Things I’ve Learned Since Becoming A Grown Up

That mascara isn’t as pants as you think it is – you just need to take off last night’s mascara before reapplying. In fact, your lashes and eyes like it much better if you remove your eye make up every night rather than just sleeping in it, waking like a grubby, smudged panda.

A quiet life is better than constant drama. Who cares if that person is living their life in a way you can’t understand? So what if that other person is annoying you in some way? Shrug it all off and get on with your own day.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a size twelve. It doesn’t magically make you a happier person, you can just fit into smaller clothes. Don’t spend all that time fretting over your body and feeling guilty because you ordered a side of chips. Life’s too short.

Buying cheap clothes is a false economy. Those £2 vest tops from Primark might look appealing, but they’ll shrink and go baggy at the same time (it’s so weird how some clothes can manage both) and you’ll only have to fork out for new vest tops next year.

It’s OK to go to bed at 10pm. Some people just need more sleep than others, and that’s fine. Listen to your body and what it’s telling you. (Also: those people who stay up til 2am every night? They’re probably just on Twitter or watching Made In Chelsea – you’re not missing out on much.)

Shopping highs are great but it’s even better when you actually have the money before you spend it. Overdrafts and credit cards are bad news. The stress and guilt they bring will seriously kill that new-buy-buzz.

It’s OK to go out without wearing any make up. No one will notice (probably) and if they do, they won’t care.

Your house doesn’t have to look like those houses on Pinterest. So you live in a messy home? No one can see that mound of clean washing that has been sitting at the end of your spare bed for weeks. The upturned furniture covering holes dug by foxes in your garden aren’t that big a deal. The mass of toys in the dining room that you’ve been meaning to organise for ages aren’t hurting anyone.

Kick leaves, get muddy, be silly. Sometimes it’s good to just let go. We’re so busy trying to be sensible and make good decisions every day, but every now and then (at least once a day, I’d say), it does you some good to just go with the flow.

Kick leaves... be silly1

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62 Comments

  1. January 21, 2014 / 7:39 am

    A great post, I agree with you on all points. Life is too short is a motto we live by as well.

    • notanothermummyblog
      Author
      January 21, 2014 / 7:08 pm

      It’s a great rule for life, isn’t it?

  2. January 21, 2014 / 8:20 am

    I’ve learnt the ‘kicking leaves and being silly’ bit, I think having kids teaches you that but I’ve also learnt that wearing nice clothes with young children around is totally pointless, so do it in your scruffs! My daughter is currently learning (or not) the mascara thing. She will NOT take it off at night, no matter how many times I ask her!

    • notanothermummyblog
      Author
      January 21, 2014 / 7:09 pm

      Yes, so true about wearing scruffy clothes around kids… no point in ruining nice clothes!

  3. Louisa
    January 21, 2014 / 9:03 am

    I totally agree, although I have to addmit that I’m the person who goes to be at 10pm but stays up until 2am playing on her laptop!

    • notanothermummyblog
      Author
      January 21, 2014 / 7:09 pm

      Haha… you probably get a lot more done than me.

  4. January 21, 2014 / 9:41 am

    Yep, nodding along to all of these. I know them, yet I still make the same mistakes.

    • notanothermummyblog
      Author
      January 21, 2014 / 7:10 pm

      We can but try 🙂

  5. January 21, 2014 / 9:52 am

    Yes, yes and thrice yes!
    I recently decided that if I want to eat a ruddy hobnob in the afternoon with my cup of tea than I jolly well will – and that alone felt quite liberating!

    • notanothermummyblog
      Author
      January 21, 2014 / 7:10 pm

      See, now you’ve just made me want a Hobnob…

  6. January 21, 2014 / 9:52 am

    Some good grown up advice there – i am pleased to say i am following it all.
    Bar the primark vests….will learn one day!

    • notanothermummyblog
      Author
      January 21, 2014 / 7:11 pm

      I’m not all for buying super pricey clothing – I’ve just had too many cheap as chips tops and dresses go shapeless v quickly.

  7. Lady Chappers
    January 21, 2014 / 10:15 am

    I’m not sure what I’m more upset about: finding out that you’re a grown-up or realising that, according to your list, I am too. WTAF? When did that happen? :p

    • notanothermummyblog
      Author
      January 21, 2014 / 7:11 pm

      Ssshhhh let’s pretend we’re not 😉

  8. Ninjacat
    January 21, 2014 / 10:54 am

    Brilliant I like SILLY !

    • notanothermummyblog
      Author
      January 21, 2014 / 7:12 pm

      Yay.

  9. fiona
    January 21, 2014 / 11:34 am

    hit the nail on the head…I love being a grown up without those worries – ok maybe I need to take the money advice a bit more! xx

    • notanothermummyblog
      Author
      January 21, 2014 / 7:12 pm

      Haha, the lure of pretty things is strong sometimes, isn’t it??

  10. January 21, 2014 / 11:49 am

    What a great post and I agree with everything on your list! I’ve stopped caring about my weight and am normally tucked up in bed by 10 at the latest!

    • notanothermummyblog
      Author
      January 21, 2014 / 7:12 pm

      Early nights rock 😀

  11. January 21, 2014 / 12:14 pm

    Yes! *punches air*

    This needs to be printed as a leaflet and given to new mums in their Bounty packs I tell ya!

    • notanothermummyblog
      Author
      January 21, 2014 / 7:19 pm

      Don’t mention Bounty packs around me! 😉

  12. Em @ snowingindoors
    January 21, 2014 / 12:18 pm

    Fantastic post, especially that bit about Primark vests!!

    • notanothermummyblog
      Author
      January 21, 2014 / 7:20 pm

      To be fair, Primark used to make top quality vests that lasted years. But recently… not so much.

