Me (left) with Carolyn, one of my besties, maid of honor, and the person whose name I stole for my oldest daughter’s middle name. Did I mention we were crib mates in the hospital nursery but didn’t meet until we were 13?

What I miss about being 19:

• Eyelashes. I mean, serious eyelashes.
• The sun was my friend.
• No need for whitening toothpaste, whitening mouthwash, whitening gum.
• A ponytail and Greek letters across my rear was cute.
• Discovering an occasional gray hair made me feel grown-up.
• All-nighters didn’t cause dark circles or under-eye bags.
• Maintained an Olympic-worthy BMI with Cap ’n’ Crunch, Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, and Mountain Dew.
• Biggest challenge: balancing homework, a 15-hour work week, and partying
• Biggest expenses: junk food, wine coolers and coin laundry

But looking back, I wouldn’t want to go back. Younger Me was naïve, yet thought she knew it all. Older me is wiser, yet well-aware that I have much more to learn. If the price for having all these things again is going back to the person I was, I’m content to just remember them fondly. Because, having the benefit of life experience, here’s what I don’t miss about being 19:

• Cramming for finals because I’ve blown off too many classes.
• Scrambling to finish assignments because I’ve procrastinated.
• Trying to be the girl I think some guy wants me to be.
• Wondering if that guy will call.
• Stressing over whether I’ll ever find true love, marry, have children.
• Bouncing checks because I never reconcile.
• Obsessing over my physical imperfections.
• Thinking ‘good enough’ is fine and never striving for excellence.
• Putting friends and fun over family and faith.

I feel blessed to be on the sidelines now, supporting three college-aged daughters as they navigate young adulthood. (I have to remind myself sometimes, though, that this is my time to be less of a coach and more of a cheerleader.) It’s funny. At 19, I thought 50 sounded so old. But now, 50 feels just right.