20:40

I'd go back to 1995 and talk to my 15 year old self. Problem is, even if I could I know she wouldn't listen!

Aerielview · 03/02/2021 20:42

Back to before the internet pervaded our lives

Mumski45 · 03/02/2021 21:36

I'd like to go back 4 months and I would listen to the signs my body was giving me at the time. It was trying to tell me that my lockdown exercise regime was too much and I was hurting my back. But no I carried on until a disc herniated and I was in agony for 2 - 3 months and could hardly walk. Only just getting over it now. I won't make that mistake again😢

ScottChegg · 03/02/2021 21:56

I'd go back to the start of 2011 when a bitcoin cost $0.30.

Strongerthanilook · 03/02/2021 22:01

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Monkeytennis97 · 03/02/2021 22:06

1989/1990/1991 except years 😊

Monkeytennis97 · 03/02/2021 22:06

Excellent years

Monkeytennis97 · 03/02/2021 22:07

@LApprentiSorcier

The very early 70s - just before I was born. Just to wander round and look at everything - places that have been demolished now. I'd also try to find my mum - who'd be considerably younger than I am now - and have a chat with her, without letting on who I was.
Interesting. Would love to do that too (in a Life on Mars way).
Igglepigglesgrubbyblanket · 03/02/2021 22:17

Oh hell yeah. I'd love to go back and be a uni student of 20 again in the 90s or part of a young childless couple in the early 00s or even just not in lockdown and back in my life from 2016!

Mangofandangoo · 03/02/2021 22:20

I would go back to 2015 and report him to the police

beela · 03/02/2021 22:25

Mid 90s. I would love to relive some of that but with a bit more self confidence and less teenage angst!

Devonchills · 03/02/2021 22:32

It all depends if I would go back as an observer, as myself (whatever age I would be then)

An observer - probably medieval times in London. I just find that era so fascinating.
Myself - when I was about 10 (1983), happiest times of my life, playing out with friends all day, lovely family home and just being looked after!

Devonchills · 03/02/2021 22:33

I often think about time travel, I'm sure it will be possible one day!

purplecorkheart · 03/02/2021 22:38

The very early 1990s to spend time with my Grandparents again. I am not sure there is anything I would change but I would love to relive it again.

tonystarksrighthand · 03/02/2021 22:42

The birth of my DS. I would do those early years so very, very differently.

I'm torn with guilt as to how hard I found it. At the moment I'm struggling to move on from it to be honest.

He is now the most wonderful 7 year old there is.

I'm desperately unhappy as to how I handled his first 2 years of life.

Sorka · 03/02/2021 23:15

In my own life I’d go back to when I was 18 and not dump my boyfriend because I was going away. I wonder how that would’ve turned out.

I’d quite like to go forward in time. Perhaps 200 years after the world’s population has been declining for a while. I hope there will be less pollution and we’ll be rewilding so nature can come back.