10 Things… You’d Tell Your Teenage Self

Ah the years of teenage angst… from bad hairstyles to tear-away tracksuit bottoms to a staunch love of the Spice Girls those were certainly the days! Looking back on our teenage selves with the benefit of being older and of course, wiser, we wish we could go back in time just to give ourselves a pep talk. Here’s just some of the things we’d say… _______________________________________________________ Your mammy is ALWAYS right From telling you that she wasn’t ‘mad about’ one of your friends, to warning you to change your clothes before you went outside, one thing we’ve learned as we’ve got older is that your mammy is always right. We also regret saying so many mean things to her during those teenage rows. Sorry mam. Bebo stunners Oh 16-year-old self… please be careful with what you put up on Bebo. It WILL come back to haunt you and be plastered all over Facebook in years to come. The dreaded LC… Is not the end of the world. The Leaving Cert is the biggest academic obstacle in your teenage years but stop stressing. It will all be fine, even if you don’t get the points you want. As your mammy would say, everything happens for a reason (and, of course, what’s for you won’t pass you by). See? We told you, she's always right! You WILL get over him… The first heartbreak is the worst. But you will get over him and to be honest, he won’t be as hot once you get older. In fact, you’ll probably wonder what you ever saw in him in the first place. You look AMAZING If you are anything like us, you spent most of your teenage years despairing about how you looked. From spots to lack of boobs, bellies to bums, the mirror was often your enemy in secondary school but for no good reason. You look amazing – embrace it! Everything's gonna be alright As Bob Marley would say, every little thing really is going to be alright. Regardless of the drama and disasters, it will all work out in the end – maybe not the way you imagine it, but you’ll be alright. Chin up love! Back in fashion Crop tops will come back into fashion along with a number of other things, so hang onto them. Though to be fair, we think you should rock the crop top in your teens as you certainly shy away from them as you head into your late twenties and on. Don’t buckle There will always be peer pressure but stand firm and hold your ground. Don’t feel pressurised into doing anything you don’t want to do – standing your ground will pay off, even if you’ve to put up with some slagging for it. Leave your hair alone! Those blonde streaks? Disaster. That cropped ‘spiky’ pixie look? Your biggest regret. As for those pictures of you with your ‘cool’ green hair? You look like you’ve gone grey prematurely. Leave your locks alone (and please, stop using the iron to try and straighten it, frizz on top with poker straight bottoms is NOT a good look). Straighteners will be invented soon... promise! Sibling rivalry You should keep stealing her clothes and make-up and whatever else takes your heart’s desire, but be a bit nicer to your siblings. They will end up being your best friends, regardless of how crazy that might seem to you right now.