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MNHQ

What would you say to your 15 year old self?

379 replies

CatherineHMumsnet · 25/02/2015 16:50

Mumsnet's 15th birthday is fast approaching (what'll we WEAR?). And that put those of us at MNHQ to thinking - if, by the magic of some time travelling device, we could speak to our 15-year-old selves - what words of wisdom would we impart?

OP posts:
mommyof41986 · 28/02/2015 09:03

oh & keep going with the waxing. if u start shaving u will end up with scar tissue all over ur right leg because the dog jumped in the bath mid shave!

Emu1969 · 28/02/2015 09:35

Lighten up. And if you like a girl, tell her.

jellycake · 28/02/2015 15:10

The next year is going to be really tough but you will get through it - don't let it fuck up your life.
That boy you meet after your birthday is bad news, stay away from him however pleased you are that someone has finally taken some notice of you (and yes I know he's gorgeous but just listen to me!)
Be kinder to yourself and, for gods sake, respect yourself, you will never be as thin or beautiful as you are right now (you are thin, believe me, a size 12 is thin!)
No I'm sorry you will never marry John Taylor from Duran Duran but then you didn't really believe that anyway.
Be nicer to mum, the next year is going to be tough on her too and it's not her fault. Ignore dad, he is an arsehole and will be gone soon.
Resist temptation and stop bunking off, you need to get more than 4 GCSEs first time round!
Carry on reading, it will get you through.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 28/02/2015 16:32

It turns out ok in the end.

Oh, and you're actually really lovely looking and you deserve to be happy.

BreacaBoudica · 28/02/2015 17:01

Use some bloody contraception! Don't be so delighted when the cool guy pays attention to you that you forget that...

supersop60 · 28/02/2015 20:07

Forget about bloody boys!

pilates · 28/02/2015 20:22

Put more effort in to your school work and forget about boys.
Be true to yourself and don't try to be something your not.

OhGood · 28/02/2015 22:15

Forty is too late to get laser eye surgery done.

WowOoo · 28/02/2015 22:36

Ah, some bittersweet memories here.

I'd say to my 15 year old self: Keep going. Life is a bit tough at the moment, but it's going to get a hell of a lot harder quite soon. Be prepared! You will find you do have the strength to pull yourself up, work harder and achieve some amazing things that you can look back on, smile and be proud.

It's good to smile, so try it now and again.

MummyTheGregor · 28/02/2015 22:58

you are NOT fat!

Your mother is wrong and you DO NOT need to loose ant weight.

You're beautiful. Believe that.

Also stop shagging questionable boys from the rough end of town, shagging someone DOES NOT make someone want to be your boyfriend.......

You're worthy.

KeepitDown · 28/02/2015 23:40

Tell your mum what your dad is doing. It might not help, but at least you'll know where she stands, instead of always wondering.

Go to the police, not the church.

Force your parents to take your little sister to hospital when she stops getting out of bed. She's not exaggerating or making a fuss, she's really sick, and maybe she won't die later if she gets seen now.

Life will get a lot better. A lot. Just get you and your siblings through childhood. Show them you love them more.

Solo · 01/03/2015 01:19

Go to catering college.

Your eyebrows are too high to be so thinly plucked; with eyeshadow on, you look like a clown.
You are prettier than you know.

Keep your legs closed and don't go out with that bloke you just met; he's not a good person and will cause you years of traumatic memories.

If you listen to all of this (not the eyebrows), your life will probably be so much better.

howoapproachthis · 01/03/2015 07:44

Howto

don't worry about the girls in school who are leaving you out. stop trying to fit in all the time, just focus on the things you like doing instead, and studies, instead of trying to make people like you. its not worth it. go and talk to someone about your self confidence- you can get help, you don't need to be on your own all the time with problems. one day you will have loads of friends and be really confident and won't be able to shut up. focus on doing well, don't waste this time being unhappy. oh, and puberty is normal. it doesn't mean ur fat. everyone gets boobs and puts on a few pounds - yours just came a bit later. its fine. stop fighting it.

PeppermintCrayon · 01/03/2015 08:06

Ignore the people who say you wouldn't enjoy a psychology degree.

ocelot41 · 01/03/2015 08:15

You know the guy you are in love with? She's a girl. Only with a young man's body (right now). When she asks you about liking dressing up in women's clothing, try not to freak out too much. She is going through a harder time than you can possibly imagine.

nippey · 01/03/2015 08:28

Step away from the boy, he will bring you years of heartache and is not worth your devotion. He is an abusive loser who ends up in prison anyway.

Stop smoking, stop drinking. Go to school everyday, not just when you feel like it and build a circle of real friends, not those girls who pressure you into the drinking and smoking.

Be nicer to your mum, she loves you and will be your best friend and biggest supporter when you leave that boy and start living your life at last.

Greymalkin · 01/03/2015 09:01

Dear teenGrey,

You were in no way responsible for the misery at home; you're mum and dad needed to sort out their own shit, it wasn't your responsibility, same goes for your brother, you can still love him without having to do everything for him, or be his saviour.

The last two years of school might have felt like they went on forever, but they went in a flash. Those so called friends were actually small minded bullies and you soon got over them.

Depression is a crippling illness but you will get through it, this time and twice again in the future.

You are going to meet the most incredible man in the next year and he is going to be the man you marry, who will transform your life and bring so so much joy. He will make you feel so good about yourself and what the future has in store.

And be kinder to yourself, you deserve it.

Love 31year old Grey xx

ErinBlockerBitch · 01/03/2015 09:36

Do what you want, and ask for what you want. Plenty of people won't like you whatever you do, sometimes that is because of you, quite often it is because of them.

Get treatment for depression. It will waste your youth otherwise.

OhGood · 01/03/2015 13:30

You're academically ahead of everyone in your school.

Don't feel weird about it. It won't last. You're a big fish in a very small pond.

And when the head of the Rhodes Scholarship selection committee says, 'It's very hard for girls to get this scholarship - we advise you not to proceed with your application', don't just accept it and walk away. (If nothing else, kick him in the balls and run.)

MrsTedCrilly · 01/03/2015 17:31

Wash your hair!

bonelope · 01/03/2015 18:12

You are beautiful, inside and out.

You don't need to know what you want to do, but go to uni anyway.

Stay away from 25 yr old men who think it's ok to shag 17 yr old girls. He is a gigantic LOSER and you are better than him and he knows it. Don't internalise that you are unlovable and no good in bed because he dumps you for his ex after taking your virginity.

Stop wasting your money on crap, save up and go travelling like you dream of.

Leave behind your "best " friend. She is manipulative and selfish and only likes you because you shore up her incredibly low self-esteem.

WipsGlitter · 01/03/2015 19:54

Don't do the three sciences for o level. You will fail to be able to even use the calculator correctly. Try harder with Spanish. Work really hard. Do law. Don't drink so much in your 20s.

Mind you if I'd done that I'd not have this life and I'm pretty content.

MoJangled · 01/03/2015 20:28

Dear 15yo Mo, Dad has Aspergers. This doesn't mean he doesn't love you - he does. But it does mean you will never feel loved, or understood, or approved of, by him. So don't base A level, uni and career choices on attempting to do what he thinks is right. Don't confuse disinterest with love, or sex with interest. Don't fool yourself into pretending you don't want intimacy, love, a family, friends and support - you do. If you wait till you're 46 to find this out, you will have missed the chance to have children, a good marriage and the right career.

ImGoingForATwix · 01/03/2015 20:42

Get a job in engineering, not PR.

Purplehonesty · 01/03/2015 20:46

Don't sleep around. It would have been very nice if dh was the one and only.
Oh and marry for money Wink