rivettingKateTaylor

My gran was an old lady.

My children probably think my mum’s an old lady.

But yesterday, I heard a group of ladies congratulating each other for the birth of two new grandchildren. One of them was no surprise as I have met her children, who are about 10 years younger than me (36). But then one of the other women, who I had wrongly assumed was about the same age as me (give or take five years), started talking about her grandchildren as well. Then another talked about her upcoming 50th (no grandchildren yet). They look fantastic!

The generation above mine had their children in their 20s. So by the time they hit 40s they were well on their way to freedom (not that having children at home is that bad – was it Mum?!) I have to get in here somewhere that a previous workmate of mine was a grandmother at 35 (she was 18 her daughter was 17). That’s a worry. To a then 21-year-old it was downright scary.

The host of a 40th birthday party attended a couple of years ago thought it was hilarious that her older teenage children were able to join in the party while all her friends were putting up portacots or going home early to relieve the babysitter. They had made the decision to do family first – travel later.

There are pros and cons for both. There would be many more benefits for overseas travel later because you would be able to appreciate the finer attractions of Europe and other continents instead of just Oktoberfest and Running of the Bulls. 

But the life experience we gain now from overseas travel in our 20s must stand us in good stead as parents.

When the children have homework that involves the Eiffel Tower, for example, you can talk about the Louvre, Champs de Elysses, Arc de Triomphe, oh, I’m not going to go any further because I can’t remember the spelling and I don’t have time to do a little google.

And the reminiscing about my own OE is now taking place in my mind now so I better log off and do some real work (and go and get the washing in because it has started to rain).

There will also be a diversion to the freebie hydrating-cream-for -eye-wrinkles sample that someone gave me recently. I want to look that good when Sarah and Lachlan expand the Taylor family empire!