tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post7918739839159425218..comments2023-11-19T21:42:17.901-08:00Comments on My Path to Mommyhood: And How Are You Doing With The Whole Turning 40 Thing?Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15868505568965284742noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post-84794949417510211382016-04-30T12:52:57.757-07:002016-04-30T12:52:57.757-07:00Thank you and happy birthday right back at you! I ...Thank you and happy birthday right back at you! I have ups and downs with my birthday, but I'm trying to make the best of it and look at all the things I can be super proud of (and that I had control over), so that those overshadow the arena that's still to come. Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15868505568965284742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post-43693280266684282292016-04-30T12:51:55.921-07:002016-04-30T12:51:55.921-07:00Thank you so much, appreciated on both counts! :)Thank you so much, appreciated on both counts! :)Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15868505568965284742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post-13033686900234120132016-04-29T08:40:46.658-07:002016-04-29T08:40:46.658-07:00Here from Mel's round-up and so glad I got to ...Here from Mel's round-up and so glad I got to read this. I am also turning 40 next month, but in a very different place in both my life and my attitude. I love how you are looking to the positive, and how wonderfully you described the beauty in your marriage, home, work, and self-care regimen. You really used your 30s to set an incredible foundation for the new joys your 40s hopefully bring. Happy Birthday!Anahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00006807775816627217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post-1591835383721253752016-04-29T05:52:06.965-07:002016-04-29T05:52:06.965-07:00Happy birthday! and best wishes to you on your jou...Happy birthday! and best wishes to you on your journey!Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00645501856133628248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post-15252946916185844782016-04-29T01:03:21.951-07:002016-04-29T01:03:21.951-07:00I really, really like this post. It is not easy b...I really, really like this post. It is not easy being older and wanting to start a family when so many people are in the thick of doing it. It can make you feel like you are behind or missed out. But really, it is just reorganizing things a little. Some people say they lose themselves in their thirties when they are focused on being a parent. Then time comes along and wakes them up in their forties and they may need to go find themselves. Maybe being older when entering parenting allows you to know who you are. It may give you an edge of confidence and wisdom and prioritization. Love your attitude as you ready yourself for a new decade!Jamiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06275071143469111072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post-2921867730892225682016-04-26T18:06:46.969-07:002016-04-26T18:06:46.969-07:00Thank you so much -- I feel like that's what l...Thank you so much -- I feel like that's what life is, right? A mixed bag of hard parts and good parts and hopes for the future with a little (or a lot of) fear sprinkled in. Thank you for your kinds words, and I'm glad it resonated with you!Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15868505568965284742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post-86618147461656379942016-04-26T18:05:23.074-07:002016-04-26T18:05:23.074-07:00Thank you -- I agree, I feel like the months leadi...Thank you -- I agree, I feel like the months leading up to 40 have had me really examining my life and evaluating where I am. I do have an awful lot of checkboxes, which is lovely. That "parent" one will come, and I appreciate your thoughts on being an older parent! A friend send me the most lovely text message explaining how having your family close to middle age doesn't really allow you to have that midlife crisis where you're fearing death as much, because you've got this new life just beginning. I loved that. Thank you so much for your thoughts -- I hope the 40s are amazing. My 30s are a hard act to follow, even with all the struggling to have a baby. Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15868505568965284742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post-1066112053641653182016-04-26T18:03:07.131-07:002016-04-26T18:03:07.131-07:00Thank you -- I love that idea that the dark spiral...Thank you -- I love that idea that the dark spirals come, but we don't let them take over anymore because we're wiser than that now, or have more power, or something equally awesome. I agree that the whole life is temporary thing is more and more realized the older you get, but hopefully that just inspires us to keep juicing everything we can out of the fruit we've got. Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15868505568965284742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post-2126570770807417832016-04-26T18:01:31.517-07:002016-04-26T18:01:31.517-07:00Thank you! I definitely think that we have made ou...Thank you! I definitely think that we have made our own happiness. :)Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15868505568965284742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post-83751311122797782392016-04-26T07:36:42.138-07:002016-04-26T07:36:42.138-07:00This is beautiful and so encapsulates all the mess...This is beautiful and so encapsulates all the messy loveliness of living. You have an amazing way of integrating both the hard parts and the hopes and the good. <br /><br />Totally hear you about the people who insist one must be grateful when mourning a loss and how frustrating that can be. I love how you point out that when that motivation to be grateful comes from within, however, it's a very different thing.<br /><br />May it be a happy birthday for you with celebration and so many good things to come. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post-8189564227136934752016-04-25T05:24:17.567-07:002016-04-25T05:24:17.567-07:00Birthdays always bring reflection. Decade birthday...Birthdays always bring reflection. Decade birthdays bring analysis. Grey is turning 40 yrs old this year and it's brought a lot of self analysis for both of us. It's hard not to compare and beat yourself up for what hasn't been accomplished or about dreams that were missed.<br /><br />The thing is, there's beauty with living your life. Just as you've pointed out here. That even though you'll be exiting your 30s without checking the box that says "parent," you've still got so many things to check. And there are advantages to being that older parent too. <br /><br />Beautiful post. May your 40s be a decade where the last of those pieces fall into place.Cristyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04317873211902543387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post-72830930093957773022016-04-24T07:09:20.171-07:002016-04-24T07:09:20.171-07:00I think one of the lessons of getting older is tha...I think one of the lessons of getting older is that while the "dark spirals" might still be there, we can get better at avoiding them and minimizing their power. So the dark spiral or the fear of it doesn't take over everything. It sounds like you are in an amazing place in your life. A happy life makes all the age milestones easier. Of course the other lesson of aging is that everything is temporary and will come to an end (hoping this particular one at least can be learned fairly gradually). A child in one's life can take some of the sting out of that one, and I hope that happens fir you soon! In the meantime I'm sure you are doing wonderful things with your students: it's not the same as parenting, but there are parallels. torthúilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738803052167620020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post-46843140223712961132016-04-24T03:35:44.898-07:002016-04-24T03:35:44.898-07:00Sometimes in life we have to make our own happines...Sometimes in life we have to make our own happiness and you and Bryce have done an amazing job of doing just that. Happiest of Birthdays to you Jess, so much more to come. Love Nancy XONancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10554620946819802060noreply@blogger.com