Am I getting older ??

As far as perceptions of age are concerned, I’m officially over the hill. I will turn 40 this year and, despite some claims that it’s the new 30, I’m yet to feel it. Particularly of late.

I don’t know whether it’s because of lockdown fatigue creeping in, the cumulative stress of ten years trying to move houses, or the fact that we finally managed to do so, but I’m starting to feel middle-aged well before my time.

Let’s examine some of the evidence for this ‘middle age dread’ as I like to call it. One of my big recent highlights was getting a water butt. Closely followed by when it eventually rained and we got a little water in it.

Last weekend, I spent more than an hour making a spreadsheet of all our monthly outgoings, having a rant about price hikes in the process. I then spent a similar amount of time gardening the plants which are merely as much as “ Pandavas”.

And last week, I got mardy about my car key missing.

But having a kid keeps you young, right? Well, to a certain degree, yes. I’m still pleased that one of the silver linings of life in lockdown is more time with him.

However, he’s growing up so quickly and I can feel my status of relatively cool dad starting to slip away.

A few days back, I was chatting with him about a game he played on his tablet when I got the name of the in-game reward wrong. And he did a face.

I had never seen this expression on him but immediately recognized it. He was puzzled and amused in equal measure that I got something so basic so hilariously incorrect.

I remember feeling the same sense of incredulity at the same age. The realization that your parents don’t know everything is quite a moment. Not to mention a gift that keeps on giving.

And finally, we ventured out for some fresh air at the weekend. He wanted to bring his scooter but, remembering him belting ahead last time, I persuaded him a walk would be more excellent. And I still couldn’t keep up with him. Oh deary me.

I’ve always been a little old before my time – but I’m determined not to succumb to middle age just yet.

But first, a nap.

-------- BiH@g ( All © Reserved )

#parenting #beingadad