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What would you tell your 18 year old self?

December 9, 2015 By Kelly 7 Comments

Yesterday my oldest child turned 18. 18. Officially an adult. Oof. I think everyone expects that to mean he’s suddenly a young adult, but adulting doesn’t work that way. It’s not a switch you turn on all of the sudden -blink- and you’re an adult. In fact I’m pretty sure you know exactly what I mean since you’ve been there yourself. And of course the parenting doesn’t end. I don’t get to brush off my hands, pat myself on the back, and be done. I’m just parenting someone who is legally an adult now.

At 18 I thought I knew exactly the path I wanted to be on, but boy was I wrong! Life and our hearts change and grow (at least they should!) so much over time that what we think we should do at 18 is usually wrong. And who we think we are at 18? We’re usually so far off base it’s laughable. As an aside I’m sure 80 year old me will look back on 39 year old me and laugh at what I thought life would be, too.

Nathan is a great, great kid. But he isn’t a fan of me waxing poetic about him or parenthood so I’ll save that for my journal. Instead I will extend to you the same thing I asked of many friends-

What would you tell 18 year old you?

I would love if you’d share with me in the comments. I’m collecting them for him. And me. Because I’m learning that letting go is pretty hard.

My advice to my 18 year old self would probably be pretty simple: Be you.

Kelly

About Kelly


Kelly Whalen is the founder and editor of the Centsible Life. She started the blog in 2008 as her family faced a mountain of debt and the fixer upper they purchased became a FIXER UPPER. The website was born out of her desire to share what was working (and what was not) on her family's journey to financial security. Kelly lives in Minneapolis with her family.

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Filed Under: Kids, Life Tagged With: birthdays, Kids, Life, parenting


Comments

  1. Donna says

    December 14, 2015 at 5:59 am

    Kelly, the list is so long. It has taken years for me to figure out that if we do not take take care of our own physical and mental needs, we are not able to take care of the ones we love. Each day is a new beginning and we have the ability to make it beautiful. If we find at least one thing in each day that is beautiful we can make it through anything regardless of what life is throwing at us.

  2. Sara (@SaraFHawkins) says

    December 11, 2015 at 12:38 am

    There are so many things I’d tell my 18-year old self if I could. I’d tell myself to let things go and not hold on to them so tightly. I’d encourage my younger self to travel more and not be so concerned about “the future” and just enjoy the present. I’d tell myself to spend more time with my mom and ask her all the questions I think I’ll be able to ask her later on in life. I’d tell myself not to worry so much and believe that everything would be just fine. I’d also tell myself to keep a journal so my older self can look back and realize that life really was pretty grand “back in the day”.

    Congratulations to your son on turning 18!

  3. Kelly says

    December 10, 2015 at 7:20 pm

    All great advice! I especially like the advice to allow time to make good choices. Sometimes we need a pause button before we decide.

  4. Kelly says

    December 10, 2015 at 7:18 pm

    Such great advice! Thank you!

  5. Julie (@JulieMPron) says

    December 10, 2015 at 9:24 am

    Focus on today.

    This week, I wrote a post and co-hosted a twitter party that was all about planning for your future and envisioning your future self. And that’s important-it’s good to try to see your future and strive for things. But we can’t get so caught up in it that we forget about today. Who are you today? What do you hope to achieve now? What can you do today that will make you proud? What are you doing right now that’s making you smile and enjoy life?

    Yes, tomorrow is incredibly important, but don’t get so caught up in it that you forget to celebrate today.

  6. Desiree Townsend (@DesireeNAllen) says

    December 10, 2015 at 8:59 am

    Keep pushing forward. Allow enough time to make good choices. Be a good friend. Enjoy life!

Trackbacks

  1. Today. - Julieverse says:
    January 7, 2016 at 2:00 pm

    […] son turned 18 last month. On her blog, she asked what advice you’d give your 18-year-old self? This, Kelly. This is my advice: don’t forget today. Don’t let your schedule and your […]

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Hi! I'm Kelly Whalen, writer, frugality expert, debt slayer, and money nerd. Welcome to the Centsible Life, my corner of the internet, where I help women live happier, healthier, and wealthier lives. My goal is to help you save time + money, so you can spend both how you want.

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