So the question of the day is, "What is the best part of getting older?" I can't speak to most of them. According to people who see me in public with my three kids or card me for alcohol, I look like an older sister to my kids. I have been accused more than once of having a fake ID, and people give me funny looks when I talk about things that happened when I was a child that date me at more than 10 years older than I appear to be.

In my limited experience, I'd say the best part of being older is that people expect you to speak your mind.

When you're young, people are always trying to hush you. They are always trying to say that you will understand when you're older. They are always dismissing what you have to say.

At my age, people are not only more willing to listen to what you have to say, they expect you to give advice or state your opinions. That is a very liberating thing for me. A small change, to be sure, but one I rather enjoy.