No Longer 35

Ah, the grand entrance into the fabulous realm of 36 – where adulting is a full-time job, and time seems to be playing a not-so-subtle prank on me. As I stand at the crossroads of another birthday, with three daughters creating their own symphony of chaos, a job that demands my attention, a house that’s convinced it’s in need of constant TLC, and the ambitious venture of opening a business, I can’t help but wonder, did I miss the memo on how to gracefully transition into this so-called “prime of life”?

Let’s take stock of the situation, shall we? Three daughters – a teenager who’s mastered the art of eye-rolling, a middle child with a knack for unpredictable mood swings, and a pint-sized tornado with an insatiable curiosity. It’s like living in a sitcom where the punchlines are delivered by hormonal shifts and bedtime negotiations. Motherhood, they say, is a joyous journey, but some days it feels more like a rollercoaster of emotions with no safety harness in sight.

My job, the daily grind that fuels the household and funds the insatiable appetites of growing teenagers. It’s a delicate dance between deadlines, coffee consumption, and the constant hum of the printer in the background, providing the soundtrack to my professional escapades. The dream of a corner office is still alive and well – it just happens to be the corner of my living room, where paperwork and school projects engage in a perpetual battle for dominance.

And let’s not forget the ever-optimistic pursuit of entrepreneurship. Opening a business, they said, would be a rewarding endeavor. What they didn’t mention was the whirlwind of decisions, paperwork, and the occasional existential crisis that accompanies the entrepreneurial journey. It’s a bit like trying to tame a wild beast – exhilarating, exhausting, and occasionally requiring a healthy dose of humor to survive.

As I stand on the precipice of 36, I can’t help but reflect on the grand plans I had as a 35-year-old. The vision board adorned with aspirations, the ambitious to-do list that seemed achievable in moments of caffeinated enthusiasm. Yet here I am, a year older, wiser, and possibly in need of a stronger coffee blend to face the reality that some goals are more elusive than a unicorn on roller skates.

But fear not, for this 35-turning-36-year-old is not one to be defeated easily. With a sense of humor sharper than a chef’s knife and sarcasm that could rival a stand-up comedian, I embrace the chaos, the unfulfilled goals, and the inevitable passage of time. After all, wrinkles are just laughter lines with a few life stories thrown in for good measure.

So, here’s to another year of juggling the roles of mother, employee, entrepreneur, and the occasional superhero in disguise. Age may be just a number, but the accumulated anecdotes, the messy kitchen, and the laughter echoing through the halls – those are the true markers of a life well-lived. Cheers to 36, may you be filled with unexpected joys, coffee-fueled triumphs, and a generous sprinkle of humor to navigate the delightful chaos of adulthood.