It's My Birthday!

Saturday is my birthday! I will be 33, I can hardly believe how quickly the last few years have flown by. Having babies kinda does that to you. Funny, I don't feel the least bit sad at being another year older. I am in a much better place in so many areas of my life than I was a year ago. I will be relieved to let go of 32. I think I may actually be growing up (a little). Finally!

For me, a big bonus of being in my thirties is that I am finally old enough to be a mom. It was not easy for me to be a 25 year old, who looked 18 and be the mother of a 6 and 3 year olds. People either thought I was the baby sitter, or looked down their noses at me for being one of 'those' girls who got knocked up as a teen, or I had women 20 years older than me asking me for parenting advice. I appreciated those women the most. They took the time to get to know me and my children and recognized that my kids were pretty amazing and I was an intelligent, thoughtful woman who had something to offer.

There are not a lot of women of my generation who had kids as young as I, or who got married as young as I did either. It wasn't really part of my plan. Mine was to finish my undergrad, start my postgraduate studies, get married, finish school, work, and then start having babies at about 30. Reality was to go to one year of college, get married, have a baby and stay home for a couple of years. Work and get pregnant again, stay home for a few more years. Send my kids off to school and start thumbing through University catalogues and get pregnant again! Then I brought my kids home to school and had 2 more babies. This year I was going to start my degree by correspondence and then I got preggo again!

Now my plan is to raise my kids and keep my brain fresh and stimulated informally. (I am learning Latin right now and refreshing my French) When they are at an age where they don't need so much of my time, then I will think about University again. Maybe. Honestly, I am learning so much more while teaching them, than I did in college. And I get to study whatever I like! My main motivation for a degree at this point is to model that for my kids. I want them to value education and love to learn as much as I do.

At 32 and 364 days, I still have women say to me, "You have four kids??? You look way too young!" Now I love those comments;) Because honestly, I totally look my age now. I think I aged 10 years between 28 and 30. I went from looking 18 to looking 30, and that is just fine with me. I hope I still feel that way in 10 years or in 20 years.

I am really looking forward to tomorrow, to just hanging out with my kids and Brent. He is still working 12 hour nights, but he is hoping to get home early in the morning so he can get up earlier and we can do something. I am thinking a nice hike through the river valley and then maybe a cook out. Cook outs are one of my all time favourite activities, nothing like hot dogs burned over an open fire. OOH and S'mores! Yum! Maybe I will get lucky and my kids will bake a cake for me again, last year's was yummy.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and when you drop by, I would love to hear some of your thoughts on getting older.

Comments

  1. Happy Almost Birthday!

    I hope you have an absolutely fabulous day!

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  2. I have never minded getting older--and I'm now 44. Every new year brings wisdom.

    Go back to school in a few years-it's what I'm doing now and I love it more than words can describe. It means so much more to me than it did at 20.

    I'll be back tomorrow to wish you an official Happy Birthday!

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  3. I just turned 33 too (well, a couple of weeks ago...) and I feel pretty much the same as you do. I like where I am in my life and wouldn't change a thing.

    I hope you have a wonderful Birthday!!

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  4. I love being old enough to have my kids too:) I know exactly what you mean!

    You don't look older girl. Still beautiful and young looking:)

    I miss you and hope your day is wonderful. Bless you on your special day:)

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  5. Happy, happy birthday, Kristen! Your pictures do NOT show a 33 year old, despite what you say.

    But I too agree that growing into your skin - which happened to me in my 30s - is wonderful. My only regret is now that I am finally comfortable with where I am and know - sorta - who I am, life is moving much too quickly. I will be 39 in a few months...which is CRAZY! I just turned 30, if you know what I mean.

    So enjoy the day, and the year! I know it'll be a great one :)

    Hugs - Heidi

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  6. Happy Birthday! I just turned 34 and my oldest will be 14 this year, so I know what you mean.

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  7. Happy birthday! I hope you're having a wonderful, relaxing day!

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  8. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MMM!

    Sometimes it's so nice to feel like a real grown-up, eh?

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  9. Happy Birthday friend! I hope it's full of hugs and happiness! Well this year I'll be gasp... 47 and I have to say it only gets better! And yeah for you on continuing to educate yourself at the same time. That's what thing that I admire about you, you haven't gotten "lost" in motherhood you still pursue your individuality and passions. Way to go girl!!

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  10. Happy Birthday!! Have a wonderful day and a enjoy the glorious weather we are promised! I am 36 and I ahve to say my thirties have been the best years ever! I am LOVING them! The only thing I don't like is the speed at which they are passing - My Mom tells me they are the best years of your life but they also go the fastest so I am trying to enjoy every moment! I think you are right - having children does make the time go by so fast!

    Enjoy!

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  11. PS I hope you are able to have a picture taken with each of you children and your husband today for your year of photos blog!!!! :) that would be wonderful on your birthday! I do that each year on Mothers Day with my children!

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  12. Happy birthday! I kind of dreaded my last birthday, but hope I'll be more mature about my age this year. Hope you have a great day!

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  13. Oh, you are but a babe. ;) Happiest of Birthdays to you, you incredibly energetic mommy! Hope you had a special day.

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  14. 33! You are practically a baby. But a smart one to know that seasoned really is better. Hope the weekend festivities were the bomb

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  15. Yay! You finally caught up with me. Now, we're "33-buddies"!!! ;)

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  16. Happy birthday to you. Hey, we are of the same age, just that I need a few more months to catch up with you.

    I don't mind getting old as long as our hearts are still young. Cheers.

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  17. I had my first at 25 which is certainly a reasonable age to have a baby, but around these parts that was still considered to be very young. People still look at me in shock that I have a 13 year old, and I always laugh and say, "Well, I AM 38 you know!" Like, how old am I supposed to be?!?!

    You look fabulous and I hope you had an absolutely wonderful birthday!!

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  18. Happy Belated Birthday to you, my friend! Sorry I'm late to the party but you're one of my favorites! I completely admire your commitment to learning another language. Good for you!

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  19. What is that saying . . . Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans. Yeah, been there. For me, everything took longer than I anticipated. I had J in my 30s. I'm hoping he'll keep me young!

    Happy B-day! I personally think you look fantabulous!!!

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  20. I can't believe I missed it!
    Happy belated birthday Kristen!

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