I originally wrote this as a guest post for someone because she thought she would need it while out having her baby, however she adjusted quickly and is already up and running her blog again. So here it is for you to enjoy!
Once upon a time I was a party girl. Drinking and dancing the night away were my favorite weekend activities. In high school my friends and I drank Boones Farm at field parties (don’t ask me how we obtained alcohol underage) and in college it was Natty Light at fraternity parties. Post college we graduated to RBVs (Red Bull & Vodka) and I continued my love affair with socializing and dancing on tables with my friends. I had the mentality of work hard, play hard. I was loving life… but not the hangovers!
When I met my now husband we spent a lot of weekends going out with our friends, however my love for partying was starting to wain. I think it is fairly common to feel this way when you reach your late twenties, however I got a lot of flack from my friends about my “lameness” when I wanted to stay in. But let’s face it, a lot of people go out to meet people and once you’ve met your “person” you feel less inclined to want to go out and spend money at the bars. Am I right?!
Now I have a 17-month-old and am pregnant again. Parties aren’t the same as they used to be. The tolerance I worked so hard to obtain over the years is now nonexistent and by 10pm I’m yawning and looking at my watch ready to leave. I don’t even want to think about taking care of a baby and a toddler while hungover.
People change and grow. If you had told me a couple years ago that I’d be a work-from-home mom that never gets out of workout clothes, could care less about celebrity gossip (gasp!) and totally loves every second of it… I would laugh and say yeah, right. But this is where my life has led me and I’m happier than ever. Sure, occasionally I get nostalgic for the days of sorority formals and sweaty basement bar dancing, but those are memories I’m glad I made!
Then
Now (November 2011)
Photo by Jessica Tapscott Photography
Love it Nikki and congrats on your beautiful growing family! xo
This is funny
While I am not yet a wife (nor a mom!) I can definitely relate to the lame aspect. But, I love my life. I think it is just a sign that we’ve all changed in a good way. Although, my hangover today is rockin…. fml. Love you.
Great post Nikki! Love your blog
Nikki, I can totally relate! I think you have summed it up well. I was chatting with a new friend that is a parent of one of Joshua’s classmates about having a Girl’s Night out. We laughed about how the nights out have changed from glam, drinking, and out late to the need to be home in bed around 10 – LOL! It a coming of age, and a welcome one when you enjoy having a beautiful family! So happy for you! Kp
I was never one to go out and party. In fact, I’ve never drank a beer in my life. I didn’t have a crazy all out 21st birthday party or anything. Now, I wish I would have. Maybe not specifically drank, but I wish I had went out and partied and did all that fun stuff. I feel like somehow it’d have helped me with not having anxiety. Then again, I met my boyfriend (of almost 6 years) when I was 15 and we’ve been together since I was 16. So we’ve had our fun and I had my fair share of going out. I guess the hangovers I seen have stopped me from ever having a drink haha.
By the way, while the first picture really looks fun, I’m a fan of the second