  13. January 21, 2014 / 12:48 pm

    Too right. Perhaps we should start a rebel Pinterest board, ‘houses: the reality’, that would be much better for everyone’s peace of mind!

    • notanothermummyblog
      Author
      January 21, 2014 / 7:20 pm

      YES. Let’s do it.

  14. January 21, 2014 / 1:23 pm

    Great wisdom shown in this post, I agree with everything you said. Although I can never manage to go to bed at 10, I usually stay up way past midnight to write blog posts, comment…etc 🙂

    • notanothermummyblog
      Author
      January 21, 2014 / 7:22 pm

      We need more hours in the day, don’t we?!

  15. January 21, 2014 / 1:54 pm

    Agree – except about the cheap clothes bit 🙂 White Stuff is NOT cheap and is appalling quality, and whilst I abhor the stores Primark have some really good things!

    • notanothermummyblog
      Author
      January 21, 2014 / 7:21 pm

      Yes, you’re right – expensive doesn’t necessarily mean great quality.

  16. January 21, 2014 / 2:26 pm

    You’re very wise. All of your points are great 🙂

    • notanothermummyblog
      Author
      January 21, 2014 / 7:22 pm

      thank you 🙂

  17. January 21, 2014 / 2:35 pm

    Excellent! I can relate to a lot on this post 🙂 but I still cannot get over those shopping highs! lol

    • notanothermummyblog
      Author
      January 21, 2014 / 7:23 pm

      haha!

  18. January 21, 2014 / 2:57 pm

    Spot on! I went to bed at 8.40pm one night last week. I was sooooo tired. This being 40 malarkee is exhausting 😉

    • notanothermummyblog
      Author
      January 21, 2014 / 7:23 pm

      You’re never 40?! You look amazing for it.

      • January 21, 2014 / 8:06 pm

        Aw thanks! Yep, turned 40 last August, shortly after we met 🙂 I try not to think about it too much, after all inside I am still 32 (+8). I was shocked when my brother turned 38 last year, how can *I* have a 38 year old brother if I am only 32 and I’m two years older than him. How?? 😉

    • notanothermummyblog
      Author
      January 21, 2014 / 7:23 pm

      *high fives Fritha*

  19. January 21, 2014 / 5:16 pm

    these are all very very true!! not always easy to let go and follow them all but think life would probably be the better for doing so. I never sleep so early as 10pm though – but I know i really should sometimes, im so sleep deprived and it is crap!

    • notanothermummyblog
      Author
      January 21, 2014 / 7:24 pm

      We’re all different though, and after years of making myself stay awake and thinking it was really “uncool” to go to bed early, I now embrace it!

  20. Katie Albury
    January 21, 2014 / 5:20 pm

    This is great…definitely agree with the cheap clothes point and the getting to bed early…!

    Katie x
    http://www.missenchanting.co.uk

    • notanothermummyblog
      Author
      January 21, 2014 / 7:24 pm

      🙂

  21. January 21, 2014 / 6:54 pm

    Soo spot on!! It’s really nice not to absorb other people’s drama. Someone I know still gets engrossed in everything and I’m surprised its not given her a problem with her blood pressure. So much nicer to get excited about some trashy programme or fresh bed sheets!

    • notanothermummyblog
      Author
      January 21, 2014 / 7:24 pm

      Must be so exhausting to be like that.

  22. January 21, 2014 / 8:09 pm

    Aye, I agree! Being silly is (perversely) the best way to make sure your head stays on your shoulders, I reckon. And I always had my suspicions about those Pinterest-ed homes – I bet there’s usually a load of dirty washing skulking in the corners, off-camera!

  23. January 21, 2014 / 9:49 pm

    *Puts hand up* I’m up to 2am – yes twitter is open – no Made in Chelsea though.. Other rubbish TV yes. x

  24. January 21, 2014 / 10:12 pm

    I totally agree about the make-up….I don’t even own any make-up anymore!

  25. January 21, 2014 / 11:04 pm

    Love this post.
    yes yes yes to going to bed early 🙂
    Twitter isn’t that interesting tonight anyway and I’ve still not learnt to take my makeup off! Well I do but every mornings there is magically more on my eyes still…..It could be the fairies

  26. January 21, 2014 / 11:58 pm

    LOVE IT!!! Hello from some who stays up till 2am loads… and yes I am on Twitter and other various things. You really are missing zero 🙂

  27. January 22, 2014 / 6:59 am

    Great list – I am so with you on the messy house, I dream of an uncluttered one but in all practicality it would never happen. Size 14 is the new 12 for me lol

  28. January 22, 2014 / 1:55 pm

    Wonderful truths of adulthood 🙂 Is it ok to go to bed at 9pm? With a horlicks? or is that pushing it? 😉 xx

  29. January 22, 2014 / 4:52 pm

    Wise words lady 🙂
    Especially the mascara thing !!

  30. January 22, 2014 / 5:09 pm

    Love it, you know you’ve written a fab post when everyone agrees with you and starts thinking of more rules! I particularly agree with no.2, but think it comes with the confidence of age! x

  31. January 22, 2014 / 9:51 pm

    Love the picture of you and your little one kicking away at those leaves! Something I’ve learnt since becoming grown-up… Ironing isn’t a matter of life or death. Does this make me a bad person/mum/wife? Nope!

  32. January 24, 2014 / 6:04 pm

    Oh yes, all this – great philosophy! x

  33. January 26, 2014 / 4:03 pm

    100% yes! How I wish I’d read most of these when I was in my 20s….not that I’d have listened of course 😉

    • notanothermummyblog
      Author
      January 28, 2014 / 9:48 am

      You’re so right, we would never listen to our wise older selves, would we?

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