Late 30s what’s your life like?

[C1239]

I’m not meaning to compare my life with others, I’m just interested in if your in your late 30s what your normal day / weekend looks like? What are you happy with or what are you looking to change etc? I’m always interested in ways to improve myself and take inspiration from others!

I'm 36. 2 kids in their teens, so a lot of the hands on parenting is done. I am self employed in a creative job that I love and get to set my own hours. I get up at 7 and see the kids off to school. Once they are gone I bring the dogs on a nice stroll in the woods or by the lake. Come home check over the veg garden and do anything that needs doing there. Start work, work until my creativity feels like it's drained or I get hungry. Walk dogs again then go for a second round of work usually more boring admin type stuff until the kids get home. Then I do dinner, laundry, cleaning blah blah. Walk the dogs again with dh this time. Usually work again for a few hours in the evening if inspiration strikes.

Weekends are gardening, meeting friends/family, probably more work and some shuttling the kids round if they need it.

I like a quiet life to be honest and am pretty happy with where I am at. The kids will be off to college in 3 and 5 years so who knows what changes will happen then but for now I'm content.

Late 30s, divorced after very volatile marriage, blended family with new lovely partner, 4 kids between us. Doing a part-time job I love, recovering from some quite serious mental health problems over the last five years or so, so trying to create a very stable and gentle life. Regular hobbies include walking in the woods with a good friend, helping at Church and a few other similar low-key hobbies. It's a life others would consider very boring but I love the peace and stability it affords.

Late 30s, husband of 11 years, (15 together) and 2 children 8 & 5. Currently working full time but hoping to scale that back down. I've had a tough year and don't have many (maybe any?) friends, but pretty sure I'm autistic which I think has caused issues in that department.
On the whole I have a good life, but wish I had a few less worries (don't we all!)

I'm 35. 3 kids aged between 1 and 7 and I work 3 days a week. Life feels a bit hectic but in a timetabled very routine kind of way between drop offs, pick ups, clubs, naps etc. I have my exact slots of time where I might be able to carve out a bit of time for myself. The house is not kept on top of very well.
However, we are comfortable and happy and I have a life I looked at other people's families and envied growing up (had a rubbish childhood) so am thankful for that.

Looking forward to having more energy and time as they get bigger.

I'm 36, married and one 4YO DD, desperate for her to have a sibling but no luck so far with IVF. Work 4 days a week in a professional role. Weekdays are nursery drop off, work, dinner and then evening is telly or exercise. Weekends tend to be seeing family and catching up a bit. I'd describe myself as reasonably happy most of the time, do exercise once or twice a week and have freedom to meet friends for dinner/lunch/cinema etc. Would like to find a job that I really love but not necessarily sure what that would be!

Im heading close to late 30's I guess!

I feel lucky in a lot of ways. I have an incredible marriage to a man I've been with since I was 20. I never planned on having children but we got a suprise baby last year which has been absolutely amazing, he is just everything. Also have a dog that we adore. We are all healthy which is the most important thing. My husband and I both have well paying jobs that we love and we never have to worry about money. I have loads of family support and my son has so many people who love him and are happy to take him off our hands when we want a night out together.

I've never really had hobbies. I've dabbled in things like yoga and hiking clubs but never seem to stick to anything. I wish I could find a group activity I am passionate about. Recently joined a book club because I want to get back into reading and meet new people. We have a campervan and go for weekends away at least once a month. We love love love to travel and go away 3-4 times a year. My son isn't 1 yet but has been to 6 countries across Europe, Africa and South America.

I find that friend relationships are changing in the last few years, I don't know if it's age related or a by-product of covid but friends seem to be going out less and social activities have really dwindled. I regularly meet friends for lunch or a few evening drinks but the big nights out are rarer now. I must work on expanding my social circle. I do have some lovely new friends from mum clubs which is great for things like trips to the zoo but they don't have the family support I have to do things child free.

37, 16 and 15 year old. Weekdays make lunches while eating breakfast, go to work, come home, cook dinner, clean, taxi them about, walk dog, home, tv, bed. Weekends are ours again now they're older, walks, pubs, concerts, weekends away, definitely a transition period for us but a fun one. And now that time with the teenagers is rarer it seems to bring more enjoyment. Probably the most settled I've felt as an adult.

