Meme from Weekly WrapUp:
Up to this past week, what milestones have you celebrated in your life (college, marriage, career, birthdays, parenthood, etc.)?
I’ve celebrated 33 birthdays (the same number my dad celebrated, now that I think about it) (GAH). I’ve graduated from college and earned my M.A. and Ph.D. (The M.A. and Ph.D. tend to be what people care about, but the B.A. was so much more difficult to earn.) I’ve gotten married and celebrated 11 wedding anniversaries. I’ve been married 1/3 of my life. Gah to the gah gah GAH. I’ve tried a couple careers and have settled for now on the program evaluation stuff I’m doing right now. I’ve become a homeowner. I’ve birthed four children; I’ve birthed my last child. I’ve escaped death, survived death, and witnessed death.
Do you feel as though you are on track with your peers, ahead, or behind?
I frame a lot of what I’ve done in my life around my dad’s death (which I’m sure gets annoying, but it is the truth of my life)… That event ingrained in me, without even being conscious of it, the idea that nothing is permanent, everything is fleeting. I got pregnant with Kieran when I was barely 24. It was a decision I made because I wanted to spend as much time as possible on this planet with my children. Our time here is not unlimited. The earlier I started, I rationalized, the more of their lives I’d get to see. Same thing with school and most other milestones in my life.
Do you work toward milestones or just let them come?
I think I’ve always scratched and scraped and thrashed toward milestones, willing them to happen even when they were difficult or shouldn’t. But now, I’m in much more of a stasis. We might buy a bigger house. Maybe. It’s likely my job will change. Probably. I’ll retire if I make it that far. But beyond that, I’m just a passenger at this point. Milestones for my children are looming. I’m watching them rush toward us, but I’m trying not to force or prevent anything.
Will you soon be coming across any milestones?
My dad died eight days before he would have turned 34. That will happen in May for me and will surely both creep me out and make me sad. Any other milestones coming up will belong to my children. :) As it should be.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m sorry your dad died so young, before he was able to share in all the wonderful milestones your life would bring you. My husband has a few years to go, but thinks often that both his dad & his paternal grandfather died at 62.
Looking back at all my milestones after reading your post, makes me realize that the one I’ve been dreading, that 40th birthday, next summer is really just another milestone in a long list of milestones in my life.
Thanks! :)
Happy VGNO, a little late! Come over & check out my blog, I was honored this week & I’m excited to share the news! http://juliechats.blogspot.com/
Great post and what interesting stories you have shared with everyone. I used to have goals and ideas of where I should be at a certain age but I’ve dropped those. I’ve lost a boyfriend to a violent, senseless act of crime and had a nervous breakdown that has shaped me forever. Now I try to let life come to me. I think I’ve learned not to let others opinions shape my decisions or society decide what I should or should not do. That is why at the age of 35 I dropped everything and became an artist and a writer. Thanks again for this awesome post!!
It’s both amazing and obvious that experiences like this affect us so significantly, and essentially change the people we become. I really love your art. I’m raising a little artist, so I hope to learn from you how to encourage this.
Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry to hear you lost your dad when you (and he) were so young!
Thanks so much for sharing a little piece of your world with us!
.-= Carolee´s last blog ..I’m giving myself a raise! =-.
“I’m watching them rush toward us”..
That line took my breath away.
.-= Christine´s last blog ..Roasted Red Potatoes and Onions =-.