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 35. I'll be 36 in a couple of months. Married and two children. Eldest is 4 next week and youngest is 15 months. I'm a primary school teacher, 2.5 days a week.
Dc1 possibly has special needs so that can be tough to manage. Dh and I both have long term mental health problems so that's also a challenge.

We moved house a year ago and it doesn't look much different to the day we moved in! It's a 'doer upper' that will probably never get completely sorted. But bringing up two young children, both working and trying to fit in relaxation/sleep is more of a priority.

At the weekend, we try to have a day or half a day out somewhere. Sometimes we go out for a child friendly dinner too. We love a boot sale so that's where you'll normally find us on a Sunday morning.

Dh and I would like more date nights, they can be rare but so important. Like pp's have said, hobbies and interests of my 20s have dwindled but equally, I feel totally blessed to now be a mother. As once upon a time, I never thought I'd meet someone and have a family.

I lost my way in my late 30s. I struggled with work/life balance (it's still an ongoing issue!) and had no clue what I wanted from life anymore.

A typical day would have been a chaotic morning shouting at DC to get ready, full day at work, then scrapping the meal plan and chucking some frozen crap in the oven for dinner, all followed by a chaotic bedtime routine and getting to watch an hour of TV with DH if I was lucky. Weekends were catching up on housework, ferrying DC to social events and more work.

Pretty great. Graduated Uni, bought house and had kids in early 20s, kept my career and now enjoying late 30s senior role with independent teen kids. Perfect balance of things really. I travel for leisure and for business and pretty much do what and go where I like.

36 and no kids. Live in a city. So life is work and then running/gym/going to pub with DP. Weekends we both like hiking, cycling so try to head out to the countryside or if in the city - eat out, theatre, gigs, festivals, holidays, meet friends. DP works some weekends so I happily do my outdoor hobbies on my own, read and watch movies, or meet friends - I have quite a few who don't have kids yet either.

But I'm conscious life will be changing in a few years as we want kids. A lot of my friends are either trying for or about to have kids as well. And I know we'll have to move out from the city centre where we are now. So am enjoying my child free life and making the most of it. But I know when we move out, I'll take up gardening (don't have a garden now), and spend more time cooking (have only a tiny kitchen now) and in the outdoors, instead of bar hopping. I won't ever give up raving/live music but will be more once every 6 months thing. And obv looking after kids - which I'm looking forward to as I feel I'm now truly ready for them having had all my fun. I think living my life exactly as is for another 50 years would also get very boring and lose its charm. So it's good to change things up.

I am 39.

Divorced with three kids, one in his early 20s and 2 teens. My middle child has both learning and physical disabilities so it takes some juggling. I work 30 hours over 5 days and have recently given up my second agency job because I was struggling and miserable. I try and make sure DS especially has lots of experiences and we are busy all the time. One day I will wear him out!

But we do okay, we have a nice house that we havent been in long but are decorating slowly but surely and making our own and I am not overstretched with the mortgage like I was because ex-H wanted to have a fancy house. I love my job and although I am not a high earner (far from it), its enough for me.

Its not the life I had imagined for myself as I stare down 40 next year, but its pretty good. I always think about the quote 'life is what happens when you are busy making plans' and just try and live in the moment, focus on the here and now rather than next month, next year and beyond.

I had my eldest way before I was ready and in wrong relationship. For a long time I felt I like I was never going to get my shit together. Fast forward to now I am expecting child number 3, career in on track. The next couple years will be busy with nappies and limited time to myself, and just trying to get it all done with a family, career and home to keep on top off.

I'm 39, married to my childhood sweetheart. 4 children aged 18, 16,16 and 5. I work monday to Friday 9am to 4pm.

We have a nice 4 bed semi D, two cars and are comfortable. Life is pretty good but I have no hobbies for myself apart from reading and watching TV series. I'd like to spend a bit more time on myself and a bit more money on myself.

I'd love to have to spend less time on housework and laundry. I'd love to have more control over my 18 year old and I'd love to not constantly worry about my teens. What they are doing, who they are with and constantly on at them to do their homework, study, work harder at school etc etc. The 5 year old is a dream!

DH and 2 young DC, very full on job, which I do enjoy but can be quite stressful!
DH has a job where he travels and as a family we can often join him (have been to the Caribbean and USA this year and about to go on a cruise).

