Bravo to the Fab Over Fifty women whose daughters appreciate just how fab they are.
“My Mom went to Paris for the first time in her life at 60… and by herself! She said she didn’t have any more time left to wait for someone to take her,” wrote Nan from LA, when she signed up for www.faboverfifty.com.
“My mom is fab over sixty. She’s beautiful, loving, full of energy, curious, likes to explore new things. Even though she’s a psychoanalyst, she’s trying to become a good photographer– and is in love with her new grandson,” wrote Carolina from New Haven, CT.
Brittany and her red-hot mamma Debi, who has been a special education teacher for 25 years
And Brittany from Lexington, KY, said, “My mother just turned 50. She is such an encouragement to me in everything she does. She recently completed her second master’s degree to continue moving up in her field…while being a single mother. Anyone who can accomplish as much as she can is definitely considered Fab Over Fifty!”
Joanna with mom Jean and brother Nick
Ever since yesterday afternoon, when Joanna Goddard Williams wrote about www.faboverfifty.com in her wildly popular blog, A Cup of Jo, we’ve been getting inspiring messages from women around the world about their moms. Joanna’s mom, Jean, is pretty amazing herself. I can personally attest to that. But here’s what our darling Jo has to say about her: “My mom is amazing. She has taught my brother, sister and me, from a very young age, to always be ‘authentic.’ (It’s easily her favorite word!) She tells us to have confidence and encourages us to be straightforward with people (friends, family, boyfriends, bosses, strangers). Even if we are telling them something that makes us feel vulnerable or dorky, she says, if we shoot from the hip, no one can fault us because we are being authentic, and that is always relatable and true. I think that striving for authenticity is a lovely (and surprisingly powerful) way to approach life.
“Aside from that, she also watches Pride & Prejudice on the treadmill (which I find hilarious), cooks a mean Beef Burgundy, is known by everyone as a great listener, and makes a wonderful shopping/travel/life partner!”
www.faboverfifty.com will be dedicated to the moms, the aunts, the sisters, the daughters, the wives and the friends who are unequivocally the best generation of women in all of history.
At 20, I was jealous of my boyfriend’s old girlfriend. I worried he’d leave me to go back to her.
Exquisite Paris
At 62, it doesn’t phase me if my husband looks at every beautiful woman on the street. And tells me how great she looks. I’m sure he loves me and only me.
At 25, my best friend thought only of herself, but I still longed for her approval.
At 62, my friends are happy when I am. And even when they don’t agree with something I’m doing, they still love and support me.
At 30, I smoked like a chimney and drank martinis at business lunches.
At 62, the thought of a cigarette disgusts me and martinis remind me of stale air and cloudy thoughts.
At 35, I was a mediocre mother.
At 62, I try to put myself in my children’s shoes all the time and nothing matters to me as much as they do.
At 40, I was so needy, I confused good sex with love, thought the world revolved around me and impulsive was my middle name. I had to be thin to like myself.
At 62, I know sex has nothing to do with love, recognize I am a speck in the universe, resist 90 percent of my impulses and am perfectly comfortable with my imperfect body.
At 45, I desperately craved the attention and approbation of a needy boss who loved to emotionally abuse his staff and a needy boyfriend who loved to emotionally abuse me.
At 62, I’ve learned to sniff out needy clients and run for the hills. My husband doesn’t have an abusive bone in his body.
At 50, it all started to come together. Thought about leaving my long-term employer and my long-term boyfriend.
At 55, I had my own business, met a wonderful man, craved friends who loved me for myself and loved my sisters like never before.
And FOF friends, like exquisite Valerie Ramsey