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.