Feeling like I missed out on so much in life

I didn't have a very easy childhood, my dad left when I was a baby and Mum was a single parent to me and my 2 siblings. I would have loved to have had a more loving upbringing, but my poor Mum was always working and never seemed to be there. I really wanted to stay on at school and do A levels, then go to university ( I wanted to be a teacher). However my Mum said she couldn't afford for me not to work, so I left school after taking my O levels. Luckily I got a decent secretarial job at the Town Hall; I got a few non-secretarial promotions over the years and particularly loved my last job in the Council's Legal Section. I stayed until I took early retirement. Although I regretted not going to university, I was blessed with wonderful work colleagues, 4 of which are like sisters to me. I have a lovely family who I adore, no money worries, and many good friends, so all in all, I haven't much to regret.

Sixty years ago at school I screwed up in German and was jealous of my friend who was really good at it. Sixty years of feeling sore and inadequate, and now six months of daily practice with the Speakly app, and hey, I'm quite good at German after all! I've discovered it's never too late to start feeling better about myself.

I have had some awful things happen in my life but my only one regret was marrying my awful controlling husband. It took a long time for me to get away from. The only good thing from it were my lovely children . I wish I knew then what I know now. My life is much better now but there was a long time when it wasn’t

Applegran

So glad and impressed that you are in recovery from alcaholism - and I send you lots of good wishes

I think you might have the wrong thread, Applegran.

That comment was meant for
Shinamae

mabon1 can always be relied on to put the boot in

So glad and impressed that you are in recovery from alcaholism - and I send you lots of good wishes

Aldom

mabon1

Stop moaning and get on with the life you have. Surely if you really wanted to do all those things you could have rolled up your sleeves and done something about it. Procrastination if the their of time.

Unpleasant as ever mabon1.
The OP has really suffered, but she never complains on here. She has picked herself up since her truly dreadful experience during COVID.
Please, think before you speak.

Oh, I think some posters do think before they speak, unfortunately, Aldom.

travelsafar
It's never too late to learn a language or a musical instrument. Do you have a local U3A group? Ours offers beginners' French, Spanish, ukulele lessons and lots of other interesting groups.

Grandadpete

escaped

The only thing I feel I missed out on was having a brother or sister. Especially the older I got, and now.

I had two older brothers, in my experience you didn't miss much
Both very selfish, gave my parents the run around , awful brothers to me also , just not interested in me

I had two lovely brothers.
Sadly, both are gone now and I miss them.

However, I did always want a sister as well!

Thank you for your cheerfulness, keepingquiet

escaped

The only thing I feel I missed out on was having a brother or sister. Especially the older I got, and now.

I had two older brothers, in my experience you didn't miss much
Both very selfish, gave my parents the run around , awful brothers to me also , just not interested in me

*Ayres

You sound like Pam Ayers Jax! 😁

I’m fortunate I’ve had and still do have, a good life, it’s had hiccups, hopefully not too many to come, two careers I enjoyed, the first of which I fell into.
Loads of travel, two great children and grandchildren, a supportive, loving husband.
Just wish I’d looked after my teeth better - a minor regret

I did really well at school but, from a poor background left school at 16. Maybe my memory is at fault but, when I had a careers guidance interview at school, after achieving very good grades in my O Levels, no one pointed out to me that if I chose to go to university I would get a grant. Perhaps I was just desperate to leave school anyway.

MayBee70 I fully agree with both your last posts, but especially the first.

I know so many people who for all sorts of reasons got bashed about a bit, or had parents who didn't support their ambitions, but got up and kept going and succeeded in their ambitions despie the set backs..

As they say, When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going

But, as Norah says, remember the wording of the serenity prayer God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

MayBee70

This is a classic example of my I sometimes wonder why I go onto gransnet…

My sentiments too!

mabon1

Stop moaning and get on with the life you have. Surely if you really wanted to do all those things you could have rolled up your sleeves and done something about it. Procrastination if the their of time.

Unpleasant as ever mabon1.
The OP has really suffered, but she never complains on here. She has picked herself up since her truly dreadful experience during COVID.
Please, think before you speak.

I regretted not doing a nursing course. My parents were against me going away to a teaching hospital.
Instead I became a librarian which I found suited me so much better.

When my DH died at only 51 I felt that my happy life was over but decided I didn't want to regret not taking other opportunities that were open to me. I moved house, changed job and became a grandmother to six. Many of the friends I have now my DH never knew.
I don't have many regrets as I've found that things I may have wanted to do have been replaced with other things just as rewarding.

I wish I’d tried harder at grammar school. I kind of bobbed along. Then laziness and hormones did for me! 😂

mabon1

Stop moaning and get on with the life you have. Surely if you really wanted to do all those things you could have rolled up your sleeves and done something about it. Procrastination if the their of time.

Please be kind.

This is a classic example of my I sometimes wonder why I go onto gransnet…

mabon1

Stop moaning and get on with the life you have. Surely if you really wanted to do all those things you could have rolled up your sleeves and done something about it. Procrastination if the their of time.

Nice ..

I do wish I'd gone to university. My parents hoped I would but accepted it when I said I didn't see the point (in my teenage ignorance).
Neither parents nor teachers tried to suggest reasons why I might want to go. I'm certain the teachers would have done so if I'd been a boy.
However I did get an OU degree later.

I was thinking about this subject this morning, tho, and there's always the possibility that another life path could have had disastrous results, in some way.
So I'm with those saying make the best of what you have now.

Stop moaning and get on with the life you have. Surely if you really wanted to do all those things you could have rolled up your sleeves and done something about it. Procrastination if the their of time.