We are pretty adventurous so we ski and walk a lot, also love road cycling and play for a netball club. The kids play football, cricket etc so lots of spending time at sports clubs for all of us! We’re rarely in the house.

Life is pretty good- albeit busy! I had a tough start as my upbringing was shocking, so I’m very content now.

Very interesting thread! I'm a few years younger than most on here and have a DS aged 2 - I'm just beginning to believe that I will eventually come through the 'fog' that is having kids (even if only one!), and am starting to make plans to reprioritise my own health, social life and career. So it's nice to hear it from people a little further down the line. 😊 Also very grateful for my wonderful little family, after a tough few years.

38, term time only job 37 hours a week in an education setting Two DC, one is at uni and one has just started sixth form. Married 15 years.
Weekdays are busy with work/education commitments and weekends are spent catching up with housework, renovating our house to prep for a move and planning the trips we never had chance to do during lockdown. We live for holidays and breaks away as a family so this will be our priority before the youngest DC goes to uni in two years at which point I will be 40 and child free! 😊

Last few weeks of being 38, settled with partner of 21 years, three children - 20, 17 and 10. My 20s were hard with young children, working full time and doing a degree but it has paid off with me now being in a senior well paid role and just 7 years left on our mortgage at which point I will think about reducing hours but I enjoy my job.

Typical day, help get youngest ready for school, OH does the school/college run and I start work (WFH). I finish when they get home about 4, make tea, homework, chat etc and then spend another hour or two working. Weekends we go out for the day as a family, with youngest or I go for drinks with the eldest.

I feel settled and content but do need to work on my health, weight and fitness which will be my focus for the next few years. I have loved my 30s.

I’m 38. Very happily married, and no children by choice. Live with my husband, our dogs, and cats in a rural location but commute to a large city two days a week for work- it’s a nice balance. I WFH two days a week, office for two, and then the fifth day I don’t work and instead I spend the day cooking and writing.

I have a really great career that I love, and also have a side business off the back of it. Also work in a voluntary creative role. Plus I sit on the board of a small not-for-profit organisation. Lucky to have been able to get on the property ladder very early in life and we both have well paid careers so financially stable.

I love to cook but also eat out a lot, and you’ll always find ingredients for cocktails in my fridge. I’m quite an introvert, so don’t entertain much, but am very happy chatting to close friends. Strangely for an introverted person, I actually make friends really easily. They just need to accept that they may not see me in person all that often!

Generally happy with my lot. On days I’m in the office, I’m up at 5.30am but other days are a more civil 7.30/8am. I’m a real homebird and very happy just pottering around my house and garden. I hate clutter. I also hate walking around shops. Weekends usually involve at least one lie-in, breakfast out, some lovely food, and just the typical stuff really- supermarket, beach walks with the dogs etc.

The not so good things - have never been able to get an eating disorder fully under control. Have some other health issues that have taken quite a toll in the last while. I spend a lot of time worrying about family members with severe mental and physical disabilities and what the future will bring, and my part in it. Also trying to support an ailing parent. Lots of generational trauma lurking in the back of the wardrobe too.

I am 39. I have two beautiful healthy children.

We live in a fabulous characterful crumbly house in desirable town with a lovely market and individual shops. People Instagram our house. Cleaner twice a week.

Babysitting whenever we want, lots of socialising - quizzes, dinner parties, dinners out, wine tasting etc , we have a lot of invites as rarely say no. Also kitchen discos and bbqs with other couples and their children, all live in walking distance.

DC are in private school with lots of wraparound.

Plenty of holidays and weekends away to nice places. Enough disposable income but not too much to lose touch with reality and become a knob.

Chilled job, full time but lots of time to flex it and meet girlfriends for lunch, italian class, gym.

What is lacking? I used to have a v fulfilling career which was amazing but super stressful. Job now is easy but not most thrilling and a bit of a career dead end in order to support DH career as he earns significantly more than me.

My DH is a workaholic and I have lost a bit of connection with him, we socialise well with other people and have fun on date nights but we are not the most connected couple when it comes to the deeper stuff, I rely on my girlfriends for this

Life is dreamier than I could ever have imagined at this point, I just wish my husband was a bit more in tune with / considerate to me, but can’t have it all.

