4 things No One Tells You About Your 40s
I’ve officially settled into my 40s this year… hitting the big 4-3.
Not a very sexy number but really a good number in the end. I’m not a huge birthday person… but really, it’s a reason to celebrate that I’m still here at all! Yes… another trip around the sun.
It’s all good.
For my 40th, my husband put together a rather crazy night out with friends – limo and all.
At the time, we joked about some of the things that were changing for us but none of us wanted to admit.
So I’m letting you in on the secret of 4 things no one tells you about your 40s.
4 things No One Tells You About Your 40s
1. Your Hearing Changes
As I’m getting farther into my 40s, I’m realizing my hearing isn’t as sharp as it used to be.
When we’re in crowds, my kids will walk in front of me and talk talk talk talk talk.
But I really can’t tell what they’re saying.
If I had a nickel for every time I told them that they have to look at me so I can understand what they’re saying… well, I’d be retired by now.
Even in the car, I have to turn down the stereo (which wasn’t loud to begin with) to hear what they’re saying because they’re in the back seats.
I’m starting to take bets on which decade I’ll finally have to give in to a hearing aid.
By then they’ll probably be in vogue, bedazzled with hot pink accents so it won’t really matter.
2. Your Sight Changes
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I don’t wear glasses… but I can foresee my future and it includes reading glasses.
My kids will have my iPhone in hand and want to show me something.
But they’ll put the screen inches from my face, and I simply cannot focus on the darn thing.
I’m constantly moving it a bit farther away so I can actually see what they’re showing me.
Eventually, my arms won’t be long enough to push the text far enough away and I’ll have to give in.
Should I go classic tortoise shell or off-the-wall bright red?
3. Your Body Changes
Things just don’t sit where they used to.
Hair shows up in some places and disappears from others (most notably my eye brows).
And I used to do ALL of the spinning rides at Six Flags.
Now I pick and choose those suckers.
My inner ear doesn’t recover as fast as it used to.
And there’s a reason your body was designed to have kids when you’re younger… because you can keep up with them (and survive sleep deprivation better)!
Having young kids in your 40s tests your bodies in ways you didn’t think possible.
But I think I’m doing pretty well.
4. Your Attitude Changes
By the time you reach your 40s, these changes really don’t matter that much.
And to be honest, people’s opinions don’t matter that much, either.
Let them think what they want! I’m going to wear what I want and be fine with it.
Once you reach your 40s, you’ve pretty much heard everything, so you just move on as best you can and do what you want to do.
I’m happy to be in my 40s!
Here’s to 40+ trips around the sun and 40 more 😀
I have a couple of years on you and I agree with all of that. My two kids are now grown, I see my friends my age with pre-teens and here their complaints.
I feel like that now and I’m 35….lol
LOL, Kim! Should I say it only gets worse? 😉
Just wait until you are about to push 60, lol..No matter what age we are, we are fun loving creative children at heart :-))
Couldn’t agree more with you on that one, Lisa! I plan on always finding a reason to act like a kid once in a while 😀
I’ve got a few more years before 40 but I’m getting to the 4th one here in the mid-30’s something about accepting yourself as you become older is just lovely. The few grey hairs though… they’ll be covered up for a looonngg time!
Ha! I haven’t run into any gray hairs yet… but I bet they’re just biding their time 😉
oiii, 5 more years to go but I’m already undergoing these changes !
Well, I didn’t claim they don’t begin in your 30s. But for me, something about turning 40 really made me aware of them. But I don’t mind so much.. it’s all just part of the process.
I can relate. I am older but had my last baby when I was a month shy of 41! Way different than when I was 20. As you said, I have done pretty well but had help from the older kids and husband, too.
Oh, the help of older kids would have been lovely! Instead, we’ve just adapted. And, I used to NEVER drink caffeine. But once I turned 40, I need a chai in the morning to get this broad going!
Hi Jenny,
Please make sure your hearing loss is because of the natural aging process. Have you noticed sounds muffled and words not distinguished, or a gradual hearing loss over the years? Make sure your hearing is checked with a professional and that you make sure it is done soon. I had a doctor tell me to get my hearing checked by my regular HMO doctor, which I didn’t. Years later I had to go to the ER because I got a silicone ear plug stuck in my ear and one doctor had me get a GOOD hearing check.(noise distortion hearing test ,along with the regular beep- beep test.) To make a long story short, I ended up having a acoustic neuroma, a benign tumor of the ear canal. 1 in a 1000 people get it, but the earlier detection the better. I, alas, now have only one ear drum, but can hear at least out of one ear. If I had listened to the doctor earlier, and got my hearing checked professionally, I may have not suffered the consequences of a large acoustic neuroma. It doesn’t hurt to be cautious.
Tracey
Oh my goodness! That sounds awful! I’m glad they figured it out eventually. It’s actually just been a very slow process for me. It’s really more when there’s background noise and the kids aren’t looking in my direction. And certainly one my friends are relating to as well.
The tumor was a slow growing tumor, progressing over a time frame of 12 years or so. I think it is 1 in 10,000 or more get this tumor, but I still could have ended up with eventual seizures and death. I encourage you not to poo poo it off, as we never know if someone’s advice should be a good reason to listen. In my case, it was a doctor telling me to go to my original HMO doc, but I didn’t listen. It took a E.R. Doctor to listen to my reason of wearing a silicone ear plug in the shower,( I thought I had water in my ear, causing the distortion of the hearing or just aging) and act on the additional hearing tests and MRI. I probably wouldn’t be around at this time if I had let the tumor grow anymore than it had. I am not trying to scare you at all….just be aware that this kind of stuff can happen. My tumor was removed in 2000 and I probably got it 12 years before.
Tracey
Just wait till your fifties, talk about change! I’m a firm believer that if you’ve taken good care of yourself through most of your 30’s and 40’s it isn’t so bad, Change is happening it is all in how you embrace it.
I agree… and it doesn’t really bother me. When I was in my 30s and told my granny that I was starting to lose my eyebrows we had the biggest laugh… especially after she told me I better figure out how to use an eyebrow pencil like she does 😀
It sounds like you have a great attitude about the not-so-pleasant changes and are embracing life!
Is there any other way to be? Life is too short to take yourself too seriously 😀
Yes – HUZZAH to #4!!!!
Love from a Jenny of 46 😉
I definitely think having high-needs kids also pushes us to not care about what other people think!