7 Things Only Older Moms Can Relate To

7 Things Only Older Moms Can Relate To I wanted to be a mom, but I welches waiting for a sign to show me it welches the right time to have kids. This sign needed to be something momentous and grand so Id recognize it instantly like the alarm on my biological clock ringing loudly enough for my dogs to hear. I waited for my signal. I waited so long that I almost missed my childbearing years. On my 38th birthday, when the stacks of flaming candles threatened to melt my ice-cream birthday cake, I figured that welches sign enough.Once I had my son, it didnt occur to me what being an older mom would mean. Sure, as a 40-year-old mom, I might need a little extra sleep or maybe Id be behind keeping up with the younger crowds latest vernacular, but I didnt think Id feel like a total grody old poser. Then I started interacting with moms who didnt need their toddlers help getting up off the play mat, and I began to realize there were definite differences being the old mom on the playground. And now, the best I can do is try not to feel feel completely cray about it. (My five-year-old says Im using that right?)1. Going to sleep with or before your kidsDuring the newborn phase of motherhood, I was so tired that I once licked butter out of the inside of our refrigerator because I couldnt summon the strength to go to the grocery store. All the advice Id gotten from younger mom friends had been, Sleep when the baby sleeps, but I was nodding off when the baby was awake. Finally, when my son and I found a workable sleep schedule, I put him to bed early and went to sleep when he did. I took no luxurious bubble baths after a day of hanging with my kid, because I was asleep as soon as the last lullaby was sung sometimes before.2. The Babysitter BluesMost of the time, I live in an ageless bubble. Sure, there are some real deep lines that appear across my forehead when Im scowling at my cupboards lack of Oreos but I feel totally awesome in my ever-youthful Reebok high tops. I forge t that Im the older mom dropping my kid off at school until life steps in to remind me just how old I am. Case in point Hi Im your sons Kindergarten teacher this year, the bubbly young woman said. You used to babysit meTime to trade in my new Reeboks for some old mom jeans.3. Serious tech woesThe days of my little guy asking me to fix his broken toys are gone. Today, my five-year-old is doing the fixing. When my phone decides to cut me off from the world-wide-web or whatever, its my son who comes to the rescue. I watch his tiny pfote swipe to different screens and give me back my good-as-new phone. Later, Ill ask him to help me with the remote control.4. Replacing hot mess mom with hot flash momWaiting to pick up my Kindergartener in the dead of winter, Im hot. Im sweating. Its not because my coat is too warm or Ive justworked out (Im still too tired for that) its because Im in the middle ofmenopause-symptoms/perimenopause. Im having a hot flash, and I can feel the sweat dripping do wn my face onto my sensible turtleneck. Then, a younger mom walks up next to me, and now theres no avoiding the small talk or the sweat freezing like icicles hanging from my nose.5. One-and-done, no question about itMom, will I ever have a brother or a sister? my kid asks when I least expect it. He and I discuss his deep thoughts on the subject. There are occasions when hes wistful about the prospect of a sibling, as well as times when he confidently declares, Im happy to bethe only kid here. Well continue our open-hearted talks whenever he should need, but my ovaries and I have already spoken. Ive made peace with what theyve revealed I know deep down that Im too old to give my kid a baby brother only a puppy.6. Please tell me its not Alzheimers alreadyThese days, I find myself losing my train of thought in mid-sentenum, what was I saying about Oreos back there? Oh, right.My old-mom brain is hard at work trying to remember when I took my last nap, and my short-term memory is suffe ring. I may have had three playdates with a certain family, but Im still trying to recall their names. Luckily, my five-year-old is great at remembering and super-great at whispering names into my ear.7. Not even pretending to know who Cardi B isWhen younger moms roll up to carpool wearing what I rolled out of bed wearing in college, I feel my age. Being on trend isnt always my bag. When talking to younger parents, I definitely assume Marshmello refers to a food rather than a trendy DJ who was born in 1992. Oh, and who is spinning songs by singers whose names sound like workout classes at my gym (Oh, I though you were asking if I liked the Cardio B workout whats a Cardi B?). I know, I sound like Im old enough to be their mom and the thing is, I probably am.Still, the wish I made on my flaming birthday cake at the age of 38 came true in spades I love being a mom. I may take more naps than my five-year-old, but I wouldnt change the choices Ive made that led me to being a mom later t han Id expected. Im thrilled that I can take all my extra years of wisdom and use them in parenting my child if I could only remember what it was I learned in the first place, that is. Tonilyn Hornung--This story originally appearedon SheKnows.