Nothing lasts forever and I honestly expect it all to come crashing down at some point.

I'm 37. Married with 2 kids, one who is nearly 16 and one who is 10.

I work 2.5 days a week around the kids. My spare time is spent running, swimming and going to the gym. I also do any housework that needs doing and enjoy cooking and baking.

Happy with my lot.

39, full time working mum of two - a 3.5 and a 1 year old. I’m knackered 😁

Just to add, I’m very happily married and adore my kids. I’m very lucky.

38, DH but no kids. We work full time Monday-Friday, gym, run, volunteer at some local events, socialise, take weekends away, holiday two-three times a year and generally try to keep 1 day of each weekend we're at home free from plans so if we don't feel like doing anything we don't have to.

We have friends with kids and friends without so socialising is a mix of family-friendly activities and boozy afternoons/evenings at the pub depending who we're seeing.

We're beyond clubbing into the small hours now and I'm very happy with that.

We're leaving kids to nature, if we do have them it'll be a total (exciting and daunting) change of life, if we don't (looking more likely at this stage) then we're happy just as we are.

This is a really interesting thread.

39 here, kids aged 1 and 4. DH and I pretty much feel like we're on a constant wheel of kids, work, housework, not much time for each other. But we love family life and are healthy (touch wood) so can't ask for more than that.

One day I shall look forward to more chill out time.

Generally happy, work p/t & DH is f/t but hybrid. 2 dc in primary so weekdays consist of school runs, after school clubs. Hate meal planning/cooking but we try. Weekend more sport for dc, and days out/meeting friends. DH & I have a good amount of time together but I'd like more time with friends without dc & would like to do more exercise classes.

Late 30s

I’m knackered

I hear you, DH & I have a weekend away soon, I'm planning on sleeping & spending hours in the bath!

I'm 39. 1 dc11, married 13.

I'm very lucky my life has turned out the way it has- some hard work, some luck, some unanswered prayers.

We earn well, no mortgage, I work term time (but still earn more than my dh) , loads of free time, family support. I am very privileged, but there was a time when dc was small when i was doing a doctorate and we could barely meet bills. Paid off though and we have a great life now.

Ime- when I look at stressed parents they all have more than 1 dc.

High five. I was widowed at 31 with a nearly 3yr old. 37 now. Life is pretty good. Things will improve!

Just starting to feel like I’m coming out of the other side a little of what has been a very rough year. 4 bereavements between my husband and I, with a just turned 5 year old.

So still being gentle with myself, and actively working on my relationships. I work part time, one job meaning I’m up and out at 7 but back in time for the school run, then out after tea but back for bedtime, and another job means I’m out for a few hours during the day. I have removed myself from most social media so I read, watch feel good tv, and have been sorting and organising the house so everything has a place and purpose, and will probably move on to decorating after (I love interior design so this is a joy). Slowly finding my joy for cooking again so food prep/shopping most days (I am finding I’m saving money by not doing a big weekly shop and instead just picking up what I need that day.) Next on the list is to add a daily form of exercise I enjoy.

I see friends rarely, although my second job has a great community feel to it. I go to gigs with my sister as much as we can and enjoy grabbing a coffee on my own to people watch.

Accepting my life as it is but also open to life’s possibilities again.

I’m pretty happy.

• Lovely DH, who I adore.
• Great career, that I usually quite like. Mostly WFH, but get to travel (nationally, nothing particularly glam) quite a bit.
• No kids, but we’re TTC. Will be fine if that doesn’t work out.
• In the process of buying our first ‘proper’ house, for just shy of £1M (we’re in London, so this isn’t as impressive as it might seem, it’s a pretty standard 4 bed in zone 2), so happy about that.
• I look good. Different to my 20’s, but in better shape.

Weekdays:

• Get up for about half 8 and potter about.
• Start work for half 9/10, then work till half 6ish, with breaks for food and mooching.
• Go out to meet friends for drinks/have dinner with DH (we like to go out a couple of times a week)/watch nonsense telly

Weekends:
Lie ins, dinner, drinks, parties, theatre. Just stuff.

Used to travel loads before lockdown, getting back into it now. Life is pretty nice. Suspect it might get less nice if/when we have kids, which is a definite concern.