The Big 3-0

Whew, just writing that title in reference to myself is like taking a wrecking ball to the sternum. Ack!

Over the course of the past few years, I have been watching each of my friends tip over the edge of 29 into the world of the age-ed (which sounds a little like "ancient" if you say it out loud). They all have wrestled with and conquered the milestone, some with more grace than others.

I'm not particularly "stoked" to be heading in the direction of arthritis, wheel chairs, and incontinence. But on the other hand, I'm excited to be growing up. I was talking to someone the other day who was 23. I considered my life that age, and came to the conclusion that there isn't compensation enough in this dimension to persuade me to return to 23.

It was where I stepped out of the working world and became a mother (If that landmark sounds rosy and idealistic to you, you either haven't crossed it, or you haven't had a baby like my first). We bought the house we're in now and began sharing our lives with the Schillings. We started our first La Crosse small group (at the pilot event, one of my nephews nearly cut another nephew's finger clean off with an axe, prematurely ending the night with a trip to the ER).

A lot has happened since then. I have watched some friends and relative pass away. But I have also met new friends since then (and held onto some of the old "keepers."), I have become an active member of my church, I have started writing a book, and I have gained an immeasurable amount of experience in the world of mothering and wife-ing. I have watched the baby butts I changed in the nursery walk across the stage and take their diploma. In short, I am enjoying the benefits of getting older.

I thought that since most of my closest friends are either just over 30 or fastly approaching to the mark, I would throw out some things that speak loudest to me about this particular age. Enjoy :)

• A wardrobe consisting of more pajama pants than jeans
• We remember when our mom was our age (although this won't be true for me until I'm *gulp* 40).
• Half-way to 60
• My hair is pulled back into a frantic ponytail most of the time.
• There is an expectation of responsibility; people no longer look at our screw-ups and compassionately toss out the old, "Eh, you're still young."
• I am neither an "old, boring mom," nor a "hip, young teenager." The clothes at the stores I usually shop at don't accommodate my birthed-3-children figure. And every other store is for my mom to shop at (no offense, Mom). Additionally, Maurice's no longer carries anything "cute," but only weird clothes that could only possibly look attractive on super models. I find myself asking "why do they only make clothes for 1% of the population?" And then I realize just how old the premise of that very question makes me sound.
• I chase my 2-year-old until the end of the day, when I hardly even have the energy to get off the couch and pee before going to bed.
• Wondering where my flat belly and smooth thighs (that I thought were fat) went to go multiply themselves into misfit clumps of matter stuffed under my skin-- like a pillow that's been washed too many times.
• On that note, we all know what a "pillow that's been washed too many times" looks like because we've changed too many toddler sheets in the morning (side note: Pull-Ups are a gimmick).
• I've had Spaghettio's, Oreos, hot dogs, and every other "kid" food regurgitated onto myself at some point.
• Any dreams of being a doctor, lawyer, or anything else requiring more than a 2-year degree are pretty much off the table.
• A 9:00 bedtime
• I'm finally used to my new last name.
• I was a teenager half a lifetime ago.
• My bedroom isn't decorated with the latest chic fashion or pictures of my buddies, but with thumb-print flowers and hand-print turkeys and stick people saying, "I love you Mom."
• My evenings aren't spent partying and hanging out with friends, but hoping the kids don't get out of bed AGAIN and mustering enough sanity in the quiet to make it another day without anyone calling up the homicide department on my behalf.
• Crows feet
• I have Goodnight Moon memorized.
• I get to keep the name "Mom" for the rest of my life :)
• I have a 30-year track record of a God who has never left my side-- despite many years of my keeping Him at arm's length.