Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What is your biggest regret in life?

856 replies

Teadrinker11 · 12/02/2022 21:19

At 26, I know I'm still at an age where I'm somewhat young enough to make good decisions to prevent more regret in the future, but I still do regret a lot. I've wasted so much money on things I didn't need, I neglected my health for so long, it's taken me to 26 to somewhat have my life together. I'm studying law and love it, but hate how I spent so much time after school messing around wasting my life. I didn't go to college straight after school like so many of my classmates did and I still pine over the years I lost, when people in their early 20s are having the time of their lives. What is your biggest regret?

OP posts:
Sunnytwobridges · 19/02/2022 19:37

I’m so sorry Sad

UserBotLurking9to5 · 19/02/2022 19:39

Is being a divorcee better than being a sp8nster? Tell my Mother that! She thinks the opposite

speakout · 19/02/2022 19:53

Listening to my parent's advice- especially my mother.

Anoone · 19/02/2022 21:31

Not sleeping with enough men!! 😂 😇😂

MaitreKarlsson · 19/02/2022 22:41

@jorahFriendZone Flowers So sorry for your loss.

Paperdolly · 19/02/2022 23:26

Being so naive when I married too young. I wish I had known how to have a proper enjoyable, trusting, sex life. 40 years later we are just housemates and I have discovered how sexy I can be with someone else.

Februarybluee · 19/02/2022 23:27

@RedCandyApple

Having children
This really interests me. Would you mind saying why or is it too personal? (I am struggling with infertility so it is nice to see the other side of the fence.)
Pete121 · 20/02/2022 04:01

Having kids!
If I knew then what I know now, I would have had the snip at 12...

Fungas · 20/02/2022 11:08

I'm 58 this year and getting married soon. Never too late!Smile

WineIsMyMainVice · 20/02/2022 11:14

@formalineadeline

Still being alive.
Are you ok? Sending hugs
Escargooooooo · 20/02/2022 11:27

This is such a thought provoking thread Flowers

Waddlegoose · 20/02/2022 11:45

@atta2006 completely get this, i didn’t like the idea of sleeping around but now i look back and wish I had been a bit more adventurous. Love my DH but he is my only experience. Nice in some ways but I always wonder

the80sweregreat · 20/02/2022 13:22

Waddlegoose
I was scared to 'sleep around ' in case I picked up an infection or became pregnant.
I was put off by those school videos of people contacting ' VD' as it was called back then ! ! They were a bit graphic. The smoking ones they showed us had the same effect too.
My parents also put me off too, actually said I would be kicked out of my home if I became pregnant out of 'wed lock.'
It was different times etc, but it did put me off.
Not sure if this was a good or bad thing though to be honest!

NotaMary · 20/02/2022 18:46

Not believing in my own ability and potential. I wish I had been ambitious at an early age. It wasn’t until I was in my early 50s that I climbed the career ladder. I did fine, but I wonder what I might have achieved if I had been more self-assured.

turksturban · 20/02/2022 18:56

[quote DoveOfPiss]@PrincessConsuelaBananahamm0ck it's not too late! I did an Access course at 48 then went on to do a degree and graduated at 52! I now have the job I wanted for 10+ years. Go for it![/quote]
Please can you tell us what kind of job it is. I'm in exactly the same situation in a job I hate and want to try something new

gg12346 · 23/02/2022 21:42

Not having more children when I was younger..too late now and my relatio ship sucks so can't think of more ... I really wanted to give my child a sibling for life .

Marrying and coming to London. Life sucks in London..Higher price of living.

whatinthenameofhen · 23/02/2022 22:07

That is so sad. I'm so sorry.

whatinthenameofhen · 23/02/2022 22:11

Sorry that was for @Blossontoes

BluesCluesToo · 23/02/2022 22:17

@gg12346 I feel the same re giving my child a sibling. In my case I couldn't cope with hyperemesis again. Now it's too late, I would give anything to give her a sibling, even throwing up all day again. I need a time machine 😥

ThomasinaGallico · 23/02/2022 22:45

@BluesCluesToo but hyperemesis is a serious medical condition. Women died from it in the past (e.g. Charlotte Bronte) and even today, some sufferers will actually terminate because they genuinely cannot take it, physically or mentally. Please don’t be hard on yourself for choosing not to put yourself through that again. I have a feeling that if the condition were pre-eclampsia or placenta praevia (for example) you would not be doubting your decision anything like as much.

gg12346 · 23/02/2022 22:48

Seriously if we would have time machine I would taken so many decisions differently

BluesCluesToo · 24/02/2022 08:21

@ThomasinaGallico thank you so much x

Bambooshampoo · 25/02/2022 23:26

A man.

Notmrsfitz · 28/02/2022 21:13

I’m 47!

Lonleygal · 31/03/2022 18:34

Everything I’ve done in my life from the age of 14 to 40. Now it’s such a mess I just have to accept it’s over now . ☹️

Swipe left for the next trending thread