Drew Ross2 said:Why are they acting like it’s such a shock that the kids are already college-aged? Of course it’s easier now—it was always going to be. You really should have been paying closer attention—and asking the right questions—back when they were actually little. 😁
It’s irreplaceable—if you can even call it that. 😳
While everyone else your age was out making mistakes and living it up, you were stuck being the responsible kid—the one who actually had their act together. Now that you're finally ready to let loose and make up for lost time, you realize there's no one left to go with. Most of them are already busy playing suburban parents and chasing toddlers around. It’s a bit of a catch-22, I guess. 🐔
I suppose it depends on when someone actually starts going out. For me, I started around fifteen, but by the time I hit eighteen, the whole scene just lost its appeal... though it's not like I felt like I missed out on anything essential.
I don't think it's really about trying to make up for lost mischief once your kids are grown; it’s more about the fact that they aren't the center of your universe anymore, so you finally have space to be yourself again. You suddenly have the luxury of grabbing a coffee whenever you feel like it, instead of coordinating babysitters or dragging a child along... It's about realizing that if you don't feel like cooking, you don't have to, or if you want to head out for a weekend getaway, you can just go without all the massive logistical planning.
And what does "wilding out" even mean to people? Is it just getting drunk and acting reckless while you're barely aware of where you are or who is watching?
Honestly, at forty, I wouldn't dream of being in that state in public... Youth might give you a pass for certain behaviors, but the idea of dancing on a bar counter while half-drunk? God forbid. I can certainly do that in my own home with a few close friends, but that's about it. 😁