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I’m the mom who’s notoriously tardy. And it’s not just about being late to school drop-offs or missing baseball practices; it’s more profound than that.
I often feel like I’m lagging behind. I’m always the last to adopt new trends. Even after nearly two decades of subscribing to US Weekly, I can’t name most of the celebrities making headlines today. I’ve never downloaded TikTok and I deleted my Twitter account ages ago.
I tend to catch on to new styles only after they’ve been around for a while, and by then, I refuse to follow the crowd. I can’t stand the idea of simply doing what everyone else is doing. The result? I end up holding onto clothes that are already multiple seasons out of date, which probably weren’t even fashionable to begin with.
The same applies to pop culture. It doesn’t bother me if I’m labeled as outdated or basic. I’m sticking with my yoga pants, scented candles, and flavored coffee, thank you very much. I’ve given up on trying to stay current.
Those must-watch Netflix shows everyone can’t stop talking about? I’ll probably watch them once they hit season two or three, or even after they’ve concluded. I just started “Lucifer,” which is already in its fourth season—if not the fifth. I began watching “New Girl” three years after it wrapped up, and I fell in love with “Broadchurch” two years post-cancellation. Sigh…
It’s not just fashion and entertainment where I feel out of the loop. I often miss the punchline of jokes, resulting in delayed laughter at inappropriate moments. I’ve even used slang phrases long after the younger crowd has moved on, leaving me sounding totally out of touch.
There are moments when I feel behind socially as well. I dislike small talk, which means I’m often unaware of the latest neighborhood gossip. I avoid platforms like Nextdoor, and local Facebook groups feel intimidating. Consequently, I sometimes feel out of sync with conversations happening around me.
Believe it or not, my feeling of being behind isn’t due to being “out of it”; rather, it’s because I genuinely don’t care. I have zero interest in using trendy catchphrases or keeping up with the latest gossip. Social media can feel overwhelming and exhausting, making me want to disconnect entirely; just the thought of constantly trying to keep up can make me want to toss my computer out the window and escape to a cozy cabin in the woods—or even a small island paradise.
But then I’d miss out on all those “new” shows that started years ago, and I wouldn’t be able to annoy my kids with my attempts at using current slang. So instead, I’ll throw on my favorite yoga pants, light a scented candle, and sip on some flavored coffee while flipping through the latest issue of US Weekly, which features celebrities I don’t recognize. Want to join me? I promise I won’t judge you for being behind, too.
This article was originally published on July 15, 2021.