I have read alot of blogs lately that had the idea of writing a letter to their younger self... I thought this would be a fun (and hilarous) thing to do. So here goes nothing!
Dear 18 year old Jenn, sup girl! This is the future writing to share a few things. You probably won't listen to a word I say because you are stubborn and hard headed and think you know EVERYTHING there is to know about the world but I feel like I should at least try to help....
At 18 you are finishing up high school and preparing for that last summer at home before going off to college. You have applied at UNM (University near mom) because you have no clue what you want to do with your life. You recently started dating a guy who you think could surly be the love of your life (not so fast there Jenny Sue!) Soooooo what do you decide to do??? Follow him and his two closest friends down to Las Cruces to attend New Mexico State...smartest decision of your life!
You will date this guy seriously for the first couple of years of college. You will join a sorority with your sister when you turn 19. You will learn the ins and outs of what its like to be a genuine person and also how to fake it. During your sophomore year you and this guy will break up for good (although you always seem to have your "hook ups" throughout the next couple of years.) You will feel jaded from being dumped by the love of your life. I assure you, he is not the love of your life. While he grows up to be a very decent man, he was douche in college. Seriously! (No offense dude!)
You will casually date for the rest of college. Do more of that. Boyfriends are great, they give you that warm, fuzzy, secure feeling but you have a LONG time to be secure. We are sitting in the eighth year of being with our husband and I will tell you that it's wonderful to cross that finish line but for the love of God have fun before you get there! College is the only time in your life that you can act like that. Once you graduate you will be expected to get a job and be a responsible adult (bleh!). At no other point in your life will you be allowed to take afternoon naps after your one class of the day (that most of the time you don't go to because you are too hung over to get your butt out of bed), get dressed in a super skanky outfit, drink too much and pass out in random rooms in your dorm while making out with some guy you meet "across the boarder". These types of actions are typically frowned upon in the "adult" world. Please note that I am not encouraging you to sleep around I am just telling you to be smart and have some fun. At an appropriate parenting age you will have two beautiful children and will greatly appreciate being able to pee without a burning sensation.
And while we are on the subject of men, please be more careful with our heart. There are 100 douche bags out there for one decent guy. Don't sell yourself short you deserve better. The d-bags are super cute and very exciting but that kind of fun can only be sustained for a short period of time. Learn to realize when the party has ended and leave before your heart gets trampled on. Too many tears are shed as a result of these a-holes. Not worth your time Jenn!
But there will be ONE that is....and after a successful long-distance relationship we will marry him and it will be the best and most fun wedding you have ever attended (of course!) Do us a favor though...be patient with him. Don't expect him to be perfect....especially after our first child is born. He tries his best. He is a wonderful father and adding a baby to your relationship will prove incredably difficult. Anyone who thinks that having a baby will save their relationship is an idiot. You will often consider killing the baby, yourself or your husband all in one breath! Restrain please it gets better.
Flip through those stacks of old photos you have. See all those smiling girlfriends? A vast majority of them will remain good friends and have a kick ass dance party at our wedding. We will have these ladies in our life for a very long time and I am very happy to tell you not much has changed over the years. Encourage and nuture these relationships for they pull you through rough waters. As you get married and have babies you will need these women to catch you when you stuble, and you will stumble trust me on this! In fact I would say some days get pretty bad. I don't want to spoil the end of the book but the whole marriage and mom thing is not as easy as you thought it may be. Call your friends and don't be ashamed to ask for help and advice. You would do the same for them in a heartbeat and they love you for this.
Be nicer to your parents. They really want what is best for you and you finally realize this when you have kids of your own. I don't know how else to explain it to you, other then you just have to blindly trust that your parents will be a huge support for you later. Your kids will adore them and through their eyes you will realize they were amazing parents (yes even your silly dad is pretty great too) Be especially nice to your mom. Once you become one you'll know why this is crtical to follow. No one will ever love you like your mother does.
Even as I write down this advice I really don't want much to change. Friends and family will always be the most important to you and with my great advice those bonds can only grow stronger. Our parents will still love us despite being a raging bitch at times. Those waste of space guys and those who truly touch a part of your heart will make you a better mom and wife and make you a more confident person that our husband falls in love with. We grow into a pretty kick ass person....just dont screw it up!
