“We need a Slip ‘N Slide at our next girls’ pool day!” When those words came out of my friend’s mouth, I bet the look on my face was a mix of confusion and fear. I was floating in the pool with a bubbly beverage in my hand, the oldest of all the moms gathered that day (I’d just turned 40) and I blurted out, “I’m too old for that.”
You’d think I’d just proposed that at our next girls’ day, we sit around crocheting and drinking Ensure. How could I poo-poo a Slip ‘N Slide? I’ll tell you how. It hurts to fall when you’re 40. In fact, I try to avoid it. And there are other things I’ve decided I’m too old for now that I’m not 20. You might not realize it, but you’re probably too old for these 7 things too.
OK—maybe “old” isn’t the best word. After all, I’m healthier now than I was in my 30s. Instead of “I’m too old,” what these years actually have taught me is that I’m too wise or too confident to do certain things I used to do. And ladies, once we stop trying to be what we once were, we’ll probably find that we feel more like the women we were made to be.
1. Drinking Too Much
Drinking too much is not a good look at any age, but now, there’s really no excuse. We all know what it means to drink responsibly and those times we mess up, it hurts. Bad. I’m too old to miss my kid’s baseball game on Saturday or church on Sunday morning because of a hangover.
2. Sitting at a Table Where I Might Be the Topic When I Get Up
Life as an adult shouldn’t be like the cafeteria in junior high. If you are friends with ladies who gossip about each other, it’s time to find new friends. You’re too old not to be in fruitful relationships with other women.
3. Spending More Than an Hour Working Out
If exercise is your go-to hobby or form of relaxation, go for it. For me, I work out to stay at a healthy weight and fitness level, and I can do that in 30 minutes a day. I don’t need to kill myself striving for perfection, whatever that is, and my physical and mental health hinge on so many other things that also require an investment of my time.
4. Staring at Myself in the Mirror
Know what I’m not too old for? Eighties movie quotes. Ferris Bueller said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” We invest a good chunk of time in looking at ourselves and worrying that we look fat, wrinkled, tired… pick your poison. Now I’m too old for that. I’d rather check once and then see what’s happening in the world around me.
5. Not Investing Time in Personal Growth
A mentally and spiritually healthy mom is a priceless gift to her family. So putting personal growth on the back burner is a waste of precious time. We are too old to deny the value of counseling, prayer, and growth work.
6. Keeping up With Popular Culture
I love music, so I thought I’d always be the mom who knew who every top 40 singer was. Wrong. And worse, I often find myself saying, “This song is awful.” Now, thanks to TikTok, I’m just waving the white flag. I surrender. Moms, we are too old to keep up with every celebrity, use every slang word, or download every app. We just have to know our children and keep the conversation with them going.
7. Denying That I Like What I Like
Yep, some of those songs stink. And you know what? Some of the songs I said I loved when I was 16 also stunk (I’m lookin’ at you, Cotton Eye Joe!), but I was afraid to have my own opinion. We’re all too old for that now. Coco Chanel said, “The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.” You be you! Like who and what you like.
And Slip ‘N Slides. I’m too old for Slip ‘N Slides.
What are you too old, wise, or confident to do?
