Is anyone leading the life they had envisaged?

[mommie]

I suppose I just wondered how many people had really got the life they had intended?

My life has not really turned out the way I expected or hoped, but I am (mostly) very happy with it. I get bored easily so I tend to change things a lot, sometimes it takes me by surprise!

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Yes. I have a fabulous fulfilling career, earn a comfortable salary. I have a wonderful arty/academic-but-rich + very attractive partner and a beautiful smart child. I spend evenings relaxing at home with partner/child, or out with friends. I have a wardrobe full of gorgeous clothes and have recently converted the loft into a champagne bar.

Sure, minus a few million pounds.

yes, more than tbh and am a middle aged woman with a v.stressful job, a v. messy house (and hair that goes bloody mad in this damp weather).

Perhaps I just have low standards.

Fio your answer made me smile

In a broad sense, yes this is what I wanted: hubby, 4 kids, nice home, not working at the moment. But I didn't realise that this was not what would satisfy me and also that I wanted other things too, so although I am living the life I wanted, I am not content.

kind of.

the little house in the country, booker winning novel and other 3 children are missing though.

Actually, and quite luckily, I was a born cynic and never had any real 'expectations' of life. I sort of went with it and changed it when it didn't go in a direction that was good for me.

So on the whole being working poor and having lots of stress comes as no great disappointment to me.

No, ggglimpopo is living mine. Did imagine, however, that I'd have children by different fathers!

I never knew what I wanted out of life (except for a brief period when I was seven when I fancied being a nun and 'saving' black babies in Africa, and another when I thought I might mastermind peace in Northern Ireland...)

But, like MotherInferior, if someone had told me when I was 20 that I would have two kids and doing the job that I am, I think I would have been quite chuffed. I'm not rich, but I have a lovely DH and I'm happy. Though every so often, I do wonder if I've copped out and would have been better getting out there and saving the world. Though quite how I might have done that, I've no idea!

I did assume I'd easily juggle a successful career and lots of kids. Pah!

No, not at all

PMSL, no chance!! (to original question)

No, not in the slightest.

But I am happy anyway.

i wanted to go into space.
still fancy it sometimes.
wouldn't mind popping up there right now, beats ironing.

My life isn't how I expected it, but I am very happy. There are lots more things I would like to do in the future but I know it will all happen in time.

A few years ago my life was a nightmare but I think all of that happened for a reason and I know that perhaps the things that went so awfully wrong are the seeds of my future sucess. That probably sounds a bit pompous but I am a great believer in things happening for a reason.

My life is better than I could ever have dreamed of, although George Clooney just won't take no for an answer !

no - apart from the kids - lifes kinda fur coat and no knickers if you know what I mean.

I think the what would I have thought at 20 test is an interesting one. If I had been told at 20 what I would be doing for a living at 35, where I lived, who with, and that I had 2 kids I would have thought it all too good to be true. and, on the whole, life is pretty good. but - I just think, at 20, I actually had NO IDEA what it would really be like to live that life. Maybe it's just me but little insecurities start to creep in (especially when you see university friends writing plays, going on NewsNight, editing newspapers and having books published...)I would have also preferred a slightly different route to where I am - a bit more travel, possibly a stint working abroad.

No - but having seen how he's aged, I really don't regret not being married to Harrison Ford.

I'm not sure exactly what I was planning for all those years, but it sure as hell wasn't this.

I agree spider mama - I had absolute no idea what the whole job and kids thing actually meant. Not a clue. Not one single flicker of an idea. And I thought the feminist battles had all been won. It was only after having had kids that a few home truths began to dawn on me. It would be quite nice to be so naive again

Certainly am not. Never thought i'd be with dp, let alone have a baby with him, and all at the age of 24!! I'd of thought you were having a laugh!! Can't complain though. I'm pretty happy most the time

All I wanted was to love, be loved, happy, and married "till death do us part". Just bringing up my children in a happy stable loving environment.

Never thought I'd be a single parent after having my children - love them to bits but hate being a single parent. Never thought I could ever be so unhappy.

yes. But never thought I'd get it.