Ageing Gracefully

Sunday, I started my Sex and the City box set again, and yesterday I watched the episode called twenty something girls vs thirty something women.  The episode is about the vast difference that the women had gone through since their twenties.  This episode combined with the fact that my 26th birthday is coming up next weekend has me thinking a lot about whether or not it's actually age that determines "maturity" or if it has more to do with experience. 

For example, my younger brother-in-law just turned sixteen last month and about a week before his birthday he got into some big trouble.  Some trouble that could possibly really effect him for a few years and as a family we were all so disappointed quite honestly.  Not that my husband, my other brother-in-law or myself could honestly say that we also hadn't been in trouble when we were younger, but rather that our major mistakes came later on.  Were we more mature at sixteen or just got away with more?  By the time I was sixteen I had been working at my family's flower shop for years, been a part of a team, been making my own food, etc.  This isn't the case for my younger brother.  Did my experiences make me more mature?

Bear with me here, I've got another one.  As I said, I'm going to be twenty six.  I'll be twenty six, met my husband at nineteen, married at twenty five, bought our first house the same year.  With the exception of having children, what makes me less wise than my thirty something counter parts?  My husband is a whooping 4 1/2 years older than me.  (that's right, my man piece is the big 3-0)  Having a thirty year old husband means hanging out with plenty of other thirty somethings.  I never feel the age difference.

I do feel that I have learned a lifetime of knowledge since I met my husband.  I changed from a young lady into a woman in a few short years.  I moved out of my mom's house and into an apartment...with a boy (eek)...became responsible for a dog...moved AGAIN...left a career...planned a wedding...and now I am responsible for a home, two dogs, a man (that has a incredible mother that I find myself trying to fill the shoes of) and work full time.  I left my teens and I am sitting comfortably in my mid-twenties.  Am I the lovely woman I am today because of my age or rather because of the influence of experience, a sweet man, a terrific family and a faithful group of friends?  I choose the latter.

Twenty six and nothing to fix.  That's what our friend Monique told me and I like to think that's the truth. :)

(19 and 24)

"Count your age by friends, not years.  Count your life by smiles, not tears." John Lennon