Love this article! As a single 37 year old woman with no significant "baggage" to speak of as of yet, I really appreciate your take here Laura. Also loved this series... that first kiss scene has become my Roman Empire!
I really enjoyed this article and agreed with and could relate to a lot of it. However, just to note when talking about the language of being single/ dating, if you are 29 which I think the author is suggesting that she is, you haven't technically been single for 29 years. This would suggest that as an infant you were actively looking for/ culturally expected to be in a relationship which is ridiculous and untrue. I have been single most of my adult life, but even now being in my mid 30s I usually say (if I have to give a ballpark, which no one should ever feel that they have to give anyway) that I have been single "over 15 years". In my opinion, you can't really count your childhood years as part of "being single".
As a primary teacher who has been teaching for 15 years I can empathise and have quite a few stories I could add to this article. Similar to the first few paragraphs I was once told by a parent that her son couldn't possibly have gotten that mark in his standardised test because he was (and I quote) "shit hot at maths"! On another occasion a parent told me that her (very challenging) 11 year old was not being "nurtured and cherished" by his teacher (me).
A party lasting 90 minutes? It wouldn't be worth my while attending, especially if people had to travel. I imagine I would only be halfway through my second cup of coffee (or glass of juice?... I was originally going to say second glass of wine but apparently that's not on offer) before being ushered to the door. How rude! This woman sounds like she needs to be taught how to have a good time, and also that it's not appropriate to get your friends to fund your garden renovation.
You should copyright Oak Tree Renaissance before someone steals it! You could be on to a winner there.
Someone told me once that if you're ever in a battle between your head and your heart you should ignore them both and listen to your gut. In response to what the letter writer's daughter said about her gut being a "drama queen" I would say that your gut can't be a drama queen, it literally doesn't know how. Your head can be a drama queen, your heart can be a drama queen, but your gut is an instinct. Let it guide you.
Most things on the cons list, while long and arduous, are temporary. The pros list may be shorter but its content is what the real value in life is made up of.
When you're single for a long time, people assume you want to be single, that you're comfortable with it and somehow immune to loneliness because you're not trying as hard to date as they may think you should be. I have been single for over 15 years and I can relate to Taylor's story so much.
@snorks Crime by its definition denotes a negative offence or act punishable by law whereby passion mostly denotes love, devotion, affection and respect and is usually a positive noun. As stated previously it is an antiquated and bizarre term in my opinion.
A "crime of passion" is an outdated, archaic phrase. It is, at best, an oxymoron, and at worst, highly problematic. Yet another phrase in our lexicon that needs to be retired.
@tamb "Boys will become second class citizens" has to be one of the funniest sentences I have ever read!
I had quite a similar consultation with a matchmaker a few years ago who told me I was "very guarded", that she wouldn't have anyone on her books for me and that I should go back online and "try Bumble". I had a 20 minute consultation with her during which she very swiftly assassinated my character and then tried to sell me an online dating masterclass she ran for a three figure sum. As a friend of mine said at the time the whole thing sounded like a bit of a money making racket.
Disagree with #18. It's tough out there in the dating world with all the virtual reality. If you're lucky enough to overhear real life flirting on a plane, be honoured you got to witness the beginning of a (possible) love story. Or just turn off your movie and look at it as free inflight entertainment. 😂
I love this article. It spoke right to my heart. As a single 36 year old who thinks about my fertility every single day, I can relate to everything here. While egg freezing has never sat quite right with me, I have a donor conceived child in my Junior Infant (Prep) class this year, which I'm strongly beginning to believe is a sign from the Universe.
@beachhouse84 Also when the male partner refuses to get a vasectomy and expects the female partner has to get a tubal ligation which is objectively a more invasive and complicated procedure.
Love the concept but is there a difference between Girl Math and (as Trinny would say) Cost per Wear??
Alisha & Glenn from Bachelor in Paradise are married now too! 😊
Another unrecognised symptom is severe stabbing and throbbing pain in joints (often mistaken in tweens and teens as growing pains). 25 years ago I survived bacterial meningitis (originally misdiagnosed as septic arthritis) at age 11 with this being the only symptom. The quick thinking of my parents and doctors within 24 hours, surgery and massive doses of antibiotics meant that I escaped any long term life altering side effects such as limping or amputation.
@grumpier monster I believe the term in the 80s/90s was DINKies. I remember my parents using it often!
Interesting that she says she gave up her seat because her son really wanted to go. In another report I read, the boy's aunt is quoted as saying that he was terrified about going on the submarine and only did it as a Father's Day gift to his dad.