I have seen recently a trend of bloggers writing letters to their past selves. Some are very touching while others made me laugh out loud because I have thought the same thing. It got me thinking what would I say to myself at say age 15 which is 20 years ago. Honestly I thought being 35 would be way different and I can't say how I thought different. I think I thought I would feel much older at this age and in reality I feel better and younger than I thought.
So if I could send myself a letter I know that I would say this:
Dear 15 year old Becky,
I am you in twenty years and it is amazing to be me now. I know that at this age you might feel unloved and unappreciated but truthfully your parents adore you and tell you this all the time. Plus they do appreciate you and everything you do. Just keep being who you are and one day Mom and you will be great friends and confidents.
You know those expectations you want in a husband, keep them even when Mom tells you to lower them. The man you meet and marry is one awesome guy. He compliments you in so many ways and mellows you out so much. Plus he gives you two great kids that melt your heart each and every day. Even though there are times he drives you up the wall when he leaves his underwear laying around (you now understand why Mom gets her undies in a bind about a clean house, he still makes you laugh every day.
Let's talk hair and fashion. That perm we thought was awesome well isn't. I still look at pictures and am amazed at the amount of hair you have on our head. Don't do that drastic short “Jennifer Aniston” like cut your Senior Year, you do not, I repeat do not have the hair for it. It took months to grow out but it did finally find a length that I liked and for the most part, the hair has stayed shorter rather than longer. Bangs, please start growing them out and try not to get the idea that when you are older that they might work again. Another thing, they have flat irons in the future. You may ask what that is- the best invention for our type of hair. I threw that dreadful curling iron away and only use that on my hair. Who would have thought heat which is our hair enemy could be it's friend.
So let's talk fashion. I know it is “cool” to roll up pants and now all I wear is boot cut because it makes me look way better. I have tried what they call super straight leg jeans to wear with boots but I still think I look better with a slight flair to the pants. Clothes don't change that much in twenty years. Comfort is what I am all about and yoga pants (No I don't do yoga) are a wardrobe stable.
Being 35 is pretty awesome. I am thinner now because I realized how important my health is for myself and the family. I worked on my skin a great deal (wished I would have sooner). All those issues as a teen well they seem to live on as an adult. There is no shame in going to the dermatologist to get it fixed. I have some of the clearest skin I have ever had in my 30's.
Finally life is what you make of it. There will be times that are tough but between that great husband, kids, family, and friends you will make it through it. All sorts of strange and interesting people are going to come in and out of our life. Don't fret about why they do or their purpose and take it as an adventure (sometimes with a grain of salt).
You will survive those not so good things and thrive in the best of times. Who I am today isn't who I imagined I would be but it is a far better one than I could be.
Have fun with the journey!
35 year old Becky
Rebecca Benson is a League City stay at home mom who has lived here since 2003 when her husband took a job on the International Space Station program. She followed soon after working on the same program for nearly six years when she started staying home with the kids. Rebecca loves to craft, scrapbook, sew, and embrace motherhood. Rebecca has a blog called Mommiedom ((http://queenmommiedom.blogspot.com/) where she talks about all the things in her life not just those “confessions”.
