OLD (er)

I was working out a few days ago next to a new neighbor of mine. We were asking the usual getting-to-know-you questions. Where did you grow up? How many kids do you have? Yada, yada, yada. Then she asked me how old I am. I answered "28" and she said, "Wow. I have a sister that's 28, too. She's 5 years older than me." Something in the way she said "wow" got me thinking about my age. I don't remember ever being looked at as the "old one." It's always been the opposite for me since I left my peers in the dust when it came to marriage and having babies. It was a strange sensation to be perceived as old. I don't really know if I liked it, unless her "wow" meant that I must have a lot of wisdom since I'm pushing 30.

I have to deal with perceptions of my age all the time. Here are some of the comments I have gotten:

Q: "You have a 9 year old? You don't look old enough to have a 9 year old."

A: "I'm not, but I do."

Q: "You have 4 kids? You look like you're 10 years old!"

A: "Thanks?"

Q: "How long have you been married? And how old is your oldest?" (Translation: Did you HAVE to get married?")

A: "Almost 11 years, and almost 10, and we decided to start our family right away (so you can stop those calculations going on in your head-everything was on the up&up)."

These comments all started with a desire to attend college at the tender age of 17 and 1 month. I was done with high school and ready to move on and grow up. Actually, I guess I thought that I already had grown up and I was far too mature for sport sewing classes and high school dances. My bishop warned me that if I went to institute I would meet a hubby. That proved to be prophetic. Swen and I went on our first date on February 21, and were engaged on May 11, married on July 29.

Being engaged at age 17 is no picnic. No sir. I had distant relatives telling me I had made the wrong choice. I had neighbors running after me and stopping my car to tell me that they had been discussing my situation, and they felt like I had made the wrong decision. To each of them I wanted to explain that what really mattered was that I KNEW I was doing the right thing through a series of powerful experiences with the spirit. But I just thanked them for their concern and moved forward with the plans. We have the best families in the world, however, they trusted us and knew that we were capable of receiving direction from the Lord in our important decision.

On my 18th birthday, I went through the temple. 6 days later I was married for time and all eternity to my true love. I had Isaac 1 month before I turned 19. For so long, I've been the "young one." When I meet people, they are usually older than I am even though I may be further down life's path. I guess I still see myself as being about 20. That's why my neighbor's "Wow" took me back a little. It has caused me to come to an important conclusion. I am now older than returned missionaries, and I am older than most newly-weds. It's strange, but true. I have also come to the conclusion that people don't think of me as a newly-wed anymore. They think I'm a mother of 4 who may even have advice to give. It's so weird to see myself in this new light. I don't think my cute neighbor meant all this by her simple exclamation, but I guess I'm glad for the epiphany.

...

P.S. This picture was taken 10 days before Lincoln was born, I didn't look like this on our wedding day! Just in case you were doing your own calculations.