Growing a beard, taking up an extreme sport and suddenly popping vitamin pills.
Those are among the top 40 signs a man is having a mid-life crisis if research is to be believed, and Misery Guts ticks all three boxes.
It all started three years ago when, rapidly approaching 40, he decided he had to ‘do’ something. Something big. That something was – or is – the Marathon des Sables, a 150-mile foot race across the Sahara Desert.
Dubbed the toughest foot race on earth, I forget how he hit on the idea – or why. But either way there’s no doubt there was – or is – more than a whiff of mid-life crisis about it.
He’s gone from a biscuit-eating exercise phobe to a protein-eating ultra-marathon runner, grown and shaved off umpteen beards and acquired kit you wouldn’t believe existed.
He’s run 66 miles around the Isle of Wight, tried – and failed – to run 180 miles along the Pembrokeshire coast path and running has taken over our whole life.
At the time of writing the Marathon des Sables is just days away, and while I feel I ought to write something heartfelt and profound (he’ll be only the second type 1 diabetic ever to attempt it) there’s so much I want to say that words fail me. So instead I thought I’d share some tongue-in-cheek ways I’ve been dealing with his mid-life crisis, and what I’ve learned in the process.
10 tongue-in-cheek ways I’m dealing with my husband’s mid-life crisis
1. Humour them. By which I mean nod along in agreement with whatever hairbrained scheme they’ve come up with and bury your head in the sand for as long as possible.
2. There will be tremendous highs – and tremendous lows. And the more hairbrained the scheme is, the higher and lower they’ll be.
3. There’ll be tears and tantrums. And I don’t mean yours.
4. Know you’re not alone. There are other mid-life crisis widows – and widowers. You’ll meet them while waiting at dark and windy finish lines at silly o’clock in the morning – and you’ll all develop The Look.
5. Accept there will be three people in your marriage until the mid-life crisis is over – you, him and the mid-life crisis.
6. If you can’t beat them, join them. I don’t mean actually do whatever it is they’ve resolved to do, unless you’re having a mid-life crisis too, of course. I mean go along for the ride – in my case that’s waiting on the edge of the Sahara Desert for him to emerge.
7. Don’t think about what else the pursuit of their hairbrained scheme could have been spent on. Like a new kitchen. Just don’t.
8. There are times when you’ll feel like you’re the one having a mid-life crisis. And when it’s all over you’ll feel like it happened to you too.
9. Don’t ask them what hairbrained scheme they’re going to come up with next. Don’t even put the idea in their head.
10. Come up with a hairbrained scheme of your own. Like I said, if you can’t beat them, join them.
Do you have a significant other approaching or in the throes of a mid-life crisis? Can you relate to any of the above? I’d love to know which ones!
On a serious note though, if you’d like to know more about Misery Guts’s quest to run the Marathon des Sables he’s blogging about it at Diabetic Dad Runs. And if you’d like to donate or find out more about the three diabetes charities he’s supporting you can visit his JustGiving page here.
well first off, well done to your husband and for you supporting him with such an epic run. My husband is approaching his 2nd midlife crisis. He had he first one when he was 42 and married me, I was 28, now he’s wanting to get a new car and today we were out looking at Dodge Chargers. I of course get the hassle of selling my peugeot and then inheriting his 4 x 4 and he thinks he’s doing me a favour, lol
How awesome that your hubby is doing this to raise money for charities close to his heart! I have just popped over and made a donation. Wishing him the very best of luck! x #MMBC
Good luck to your hubby with the marathon!
Thankfully my fella passed 40 without any mid-life crisis but I guess there is time yet. lol #MMBC
Such a great cause. Worth having a mid life crisis for…I think. And lovely that you are so supportive. Love the ‘Go Daddy’ Shirts! #DreamTeam
🙂 aww fair play to you & lot’s of strength for you & best of luck for hubby. #dreamteam
Waiting at silly o’clock in the morning!!!! I laughed so hard I had tears running down my face. I hope Hubster doesn’t expect me to do that, though the tantrums have started. #ABloggingGoodTime
My husband got lost after cycling a 100 mile race and so this added an extra 30 miles onto his journey, an embarrassing search party, a grumpy family waiting for 2hrs and then a husband who walked like John Wayne He’s done a few things and I think we’re past this stage (I hope!). I can sympathise it’s annoying and I’m glad you’re looking at it humorously #ablogginggoodtime
Good Luck to him and you and of course the third person in your relationship otherwise known as the midlife crisis, maybe this explains my husbands crazy cycling phase over the past couple of years! #AbloggingGoodTime
sounds like he’s at least making some positive changes, there are much worse ways to have a mid life crisis! #KCACOLS
Hahaha, great. And well done him on acheiving so much, likewise you on tolerating and adapting to the changes. #dreamteam
Linking also with #KCACOLS. This made me laugh once more. Mine has decided he wants to go vegetarian (he has already changed career!)
I think my husband has a midlife crisis looming….Fingers crossed it doesn’t involve the Marathon des Sables! Good luck to your husband! #kcacols
I love this!! So funny, but yet so true! #KCACOLS
awww all the best to your hubby, soimetimes we need a crisis to get us going X #ablogginggoodtime
Great post! My partner is turning 40 this year but no sign of a crisis here, I feel like I need one to make him eat better and do more exercise!!! Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next time.
Wow, this is a pretty crazy mid-life crisis – your hubby doesn’t do things by halves hey? I hope he managed to complete his challenge, what a great cause he is raising awareness for! #KCACOLS
I do love your tongue-in-cheek posts – they always make me smile! Good luck to your husband with the Marathon – I’ve followed him on Instagram! #KCACOLS
I’ve just seen on Insta that he’s done the run – well done to him! I love how he says he’s now looking for another challenge!!!
Haha this had me giggling! At least the schemes are doing some good in the world??? Thoughts are with you at this difficult time #KCACOLS