Today's Thoughts….

summerluno2

Can relate to different parts of each of these stories.

I've always been a good 20-40 lbs overweight. Unfortunately, it's a fighting battle with my genes. My great grandmother, grandmother and mother have all been 70-100 lbs overweight and I've struggled year after year to not let myself get that far gone. Yes, I can blame it on 'genes' and my pear-shaped body, but reality is the blame is on me. 4-6 years ago I was the lowest ever in my life at 127 lbs and I stayed that way for 2 years by eating and exercising. So I know it's possible. It's work - hard work - but the reward is great.

I have 2 sister in laws who are tiny …. they are very sweet about everything, but how hard it is to see them always look so good!!! We are vacationing together in July. I will be okay with how I am and how I look as I know it's a work in progress. The old me would be so self-conscious.

Happy to be traveling this journey with all of you that understand the daily focus, the struggle, the rewards and what it is like to be a women in her 40s. Thank you all!!!

Michal833

I find the differences fascinating.

Emy, are you surprised that I do more out of the house activities with my younger kids than I did with my older ones? When I had younger kids I could hardly do anything extra (swimming was about it) but now that there are no babies my younger ones who are in elementary school are reaping the benefits.

I admire you for finishing your graduate degree.

emy_r

I find the differences fascinating.

Emy, are you surprised that I do more out of the house activities with my younger kids than I did with my older ones? When I had younger kids I could hardly do anything extra (swimming was about it) but now that there are no babies my younger ones who are in elementary school are reaping the benefits.

I admire you for finishing your graduate degree.

No, not surprised, just as you said fascinated by the differences. I think it all depends on our own unique circumstances. Another thing that I found with my children was that their differences in personality impacted our lifestyle a good bit. My two older children were easy babies and I could take them anywhere with me (I took both of them to class with me a couple of times when they were toddlers with no problems at all). My third child was not so easy though! She was known to have meltdowns at the drop of a hat so I did my best to minimize the possibility of her having one in public! My children were all spaced out (3.5 years between the first two, and 5.5 years between the 2nd and 3rd) so to me that is another issue that can make a difference. I was 21 when I had my first and 30 when I had my last baby. I was a different mom due to the age difference, in some ways better, in some ways worse.

Thanks for the kind words about graduate school. I got a degree with each child, lol! I'm not even using my graduate degree now (well not directly anyway!). After so many years of teaching and going to school, now that my job has nothing to do with the university, I feel like I finally "graduated!" No more homework in the evenings, whether my own or grading someone else's! It's a wonderful feeling.