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Is Fifty Really The New Thirty?

Next Chapter....continued

Is Fifty REALLY the new 30….

    Did you ever think there would come a time when you reached an age when certain options were no longer ADVISABLE? I remember when my mom first recognized that her age no longer fit in an 'age specific' bracket – you know the one – “please check appropriate age bracket: 0-15 16-25, 26-40, 41-50, over 50”. She couldn’t believe that she was now in the 'over' segment. We laughed, and laughed. Well, look who’s laughing now. 

    I really do think it's time for a new bracket (s). I’m going to speak to my friend at AARP about that. After all, 50 is the new 30, and I still have two kids in elementary school. When my mom turned 50, I was already 24, and I was the baby of the family. I WAS 24??? When I turn 50, Sidney (our baby) will be 9. That’s an age spread of 15 years between my age then and Sidney’s age now. That’s unbelievable. What was my mother thinking? Or, what was I waiting for? 

    I guess the question now becomes, am I a 'younger' 50 because I have younger kids? Or am I younger 50 because I have young parents. Or am I in complete denial? Actually, my parents are 'young' 70’s (one just turned 75, and the other 78), and the fact that they continue to be a major presence in my life allows me to continue to feel like their baby. There continues to be a sense of comfort just knowing that they are there. Every once in awhile, don’t you feel like just wanting to escape from the day and crawl into your parents’ bed. Why is it when we were kids and were home sick, all we wanted to do was lay in our parents’ bed (maybe because they had the TV). It’s like crawling back into the womb. My kids do it as well. I assume though, that no matter how overwhelming that desire might be, once you hit 50, that option is no longer advisable - you should stay in your own bed….The WOMB is closed…

    So, I was advised by my dentist to see a periodontist for an evaluation. After my periodontal exam, the doctor proceeded to give me a whole list of “PROBLEMS” with my mouth – protruding teeth, a bad bite, TMJ, gum recession and thin gums, most of which would have been prevented had I had braces. As a youngster, I was advised NOT to have braces because my face had yet to grow into my teeth. To this day, I’m not truly sure what that meant, but suffice it to say, no braces. However, I begged for a retainer only for its “look”. I thought IT was cool. Only those who were DONE with braces had them, typically teenagers. It was a sign of maturation. But that was not to be. So, eventually my face grew, and apparently, my teeth as well. Some 40 years later, I was presented with dental issues.

    It just so happened that Sidney, age 9, needed to have some gum work done, ironically the same type of work I was told to have done a number of years ago. But, as fearful as I am of the dentist (not the person, per say, just the nature of the work), how could I get myself to a periodontist? I TOOK SID INSTEAD. I watched with a clenched fist and a supportive smile as MY BABY underwent a gum graft. He was amazing. Not a flinch, never a peep. I couldn’t get over his calmness - between the needles, the bleeding, the suction and the stitching. Sidney was my new hero. I figured, if he can handle it, so can I. Was it bad parenting to “THROW” my child into the fire to test the “HEAT”? Maybe, but my appointment is next week and I think I’m going to ask my mom to come with me!

    Anyway, what’s done is done. Now I am told that we should CORRECT my bite. Here’s where the punch line is delivered…. ”At this stage”, I was told “I wouldn’t suggest braces. We can correct your bite with some filing and a retainer”. What I heard was, "I wouldn’t bother with braces at your age". At WHAT AGE is the 'cut-off'? I’m still a mother of elementary aged kids. Does that not count for some reduction in age appropriate options?! I am SOOO campaigning for new 'age appropriate' brackets…

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