Later this year I turn (gulp) 40. And with this big birthday around the corner, I began thinking that maybe I should start acting my age.
Because here is the thing: I don’t act my age. I just don’t. Mostly because I don’t know how an almost 40-year-old is supposed to act. Is there a textbook on this or something I can download on my Kindle to explain how to act my age? No? Really, no? Hmmm. I didn’t think so.
Which brings me to my question, do I really need to act my age?
These are some things I am pondering. So should an almost 40-year-old:
- Skip or dance down the hallway if no one is around?
- Enjoy a trip to Toys-R-Us as much as my dudes do?
- Sing loudly and poorly and not be embarrassed even in the grocery store?
- Say words like “cool,” “sweet” and “cute” frequently?
- Sport a pony tail frequently?
- Be mesmerized by glittery things (oooh, pretty!)?
- Chew gum and blow bubbles?
- Making up crazy car dances when certain songs come on like Train’s Drive By or Madonna’s Borderline?
- Use hand gestures that resemble those of a 13-year-old drama queen?
- Cry when people are mean to animals in movies?
- Laugh really loud and not care who hears me (Valleygirl96 aka Brainvomit40 knows my laugh travels miles)?
- Go to the midnight showings of all of the Twilight movies and the final two Harry Potter films (and consider dressing up for the latter)?
- Giggle when the word fart or poop is mentioned?
- Jump up and down when I am happy or excited about something?
- Sneak Halloween candy from my dudes?
- Take super silly pictures of random things on my iPhone (wanna see my picture of the rock that cracked my windshield)?
- Screen calls from assorted people (sorry, Mom!)?
- Take almost daily naps after school (thanks to The Captain this can happen!)?
- Continue my text conversation with my brother that contains newly created words like poopalicious, poopapalooza and poopsicle?
- Randomly speak in different accents (my Southern and New Jersey ones are best!)?
- Give silly nicknames to everyone (Sorry again, Crazy Pat, I mean Mom!)?
I guess my final question is what is age appropriate? And who would be the role models of success to tell me and demonstrate the proper age I need to adjust to? Because if I don’t have any idea, then I am just going to keep doing what I’m doing. Like speaking in a Yoda voice and saying, “May the Fourth Be With You.” Because, after all, Star Wars rocks, it is May 4th and I am a kid at heart.
jeandayfriday 
I will continue to chew bubble gum, make poo jokes, and sport a pony tail if you will. And I’ve even got a few years on you. 😉
A list like that could only come from a person who’s fun-loving and doesn’t take life too seriously. And that is never a bad thing. 🙂
Glad to have a ponytail wearing, poo joke telling, bubble gum chewing, blog writing, Ohio pal! 🙂
Going by your list, are you calling me immature ?!?!?
Thanks !
We can be immature together, how does that sound?! 🙂
Sweet – I have Madonna downloaded and extra bubble gum !
I steal candy from my little dudes all the time. I’ve hit 40 and am still rolling strong.
Good to know that I am not the only candy stealer! Thanks for stopping by! If I could, I would send some yummy Reese’s eggs your way!
You guessed my favorites on the first try.
Brilliant minds think alike!
As far as I’m concerned, the things on your list are fun for ALL ages. If I have to stop doing those things, then in the words of Peter Pan, “I don’t wanna grow up.” Stop laughing at fart jokes? Pshaw! (Which would also make a funny-sounding fart, wouldn’t it? Hee hee!)
I love the wisdom of Peter Pan! And yes, that would make a funny fart sound! Lol!
Scrap the list. I’m W-A-Y older than you and still embarrass my 34-year-old daughter. Too bad, I say. You only live once. If you THINK of age, it will AGE you. Got it. Now, proceed what you were doing.
I think it may be a mom’s job to embarrass our children. I try to on a daily basis! 🙂
Pffft, I say act however you want as long as you’re responsible, respectful, etc.
Absolutely, Carly, absolutely! Those two Rs are good ones!
Happy Birthday–I hope it’s great! I actually hated 39 and loved 40 (I got over my hangup the year before). But remember, it’s only a number. Just be yourself! Great post!
We are heading to Vegas later this summer to celebrate my transition to 40. I think that will help a lot! 🙂
I see nothing wrong with that list whatsoever.
Thank you! I think I will continue the things on the list and more. 🙂
I say keep doing what you’re doing. There are no rules. I’m older than you and break these things daily, regardless of what my girls think. I figure that eventually everyone will just write me off as that crazy-ass old lady who’s strange, yet kind of funny. I look forward to those days in a way, haha.
Me too! Lol! To aging with fun and silliness!
The only rule I try to follow at 40plus is to leave a smile on peoples faces. You should do all of the above on your list whenever the spirit moves you. Come on in the water is fine. 🙂
I am right there with you – and a smile is a powerful thing, isn’t it?! 🙂
You are at the perfect age for all of those actions – it’s important to practice now, because when you are truly an old lady and you wear a purple dress and red hat you will be expected to act like that. That, and age is a relative thing and what is good for you is good for you at any age.
