Guest Blog: Jo Ellis: Kidult Or Elderly Primigravida?

Today we’re featuring a guest blog post by Jo Ellis who, like many adults, is utterly confused about her identity. She is part urbanist and town planner, part compulsive singer, and part elderly primigravida – a mummy-to-be at the age of 41.

Kidult extraordinaire

“I was a kidult in my thirties. My God! I excelled at it.” When she wasn’t cracking up, she put boundless passion into singing, using folk and choral music as vehicles for late nights and a touch of harmless mischief.

Unselfish motives… or lack thereof

She admits to being a terrible employee, clashing with bosses while colleagues cared for children or elderly parents. “Without responsibilities, I was as badly-behaved as I liked.” Somehow, she hung on to her job… until she didn’t.

Scrappy meals and charity-shop chic

Dressing out of charity shops, cooking scrappy fridge meals, and consoling herself with chocolate and wine became her daily rhythm.

Part child, part adult

Pregnancy didn’t instantly make her a grown-up. She became a novice, guided and cosseted: second-hand cots, baby clothes, and advice wrapped in care. “Are you cold? Are you comfortable? I think it’s time you had a rest.”

Love, positivity, and the Women-and-Children corner

Occasionally frustrating, yet undeniably loving. Even when relegated socially, the attention is a manifestation of care. “Being treated as a child in an entirely positive way gives you carte blanche to enjoy behaving like a child.”

Sandcastles, ice-cream, silly games

Joy in simple pleasures, sandcastles, ice-cream, and games previously considered “babyish” is liberating.

Chased around the beach

On a Scottish holiday, Jo braved freezing sea water, only to be chased by her mother. Jellyfish? Moon jellyfish? Laughter, cold, and gentle maternal worry ensued.

What is being grown-up?

Childish? Adult? Jo suggests that growing older allows selective enjoyment: embracing silliness, delight, and care, while letting go of outright irresponsibility.

Elderly primigravida wisdom

Maternity permits a return to positive childishness, finding delight in small joys, and accepting love. Perhaps to care for a child, one must first remember how to be a child.