You Might Be in Your 40s If…

When I was in my teens, my mom was in her early 40s, and it felt like every parent around me was too. They seemed so far removed from youth, so entrenched in that “middle-aged” vibe, which, let’s be honest, didn’t spark any excitement for me. But now that I’m in my 40s, I realize it’s just another chapter of growth, filled with quirky milestones and moments of self-revelation. Here’s what I’ve learned:

You find yourself calling your parents out of the blue to apologize for all the teenage drama you put them through in the late ’80s.
When you see a young mom juggling a toddler and a baby bump, you think: “Glad that’s not me,” “How did I manage that?” and “Most of what she worries about is trivial.”
Your last visit to the doctor included conversations about calcium and the joys of perimenopause.
You finally decide it’s time to invest in a proper skincare routine.
Your college years feel like they were just yesterday, yet a distant memory at the same time.
You’ve traded fantasies of creating a dreamy Pottery Barn Kids room for plans to renovate your home—once the last kid flies the coop.
Girls’ nights out take precedence over date nights with your spouse, every time.
You realize that the price tag on your handbag doesn’t define who you are—not even a little.
The mom guilt is gradually fading away. Cereal for dinner? Absolutely!
You wish you could take your grandmother out for lunch just one more time to share stories.
You might forget what you had for dinner last night, but you can belt out every word to Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” without missing a beat.
You can dominate at Wheel of Fortune and remember the days when contestants picked prizes from a catalog.
You see familiar faces from your favorite childhood shows in Lifetime and Hallmark movies and think, “Wow, they still rock it!”
When your teens ask about your own high school years, you confidently say, “I was the perfect student,” while inwardly groaning at their naïveté.
You genuinely believe that 1997 was just a blink ago.
You can’t believe your mom let you watch a movie about a glamorous escort marrying a millionaire at 17—especially since Julia Roberts was only 22!
Your husband thinks the women in those Cialis commercials are stunning—and you can’t help but agree.
You’re convinced there’s such a thing as “second puberty.” Seriously, why are my breasts making a comeback now?
Your new bragging rights come from having three cars fully paid off.
You wake up in a panic from dreams of unexpected pregnancies, gasping, “Nooo!” before a fleeting moment of “What if?”
You’re frustrated that you can’t slam the phone down on your teens, but relieved they can’t do that to you either.
You want to remind your teens daily that high school is definitely not the best time of their lives—far from it—and all that drama will fade soon.
Going to bed at 8:15 p.m. and waking up at 4:30 a.m. starts to feel like a reasonable plan, especially when you can enjoy the peace of a quiet house.
Date nights begin with a movie where you both lament the prices of popcorn before inevitably swinging by the grocery store for essentials.
You’ve mastered saying “No” and are thrilled to use it as a complete sentence without hesitation.
Each time you stumble upon “Pretty in Pink” or “Some Kind of Wonderful,” you stop to relive the magic until you see Keith and Watts kiss or Duckie’s iconic lip-sync.

The thought of turning 50 used to fill me with dread, but now? Not so much. After all, 50 is the new 30! If this decade is a reawakening, I can’t wait to see what the next one has in store—with all the delightful senior discounts to boot!

For more insights on managing life’s transitions, check out our other blog post here, and for authoritative information on home insemination, visit MakeAMom and Progyny for valuable resources.

Summary

Embracing your 40s means navigating strange yet enlightening milestones, from reflecting on your own parenting journey to realizing the importance of self-care and enjoying the peace of quiet moments. It’s a time for humor, nostalgia, and newfound freedom as you prepare for the next exciting decade.

Summary

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