09.21.11
My birthday is at the very end of August, so I’ve always been “the young one.” My friends turned each age months before I did, which was always pointed out — especially at ages like 16 and 21. My first boyfriend used my “young age” (two years younger) as an excuse to break my heart. So, yeah, age has always been a sensitive issue with me. I’ve always wanted to be older than I was. I always felt older than I was.
Yeah, I just turned 17…but…you know…
I’ve always been the young one.
And now? Now I’m still the young one — but in a completely different way.
Now I have years — decades, even — of separation from other moms, not just mere months. And even though I first felt insecure, isolated, from the difference, I’ve come to realize something:
As Noah gets older, goes off to school, gets involved in activities, I’ll almost always be among the youngest of moms. It’s something I’ll never, ever shake. But the older we get, the less old we want to become. Those “you’re so young!” comments will be less demeaning and more envy-driven. Of course we might still encounter the occasional mean-girl-turned-mean-mom who will target anything they can to tear us down — age is an easy target, let me tell you — but we’ll know the deal. We’ll know they’d give anything to be 27, 32, 41 again.
And, honestly, feeling youthful isn’t the worst thing in the world.
Photos: Measuringtape.tumblr, Flickr/Shirley Two Feathers
6 Comments to Reason #16: Always the Young One
Tiny Blue Lines
September 21, 2011 at 4:15 pm
So true! It takes a while to get there though. Now, when I’m at the hospital and my co-workers comment, “Wow! You look so young to have two kids! it takes all I have to say, “Yeah? Well you look so old…:
Jen
September 21, 2011 at 5:20 pm
Probably one of my favorite reasons! I love that when I’m 27 my child will be starting kindergarten when my friends will just be starting out. We will be the MILFs while they will be the typical “mom”. My bday is also in August so I totally understand where your coming from, I was always the youngest of all my friends.
Jenna
September 22, 2011 at 12:54 pm
i agree 100%. i am 26 and i get the ” you must be what, 18?” all the time & at first it made we wanna crawl in a hole! i would think NO! i am a 20 something MOM & WIFE!! but now i am flattered! and just say “Thanks!” because hopefully that means when im 40 ppl will think i am not a day over 30
and like you said anyone who makes rude comments is just insecure because they wish they were younger or at least looked younger 
Amber
September 22, 2011 at 2:32 pm
This works in our children’s favor too. My mom had me at nineteen and growing up I always felt grateful that she was younger.
It just felt like she was more in touch than my friends’ parents who were one to two to two and a half decades older.
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