39, and life in some ways resembles what I thought it would and in many ways does not. DH and I both have good jobs, and we live in a nice house in a good area.

However, I live in a city I never ever thought I would, and though I like it, I think constantly about moving closer to home. People here are often well established, with lots of family around, so making friends is hard. We tend to mix with other newcomers, though that means they also are prone to moving on and I feel a constant anxiety about my social life and who I can connect with.

Two kids ages 3 and 1. Took a long time coming and needed IVF. We lost MIL very unexpectedly last year.
Career is on a path I really didn't want it to be on, but now i'm here it's not so bad.

I miss my old aspirations. I am exhausted.

@ComtesseDeSpair where do you clubbing? I miss that

I'm 37. Work full time, have a 2 year old son. Weekday mornings are a rush to the childminder and work. Then evening is home for bedtime and then me and my husband have dinner. Might fit in a work out now and again when I have the energy. Very happy with my life even though it isn't very exciting!

39. 1 DS(8). Single mother, full time student, up to six part time jobs. No social life. DS does two activities each night every weekday. Busy!

39 years old, married for 5 years.

Rent, we dont own - something we are keen to do once we stop paying for nursery fees.

2 year old DD.

Great career - have recently moved roles in my company so am training towards a new career path - its nice to be doing something just for me. I havent studied in 20 odd years. Work are flexible which is great.

Weekends are spent as a family - swimming, bike riding, parks, museums, eating out at cheap places. We live on the outskirts of a major city.

The one thing my life is lacking in is adult social activity - I do not invest as much time in this area or go and do things just for me. I am always tired after work, I miss DD, and weekends it feels selfish to bugger off without her seeing as shes in full time nursery as it is.

I dont believe in regrets, but IF I could go back in time, I would have saved harder and more aggressively pre child to secure my own home, and I wish somehow I met my husband earlier as I would have loved to have had another child but time and money arent on our side.

I'm a widowed lone parent of a 3 year old. Life is pretty relentless right now, I work full time and look after my child when I'm not working. No family support so breaks are few and far between. It's hard and life hasn't been kind to me over the past couple of years but I'm know things will get easier in time, both emotionally and practically, so I'm hanging on for better days.

38, married, 6 year old son, 2 cats and a goldfish. Would have liked more kids but have PCOS/secondary infertility.
Work full time but flexibly so if DS isn't at school he is with me or DH. Saturday mornings watch DS have swimming lessons. Going through diagnosis of autism for DS & inattentive ADHD for DH so lots of evenings spent form filling. Have a gym & swim membership I don't use nearly enough, go to a pub quiz with friends one night a week, weekends are usually spent doing housework, visiting friends and family, day trips. Bought our small house, saving to buy something bigger.

I'm pretty content, except with my job, but riding it out as going to retrain in the near future.

37, married, children by choice, 2 cats.

Mon - Fri is really low key as I have a 5am alarm, DH works 12 hour shifts. If we have a weekend together it mostly revolves around eating out / days out / house stuff, or if he's working I'll see friends, shows, or just chill at home.

*CHILDFREE by choice, please can we have an edit button 😅

Certainly not where I thought it'd be!
Mine fell apart a couple of years ago. My [ex] Husband went off the rails, done drugs and cheated...so my life totally fell apart in an instant. All the security I had: my family unit, my husband being my world, suddenly I had to cope with being a single working mum.

I have two teenagers and a primary aged child. Rented home. Don't earn enough to pay my rent and am reliant on universal credit - it's certainly been a shock to go backwards financially.
However, I am now glad I am out of my marriage as my ex has shown some very narcissistic behaviours and his whole family are one huge circus of crazies!

I have been dating someone new for a short while, have very few friends; but I know the people around me now are genuine and kind. I am happy and at peace, despite all the chaos I've been through in recent years.

Studying to get myself into a better financial position, but have accepted I will never be on the property ladder.

Oh and I work evenings/nights, so rely on the time when the youngest is at school to nap/recover from work...!

I did because the OP asked what a normal day/weekend looks like, and surely that depends on whether or not your have kids or a partner, no? Also for context.

If OP doesn't have children, everyone posting say they spend their weekends doing family activities won't be much help, will it?

I'm 37, married, 2 DDs (9 and 6) and a DSS we have EOW.