I love the red hat club! I will embrace my inner craziness! 🙂
Please don’t grow up if it means changing those things. Hey, I’m almost 50 and I’m with you 100%.
Any word that contains poop is the best. I’ve used poopsicle a couple of times myself!
Poop words are hilarious! I am glad you have also used the word poopsicle. It is a funny one!
I think the best thing about turning 40 is that finally you know what you want in life! Do what you feel like doing but be careful jumping up and down… there can be unfortunate consequences for a 40 year old woman who does that after drinking too many liquids!
Lol! I am sure there are! Jumping can have many different unpleasant effects: I have had an unfortunate bra incident with jumping. Darn wire!
Sounds like you enjoy life and that is the point! Forget about age-appropriateness and keep having fun.
You are so right! I think I will just keep skipping down the hallway and more! 🙂
Welcome to the club, babe! Have I taught you nothing about how not to grow up? And I’m not planning to anytime soon!
Amen, sister! Cheers to not growing up! 🙂
And car/garage dancing to “Drive By.” Woot woot!
Happy upcoming Birthday! I’ve found my 40’s to be completely liberating. Plus, I really don’t care if people think my inner child has too much play time. Their just jealous! Play, Laugh, and Live!
Okay, I can’t spell ‘they’re’ not their. sigh
Yes, yes, a thousand times yes you should do all those things! I am all for growing older disgracefully… I fully intend to wear a t-shirt that says ‘fartknocker’ on it when I am sixty…
I am rolling on the floor laughing at the “fartknocker” t-shirt! Hilarious! I frequently look at cafepress.com at the hilarious t-shirts. 🙂
40 is not the end of the world is it 😀 Its the beginning of another you.
What wonderful sage advice! Thank you – I needed that! 🙂
I think your list perfectly describes how an almost-40 year old should act, if you ask me!
Thanks! I think I will keep chomping on my gum while swinging my ponytail and skip down the hall (or through the grocery store – which is not as much fun!). 🙂
The beauty of 40 is that you can do any of those things you mentioned and you won’t care who doesn’t like it. Enjoy!
I like your thinking! 🙂
You might already know, but I’m just going through my list of followers, so…
As one of my followers, I would like to invite you to the dark side…my slightly more intense blog: http://nothobblingnow.wordpress.com/ Hope to see you there!
I will check out your intense blog soon! I am waiting to add more blogs to my reading as school is out for summer!
Sounds good!
Hey! I am over fifty! Don’t sweat it! I hope you had a happy birthday!
Thank you! I am having a progressive birthday this year. I actually don’t hit the 40th until 9/11, but I am going to start celebrating like every day is a birthday! 🙂
Great idea!
I’ve always liked to say that we are not only the age we ARE…we’re also the ages that came before it. We should feel free to channel any earlier age we want, at any time. Happy Birthday!
Sarah, I am doing a lot of channeling right now! I think tomorrow I am going to regress to 25 for a little while. I liked 25. If only I knew then what I know now!
I’m with you!!
I always say….Remain a kid at heart, just be responsible. 😀
Tammy, great advice! I think being a kid at heart is the best thing. And having ice cream frequently helps, too! 😉
ice cream is just the cherry on top.. LOL
I have a theory that nobody actually grows up at all, they just pretend to because of peer pressure 😉 If you’re supposed to been grown up and responsible once you hit 40, I’m walking in front of a bus at 39.
Good theory! That peer pressure is crazy, isn’t it?! 😉 Cheers to Peter Pan and never acting like a true grown up!
I’m 42 going on 20! The only way to be, in my opinion…
So true! I think this week I am going to act 25. I always liked being 25. 😉
Pingback: On the eve of 40 | jeandayfriday
Don’t worry about “acting your age” I may only be 20 but all around me all I hear is “maturity this, maturity that yada yada yada” I don’t care about all that stuff, sounds boring as hell to me, I’ll have enough time to be boring and grumpy when I’m old and start getting sick but for as long as my body works just fine and for as long as I’m still young I’m gonna enjoy all the things that I’m able to do now and society might frown down upon me but frankly I don’t care because I’m happy this way.
My friends and I get all kinds of weird looks when we run around, chasing each other with sticks, pretending those sticks are swords just like we always did when we were kids, people roll their eyes when they see us play fighting outside or when we just go around calling each other names or making poo jokes or mum jokes or whatever and tell us to act our age or to grow up.
People online do that too and they put you down just because you’re trying to have some fun like it’s illegal to smile and laugh.
To get back to what I was saying about being old and grumpy, I’m obviously not a 100% serious about that but look at it this way, when you’re old you’re not gonna be able to do the things (as well) as you used to when you were young and that alone is a good enough reason to just have fun whenever you can because you might regret that you didn’t do it at that time when you’re old and it’s too late to get up and do it.
Sorry if this got lengthy but what I’m saying is don’t ever change, you’re fucking awesome.