Sunday 12 July 2015

The Inner Child


My eldest son Stephen graduated on Friday. At the same time, my youngest son, Michael,  is about to embark on the same journey, starting his own university course in September, hopefully.

I am fiercely proud of their achievement, particularly Stephen, who will soon be settling into a new job.

His adventure is just beginning.

At the graduation ceremony, I watched as lots of people were honoured, all dressed in gowns and hats surrounded by loving families and friends. As I applauded each and every one of them, I looked around at the other proud people smiling and clapping – and one minor negative thing was gnawing away at my delight.

It was a thought and it grew stronger. The thought was:

“Boy, am I getting old!”

I see younger colleagues at work with young children, each of whom are doting parents of children ranging from new born babies to those just about to enter their teenage years. And I remember when my two boys were that age.

It seems like a lifetime ago.

My lads are grown men, with their own outlook on life, their own opinions, their own likes and dislikes and their own plans for the future.

Three Men and a Lady
I am so proud of them but at the same time, I miss that childlike innocence that made me laugh yet at the same time allowed me to become a child again. Seeing the two of them in suits on Friday made me realise that I no longer have an excuse to allow my mental age to manifest itself into physical behaviour without looking like a complete idiot.

What’s more, in my fifties I am aware that the next major stage for me is retirement. Okay, that is quite far away – a good fifteen years – but when that happens I will officially be an old git.

Me in fifteen years?
I looked around some old blog posts and when I started writing this drivel I was forty five years old (it’s amazing that I am now in my eighth year of bloggery). 

What has happened to the time?

In another eight years I will be in my sixties. All my droopy bits will droop even more. My wild and feral hair will look like a mad old tribble and my old face look like the Grand Canyon.
My hair in my sixties?

How scary is that? 

I do have one advantage though. I don’t actually look my age so maybe – just maybe – people won’t think I’m a pensioner. The other benefit of having a young looking face is that my two lads have both inherited by youthful countenance. As I stood at the bar on Friday having just bought a celebratory round of drinks, both of my lads were questioned about their age. 

“Does that annoy you?” I asked. “It used to annoy me.”

Stephen just laughed as he put his driving license away.

“I’ve been used to it for four years now,” he said. Michael agreed but at the age of nineteen, he shrugged and said “And I’ll still have to get used to it I suppose.”

While the ageing process may seem depressing, I think it’s a good thing to keep the inner child alive, the one that has made me embarrass my own kids by behaving immaturely. I am still young enough to just about get away with behaving like a child sometimes and I love it when I am able to.


Mrs PM constantly reminds me of my immaturity. 

I think that it’s fun to release that inner child every so often and I don’t ever plan to stop. I think that as long as you have a youthful outlook on life your mind and body will follow and make you appear to be younger – which is an added bonus for me because I don’t look my age.

I just hope that I don’t suddenly wake up one morning having aged drastically overnight. 

Actually, scratch that! I don’t really care. As long as I’m happy and I can still walk around without pain I’ll be delighted.

Even if I can’t walk around without pain, I’m sure that I’ll be able to lift up a laptop and release my inner child on this blog.

That will do nicely.

15 comments:

joeh said...

Maturity has its place, but growing up is overrated. I am fighting it as hard as I can. The bits don't have to droop, exercise still works, most of us just stop. I did 60 pushups on my 60th birthday, 65 on my 65th. Next year I will be 70...we'll see.

Also you may retire from work, but if you start new things and look forward to doing them everyday you can defeat boredom. Boredom ages you fast.

And you have a very attractive wife. That will help you stay young for sure.

You do have a very young looking family. I'd card the boys too.

Dale Brown said...

Great post PM.

I firmly believe that everybody should do something utterly daft once in a while, just to stop life getting boring.

Elephant's Child said...

My inner child is frequently the biggest and healthiest part of me. And OFTEN the happiest.
Long may yours survive, and thrive.

Plastic Mancunian said...

Hi Joeh,

That's not a bad idea. I used to be okay with pressup. I have a few months to try to reach 53.

:o)

I won't be bored when I retire, that's for sure. I have plans to travel, learn new languages and write - and that's just off the top of my head.

:o)

Cheers PM

Plastic Mancunian said...

Hi Big D,

I love doing daft things - and don't need any encouragement.

:o)

Cheers

PM

Plastic Mancunian said...

Hi EC,

Happiness is being a child.

:o)

Cheers

PM

Pandora Behr said...

Congrats on your son's graduation - what an achievement.

And keep on being a kid - seriously, the alternative is bloody awful.

Pand

River said...

Is that your older son in the cap and gown? He looks so much younger than the other. mrs PM is rather pretty.
I say release your inner child as often as you like, caging him is the quickest way to grow old faster than you'd like.
We don't stop playing because we're getting old, we're getting old because we stop playing.
I like to think I don't look my age either, but I think these days it depends on lighting and whether or not I've washed my face and combed my hair.

JahTeh said...

I bless the scientist that invented hair dye, even if it all falls out I intend to dye the last one red.
And the only positive thing about being fat is that it fills out the wrinkles.
And young at heart, I already have my boxed set of Harry Potter ready for the nursing home.

Plastic Mancunian said...

Hi Pand,

I try not to think of the alternative.

:o)

Cheers

PM

Plastic Mancunian said...

Hi River,

Yes - the eldest lad is the one on the cap and gown. The younger one is taller and bigger built - and he is three years younger!

I look my age if people have the courage to look closely.

:o)

Cheers

PM

Plastic Mancunian said...

Hi JT,

I've never had to dye my hair.

Harry Potter - yes, good call!

:o)

Cheers

PM

drb said...

Mr PM,
Your lads certainly inherited your youthful look. The older one looks like he could still be doing his O levels.p
A good head of unruly hair certainly won't go awry.
Have you tried the Microsoft App that can guess your age?
Please try it and try us its answer.

Plastic Mancunian said...

Hi DrB,

Mrs PM calls them "the clones".

I tried the App and it thinks I am 46 (I like it!!!!) and it got my eldest lad's age correct (22).

:o)

Cheers

PM

Drb said...

Excellent! :-)