Weekdays tend to be the rounds of school run (from after school club, I WFH but need to concentrate so they stay there until 6), dinner, kids' bedtime, tv/reading etc until bed. We both go out at least weekly doing something for ourselves; he plays football and I see friends or my sister - I'm on my way to the theatre now while I post this.

Saturday morning is ferrying the kids around to activities, EOW on a Sunday DH is out all day taking DSS to his mum's 160 miles away. But we fit in family time around this, and often on Friday night my ILs come over. I also have time to potter in the garden or do some diy - our house is an 80% finished doer upper!

I'm sort of 'finding myself' after coming out of the other end of having small children at the moment. I'm putting more energy into my career (although not so much that I'm prepared to work more than 4 days a week 😂) and rediscovering things for me. DH and I manage to get a couple of weekends away together a year; usually we do a music festival and a city break. We also manage to get babysitting periodically so can go out together which is nice!

I love my life. I mean, the minutiae can be dull, but I'm very happy with the way things have turned out.

39 here - felt like an absolute failure, unfulfilled talent/not making use of brain for years - at least half my life thus far has been spent thinking that I’m a failure.
Had about six and a half years of therapy (still ongoing!) which has helped, enormously, and whilst I’m not on the same salary level as my peers, I’m so much happier for not being the person who looks at said peers for what my aspirations should be. I have a good job in a sector I’m lucky to be in, but because I started late I don’t earn anywhere near as much as I would be had I done the university route. But then I’d be a different person and this would be academic.
As someone has said upthread, I think it’s true that a lot depends on kids. I don’t have them, have never wanted them and am in the remarkably fortunate position that my partner doesn’t either - this is in no way meant to denigrate anyone else’s choices but I can’t for myself imagine anything worse than having kids. An entirely subjective thing - possibly the most subjective topic out there! Hope you’re ok OP.

Mid thirties. DH and 2 DSC whom we have 50/50.

Wednesday to Saturday is very much about DC. School runs. Activities/ hobbies. I do the majority of that through choice (before anyone accuses DH of being useless!).

Sunday to Tuesday is our time together. I often work an additional short shift for Sunday pay.

We both work. DH full time. I'm part time to fit in with the kids schedule and I also work for myself and can pick this up as and when it suits me.

I would be thrilled to have a DC of our own however for many medical reasons that is seeming less likely as time goes by. I am grateful for what I have and on the whole think I have come to terms with it. Although now and then it does creep up on me and I can be in quite a funk about it.

I have a few chronic health conditions and managing those can be tricky.

On the whole I'm happy. DH and I married earlier this year and our family, in its unique form, feels more cemented and stable.

39 and my life is totally different since the lockdowns. Back then I had a pre-schooler and dc in reception, both constantly clinging, my own business struggling to get afloat and a very emotionally abusive and draining husband. I now have the dog I always wanted, my house stays nice when I've cleaned, a ks1 and a ks2 child slowly becoming more independent, a soon to be ex husband, a new job, and my outlook feels so much more positive. We live frugally just off child maintenance, my tiny wage and some tiny benefits but am happier and feel younger than ever before! In my head I feel about 25, like my 'adult' life is just beginning and it's all ahead of me. Health wise since separating from the ex I've lost over a stone and dropped 2 dress sizes, go to the gym regularly, plus have the confidence to go out on dates, and it's only when my back sometimes aches in the morning I realise I'm not actually still in my 20s got to say late 30s life is pretty good for me right now and I hope everyone can find some contentment at all ages!

Could have written this entire thing myself. 👌🏼

Married (and it’s work!), two children; one teen, one preteen. My children are neurodiverse and that has really made our life look different than I could have ever expected. Following a lot of school-based trauma and mental health struggles, the vast majority of my time and energy goes into parenting.

On a typical day, I’ll start at the gym after the school run. Shop trip on the way home, followed by shitloads of laundry and other cleaning jobs. I’m studying for a couple of certificates online just now, and clean for one client on a weekly basis. I feel beyond full capacity to be honest. I’ve been diagnosed with c-ptsd. I’m permanently exhausted physically, emotionally and mentally since the pandemic and wish I could figure out how to get my energy back. That’s what I would change, having energy and feeling well.

We socialise with friends and other families when the kids can cope with it.

We have a lovely home in a quiet area and I’m very happy about that as it’s something we worked towards for twenty years.