The 53 Year Old Spring Break in Miami Beach

The 53 Year Old Spring Break in Miami Beach

.Pedicure on Beach

You know the old saying, “If you can’t beat ‘em…join ‘em.”

Here I am in Miami Beach: Spring Break 2016 with my 19 year old son. I got the invitation as a result of raising a smart, confident son. Smart because he knows I’ll pay the hotel bill and we won’t eat McDonald’s for dinner. Confident and self-assured enough to not be embarrassed by his mom. And me hoping there’s a little sentimentality in there because we don’t get to see each other enough since he left for college.

Hotel View Miam

It is 6 am and the menopause thing has gotten in the way of a full night’s sleep. I have wandered outside with laptop and coffee in hand. A view of the beach, the promise of an imminent beautiful sunrise, above (literally) the refuse left overnight by tens of thousands of college-age spring break revelers.

I’m thinking…It’s good to be 53. In fact, here’s my list of

“Why it is Great To Be on Spring Break for a 53 Year Old.”

  1. I am not the half-naked drunk girl sleeping on a lounge chair.

    Hook-ups are thankfully no longer on my “sign of a wild night” list.

  2. My eyes are not swollen shut from sunburn.
    Lauren Chesley Miami Beach

    I gave up baby oil and an album cover wrapped in aluminum foil to use as a sun reflector. (I am not the only one who did that—right?)

  3. I don’t need to look good in a bikini.

    It’s hard to walk around all day with your stomach sucked in. Exhausting actually! And, note, I COULD look good in a bikini…I just don’t feel the NEED to.

  4. I don’t have to go to ULTRA.

    And I don’t feel left out. (It’s an all-day music festival to hear bands I can’t even pronounce the names of —yet alone know the lyrics.)

  5. No more schlepping buckets of water.

    Sand Castle Equipment
    Although I loved it, and with a nod to the families with young ones who did not get the memo that it was college spring break week…I no longer have to schlep pails of water across the beach hoping the sand castle doesn’t crumble or that a wave washes all the hard work away, and then spend the next hour consoling a heartbroken miniature architect. (I will be more patient as a grandmother!)

  6. I know what makes me happy.

    Treasured Time
    An umbrella…a good book…number 70 Sunscreen and adult conversation.

  7. I am still young enough to BE a “cool mom” and old enough to not have to PROVE it.

    Time with Adult Children
    Yay for adult children! I love that my college son knows who the new Supreme Court nominee will be. I’m grateful that my kids still want to “hang” with me! I love the easy flow of being together and then separating, he off to do “spring break stuff” with friends, me a chance to do…see #6.

Yay for the real “stuff” of 50…Lessons learned and lessons taught. I am most certain that once upon a time I was that crazy free spirited college girl on Spring Break. Thanks for the memories— I am just happy not to be her anymore—delighted in living these years to write my own rules now.

Wherever you are— happy Spring Break and let the March Madness roll on… loving it from my point of view.

Lauren
Chesley@interculturaltalk.com

Unapologetically You Post-50. Reinvention, Lifestyle, Relationships.

6 Comments
  • Sharon Dizenhuz
    Posted at 20:44h, 18 March Reply

    GO LAUREN!!!

  • Encore Voyage
    Posted at 12:56h, 19 March Reply

    Your list is PERFECT! I might need to steal your concept and add a few more of why it’s great to be on the Encore Voyage during spring break…All of the above, and I don’t have to go back to work next Monday! Way to go, cool mom!

  • Nora Ephron Tonight | Stuff of Life Blog
    Posted at 11:36h, 21 March Reply

    […] own beautiful daughter, Lily, is 22 years old today…living it up on her own Spring Break […]

  • laurenchesley
    Posted at 16:34h, 21 March Reply

    Thank you. It’s good to be 53 and own it! I appreciate the nice comments!

  • annanicolewitt
    Posted at 18:06h, 21 March Reply

    Love this! I am 43 and my son is 18 graduating high school. We are very close and I hope we remain that way like you and your son. Your list is on point:)

  • Helene Rosenthal
    Posted at 18:21h, 12 May Reply

    i loved this—-especially since I have been on spring break with you and btw—we had a lot of fun. Xo

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