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Family Life, the Universe and Everything with a Latte on the Side

Things I'd Tell My Teenaged Self

Thursday, 16 July 2015

Continuing from this week's earlier post on mentoring with the Girls' Network, here's some things I'd share with my teenage self if I was mentoring her.

No doubt if I share any of these with the Tubblet, she'll react in the same way as I would have at the same age.    Part of being a teenager is the core belief that all adults know nothing ... Particularly the ones you're related to.  

Dear Me ... A Letter to Myself


Stop mooning over that boy.  He's just not worth it.  Your prince will come.  Prince, at time of writing, is on the sofa watching a crap action film.  

People are nice.  Well most people.  Be nice back.

You can't force friendships.  School friends will come and go.  Forcing friendships only makes you unhappy.  Treasure the good friends you have for as long as you have them.

See the big picture.  There's more to life than school and getting into university.  (I crashed and burned so went to University later.  Going later meant I appreciated the experience more). Family, friends, hobbies and church are also important. 

Nobody else has a clue either.  Everybody is faking being an adult as it doesn't come with a manual.

Embrace your quirks.  I wish I'd learnt to accept myself, embrace my flaws and be happier in my own skin earlier. I was a gobby nerd at school and wasn't even remotely cool.  I'm now a proud gobby nerd and not remotely cool.  

Money doesn't make the world go round.  It's nice to have your own money, but no amount of shopping replaces a good memory.  So make some!  Savings are also important.  Build some.

You can do it.  Most things are achievable if you're willing to put the work and effort in.  (Actually this is a life lesson for any age).

Nobody cares if you have a tummy or a bum.  Most people are too busy worrying about the size of their own tummies and bums to worry about yours.  Lose weight and tone up if you want, but do it for yourself rather than for others.

Goals don't come with a time limit.  Just because you're not married or worked out what you want to do by the time you're x years old doesn't mean you never will.  Nobody is keeping a record apart from you.  Go have fun!

Trust your instincts.  Sometimes that inner voice telling you whether or not something is a good idea is the right one!

Parents are humans.  Yes we are!  Get to know them as people, learn to love them and forgive them for the mistakes they've made.

PE may be evil, but exercise is okay.  Try and get in shape now.  It'll be harder later.  

Life isn't fair.  It just isn't.  The quicker you realise that and Let It Go, the happier you'll be. 

Admit you're wrong.  We all get things wrong.  That's okay.  Admit you're wrong, accept that there is a better way to do things and apologise to people you've let down.  Then go and put things right.

The standards are too high.  The reason that you don't look like the girl or the boy in the magazine picture is because they're photoshopped.  Just do what you can with what you can. You look fine!

The style will come.  It may take a while, but it will!  Eventually you'll find what works.

Don't easily offend and don't be easily offended.  There's a lot to be said for developing a thick skin.  Most people aren't deliberately unkind, just thoughtless.  

Pick your battles. But once you've picked them, don't cave at the first sign of resistance.  
      What would you tell your younger self if you could?


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      48 comments

      1. Unknown16 July 2015 at 11:29

        All good advice! I wish I'd learnt to accept myself & be more confident younger too. &, whilst PE is definitely evil, I actually eventually realised I enjoy exercise. #brilliantblogposts

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        1. Tubbs16 July 2015 at 21:09

          Me too! :). Advice is sometimes easier to give than to live though. I'm still not good at somethings. Thank you for commenting and have a lovely week

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      2. Unknown17 July 2015 at 10:43

        Great advice and so true! Wish I'd read that as a teenager, but then again, I probably wouldn't have believed a word. I'm so happy my teenage days are over lol. Thankfully I have a few good years before my daughter becomes one! #momsterslink

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        1. Tubbs20 July 2015 at 12:23

          That's the thing though, we all learn the hard way. We are just entering the teenaged zone now, wish us luck!

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      3. Stephanie17 July 2015 at 10:52

        There are so many things in this list that I would definitely tell myself but I doubt I would listen to myself! #PoCoLo

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        1. Tubbs20 July 2015 at 12:23

          Same here! Some things you can only learn from experience. Thank you for commenting

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      4. LittleOandme17 July 2015 at 11:22

        Great post. I would tell the teen me a lot of the same things. I wish I had had more self-esteem and confidence, but then maybe I wouldn't be where I am today!
        Becky xx

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        1. Tubbs20 July 2015 at 12:24

          So true. If I hadn't done this, I probably wouldn't have done that which lead to ... Thank you for the lovely comment

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      5. Unknown17 July 2015 at 11:32

        I was also (still am) a gobby nerd who is totally uncool. It used to bother me tremendously. I'd tell myself you're a brilliant person to be around. Stop trying to be someone else. The people who love you for you are just around the corner waiting to meet you. You won't feel that way forever. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I hated the teenage years and thinking about them makes me all the more grateful for how comfortable I am now being me flaws and all!

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        1. Tubbs20 July 2015 at 12:24

          Can't say I enjoyed them either. Does anyone?!

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      6. Unknown17 July 2015 at 11:32

        ps #TheList

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      7. Unknown17 July 2015 at 12:28

        Great advice. I was so silly as a teenager and can still be a bit silly now but at least I usually know when I'm doing it. #momsterslink

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        1. Tubbs20 July 2015 at 12:25

          Thank you.

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      8. Unknown17 July 2015 at 13:13

        Love this. Feel like printing this out, storing it and slipping it under my future teenager daughter's door because I am already nervous about those teenage years and she is only 2!!!! #TheList

        http://www.motherhoodtherealdeal.com/

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        1. Tubbs20 July 2015 at 12:25

          She'll just step over it on her way out! Thank you for the lovely comment and the tweet.

