Family

Happy Birthday Big Sis!

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We spent this weekend in Yorkshire, staying with my parents and partying with my sister, who turns 40 today. For me, this milestone birthday doesn’t actually feel that far away from the last one, or even the one before that. But when I think about what we’ve both done in that time, it’s quite some achievement.

My sister at 40 is happily married to a wonderful and successful man, has three gorgeous healthy children, a job – or should I say several jobs – she loves and a beautiful home. In many ways, it seems the anxieties a lot of us feel in our 20s and maybe 30s have eased, the sleep deprived haze of having really young children has lessened (most of the time) and things seem really positive and exciting in her life right now. Let’s say a big yay for being 40!

I can say this as my own big birthday is two years away, and I still feel a bit like I’ve just turned 30. I often find myself saying someone is about the same age as me when actually they are five or sometimes even ten years younger. I think I’m suffering some kind of crisis where the age in my head doesn’t match up to the age on my birth certificate! I even had to stop and work out recently how old I actually was, as I couldn’t remember if it was 37 or 38! (It’s 37, for the record.)

Not that I’m dreading 40. I’m pretty indifferent to be honest, apart from the excuse to throw a bit of a party and the fact that my husband will be celebrating his own (even bigger) birthday just the following week. When I look at my female friends who are already there or fast approaching, I see a group of women who are happier than ever in their own skin, age and experience giving them the confidence to not worry about what others think of them and to focus on the things that really matter. Many of them have become parents, experiencing the shift in priorities that comes when you become a small person’s whole world. Personally, I’ve gone through more in the past two years than I thought I would ever have to, after my husband fell ill and our whole world was turned on it’s head. Although things are much better now, I never take for granted the days where there is no real drama to contend with.

Despite all this, I still look at photos of myself as a child and wonder where the time went. This is one of my favourites, of my sister and I walking through Bluebell Woods in Ilkley where we grew up. The photograph has faded but those sundresses were white, pink and blue and the cutest thing ever. Looking at this now I can see a lot of my baby girl in my two-year-old self. She’ll be nearly four when I turn 40, my little boy nearly eight. Like most things in life it seems, they just keep getting better as the years roll by.

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9 Comments

  • Reply
    Paul Burnell
    November 11, 2014 at 9:43 am

    Not so much a blogpost – more a daily tonic of positivity IMO

    • Reply
      Rainbeaubelle
      November 12, 2014 at 9:52 pm

      Thanks Paul, I will remember to re read as I approach 40!

  • Reply
    Mum
    November 14, 2014 at 6:53 am

    Loved reading this post…….and the picture of you both in the bluebell woods is one of my favourites too! Where did those years go? So rewarding to see you both so happy with your gorgeous families! X

  • Reply
    JoyandPops
    November 16, 2014 at 7:19 am

    Lovely post!
    My husband turned 40 last week and he said he was happy about the ‘big’ birthday as he’s in a good place. I’m a bit more like you though, a little incredulous about the accumulating years! 40 in itself doesn’t bother me – as they say, there’s no good alternative! However, I can’t help wondering where all the years are going! I’ve still got 6 years to go, when I get there my girls will be 10 and 15 – I’m looking forward to a big family party and lots to celebrate (fingers crossed).
    I love the picture of you and your sister, so sweet!
    Xx

    • Reply
      Rainbeaubelle
      November 16, 2014 at 10:32 am

      Thank you! It’s funny isn’t it how quickly time passes. I realise I sound a bit like a grandma!! Xx

  • Reply
    Everything Mummy
    November 16, 2014 at 8:01 pm

    lovely post its nice to hear someone being positive about age for a change! hope your sis had a lovely birthday and you all enjoyed the celebrations! and thanks for linking up to #sundaystars xx
    Everything Mummy recently posted…Sunday StarsMy Profile

  • Reply
    Katie Haydock
    November 17, 2014 at 10:24 am

    Happy birthday! Lovely post honey xxx
    Katie Haydock recently posted…10 utterly useless facts about MEMy Profile

  • Reply
    Heledd - Running in Lavender
    November 17, 2014 at 9:57 pm

    What a beautiful post. I know exactly what you mean about age, I do the same all the time! I met a girl last week at blogfest and mentally thought we were of a similar age – turns out she was 25! Love that picture of you and your sister in the field.

    Thanks for linking up #SundayStars xx
    Heledd – Running in Lavender recently posted…The ‘It’ Bunny and Petit BateauMy Profile

  • Reply
    My week in pictures #4 - Rainbeaubelle
    November 23, 2014 at 3:39 pm

    […] Bottom row – Pom-Pom garlands at Utility, Liverpool. Baby gal’s bracelet. Me and my lovely sis at her birthday party. […]

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