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      9. jeremy@thirstydaddy17 July 2015 at 13:42

        I feel like we tell out teenage daughter this stuff over and over and over. She doesn't listen...

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        1. Tubbs20 July 2015 at 12:26

          They don't. It's part of the job description. Being completely honest, I didn't either!

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      10. Unknown17 July 2015 at 14:26

        Yep I think I'd tell my teenage self all of that too. You couldn't pay me to go back to that period of my life. It's all so awkward and hormonal #PoCoLo

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        1. Tubbs20 July 2015 at 12:26

          Me neither! So glad to have got through the whole thing in once piece. Thank you for commenting

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      11. Random Musings17 July 2015 at 15:59

        I love the points you make. I would definitely tell me teenage self to develop a thick skin a lot quicker realise that what other people think of you is completely irrelevant #momsterlinks
        Debbie
        www.myrandommusings.blogspot.com

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        1. Tubbs20 July 2015 at 12:26

          Thank you :) Have a great week

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      12. Anonymous17 July 2015 at 17:14

        Lovely read and I think that these list just applies to anyone in any age. I know I still need to learn on so many things in the list but I believe they are right and true! #pocolo

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        1. Tubbs20 July 2015 at 12:27

          That's true. Some of these things I know in my head, but not my heart. Thank you for commenting

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      13. Unknown17 July 2015 at 17:57

        Don't force friendships, embrace your quirks and exercise is ok they would be on my list too. Teenage-Dom is such a crazy time of your life isn't it? #momsterslinkup

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        1. Tubbs20 July 2015 at 12:27

          So glad mine's over, but the Tubblet's still to come. Gulp!

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      14. Shirley17 July 2015 at 18:38

        It's the stupid graphic which I love the most!! Stopped by from Brilliant Blog post and so glad I did. This made my day! At 50 something, I'm still learning and believe I had stupid thoughts just last week!
        If I could talk to my younger self, I'd say "listen to your Mom, she has your best interest at heart and she is never wrong!"

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        1. Tubbs20 July 2015 at 12:28

          The graphic is lovely, it's a Facebook find.

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      15. Unknown17 July 2015 at 20:24

        Ha ha I think most people wish they could tell their teenaged self a few things. I know I certainly do. Great post

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        1. Tubbs20 July 2015 at 12:28

          Bet they wouldn't listen to a word! Thank you for the lovely comment

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      16. Haidee18 July 2015 at 09:44

        Ah, I think your list applies to me too! I wish someone had told me those things!

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        1. Tubbs20 July 2015 at 12:28

          But would we have listened?! I know I wouldn't.

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      17. Unknown18 July 2015 at 18:38

        Excellent advice...if I went back and told my teenage self some of these things, I probably wouldn't believe myself. haha #momsterslink

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        1. Tubbs20 July 2015 at 12:28

          There is that!

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      18. Emily Twin Mummy and Daddy18 July 2015 at 21:49

        Totally agree about the PE one! Hated in school, but actually enjoy exercise now! Thanks for linking up to the #BinkyLinky

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        1. Tubbs20 July 2015 at 12:29

          Thank you for hosting each week

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      19. Stephanie 139a18 July 2015 at 21:58

        So true about tummies and bums!! :) I wouldn't have listened to me either though... #thelist

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        1. Tubbs20 July 2015 at 12:29

          Me neither!

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      20. Unknown19 July 2015 at 07:53

        Great list of advice and so true thanks for linking to the Binkylinky :)

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        1. Tubbs20 July 2015 at 12:29

          Thank you for both the lovely comment and for hosting. Have a great week both of you

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      21. Anonymous19 July 2015 at 07:58

        Great advice :). You should print this out on a big poster and put it in her room. It will become familiar to her then :). #momsterslink

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        1. Tubbs20 July 2015 at 12:29

          She'll tune it out, they all do :)

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      22. Unknown20 July 2015 at 00:58

        Great post! I would tell my younger self not to worry so much. It doesn't solve anything and just causes wrinkles. And I totally agree that there is no adult that knows everything. Only ones that think they do. Thanks so much for linking up with #momsterslink.

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        1. Tubbs20 July 2015 at 12:30

          True! Thank you for hosting each week

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      23. A Moment With Franca20 July 2015 at 23:38

        This post is great! So many good points! I like the part that you say "Parents are Humans". This is so true. We always treat our parents like something different. There are so many things I would've wished to tell my teenage self but the reality is that we all need to learn from our mistakes to become later better person. It is part of our journey in life. BTW, I love the image you have shared. Made me laugh. Thanks for sharing this lovely post. xx #binkylinky

        A Moment With Franca
        http://www.amomentwithfranca.com/

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        1. Tubbs21 July 2015 at 20:27

          Thank you for the lovely comment. Have a great week

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      24. Unknown22 July 2015 at 09:50

        I love this post. It actually made me a bit emotional. All fabulous lessons, but I wouldn't have listened either when I was younger. Thanks for linking up to #TheList x

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        1. Tubbs5 August 2015 at 19:59

          Sometimes you just have to learn the hard way - unfortunately! Thank you for hosting each week

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      25. Mueeid26 July 2018 at 22:12

        The power of a human being to develop the environment and world cannot be denied. Establishing this power is deeply related to developing an individual's inner being. This establishment for such a development is referred as Self Development.navigate to this site

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