About the Blog and Me

Menopause!

For women of that certain age, the word can shout discomfort, fear, moodiness, sadness, and even grief. As I began menopause, I asked friends who were finished about their experiences.

Surprisingly, many women didn’t have much to say.

Sure they remembered some grumpy moments, some hot flashes, some creepily long menstrual periods, but for the most part, it seemed that the women, usually happily ensconced in the next phase of life, couldn’t remember the specifics of menopause.

I wanted details. I wanted to know what they thought and felt, physically and emotionally, during those days. I wanted to know about them, so I could figure out about me.

Most of all, I wanted someone to encourage me. I needed a wise menopause friend.

A Friend for the Ride: Encouraging Words for the Menopause Roller Coaster is designed to take the worry out of the word.

I blog about everything from night sweats and food cravings to those days that feel like slogging through a swamp in your old tap shoes. I touch on other aspects of womanhood and life, too. Join me for the ride!

I live and write in a 180-year-old house in the small town of Hillsborough, North Carolina with my husband Cliff and collections of everything from dolls to Golden Books to butter boxes. My daughters Kath and Laura have flown the nest, and I’ve got a grandson!

I’ve published over twenty books for adults and children, and I have an MFA in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts. You can learn more about my writing and me at Barbarakyounger.com.

Thank you so much for reading!

Barbara

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbaraYounger

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FriendForTheRide

Freelance Writing: I’m available for freelance writing assignments on creativity, menopause, slice of life, collecting, grandmothering, and other topics. Email me at BKYounger@gmail.com

A Word About Guest Posts: Join the fun! If you’d like to do a guest post, shoot me an email with your idea. I’m only looking for posts written in the first person. Put yourself into it!

I blog for Talk Health Partnership, the leading health site in the United Kingdom.

I love sharing my posts with Generation Fabulous:

I’m a happy contributor to Midlife Bloggers!

Thanks to Vibrant Nation for this poster created from one of my photographs and posts. Read the original post here

33 Responses »

Shari Latta on September 26, 2011 at 10:28 am said:

Barbara, you have such a unique view on everything life throws our way so I look forward to following your new blog on menopause! (I’ve always been too chicken to get on a roller coaster, though.) Shari

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- judy on September 27, 2011 at 11:24 am said:
  
  i am too chicken for roller coasters too….but fun to do an imaginary ride with friends on the menopause coaster.
  
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  - Barbara Younger on September 28, 2011 at 8:43 am said:
    
    Now’s the time girls. Menopause makes us brave!
Wanda Monroe on September 26, 2011 at 3:07 pm said:

Love the colorful site! This is the type of book for which they interview the authors on shows like “Good Morning America.” Wanda Monroe, director of communications, School of information and Library Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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- Barbara Younger on October 2, 2011 at 9:46 am said:
  
  Sounds like fun as long as they will do my eye makeup for me. I just can’t seem to master eyeliner. Thanks for the encouraging words!
  
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Pam on September 30, 2011 at 8:26 am said:

I was on your daughter’s blog and she pointed me this way..I am 43 and have started going thru premenupausal(?!) or periomenupausal..This blog will really help me..No one in my family, except one sister, has gone thru meno…she went thru it for 10 years..now that is scary. So keep up the blog you are doing great.

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- Barbara Younger on October 2, 2011 at 9:47 am said:
  
  Pam, Keep reading and hope this helps you on your own ride. Don’t be scared. Count it all joy!
  
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Leslie on October 3, 2011 at 9:51 am said:

I’m glad your daughter mentioned your blog today. I have already marked it as a favorite on my computer. Haven’t had a hot flash yet, but at age 44 things are definitely different and I’d love to know what’s coming. Thanks for blogging-I can tell it will be something I look forward to reading in the mornings to start my day.

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- Barbara Younger on October 3, 2011 at 9:53 am said:
  
  Thank you, Leslie. I’ll be posting probably every other day. Tell your friends! We’ll all sweat this (pun somewhat intended) together.
  
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  - Leslie on October 3, 2011 at 10:44 am said:
    
    I will tell my friends for sure!
    PS-I’m the mom of two girls too. I’m just a bit behind you-they are 15 and 18.
Barbara Younger on October 3, 2011 at 3:00 pm said:

Oh fun. Same age difference we have. Grownup daughters are great. You have a lot to look forward to. (Not that teenage ones aren’t great too, usually, but boyfriends and cars wore me out.)

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carolyn~ on October 3, 2011 at 9:40 pm said:

Thrilled by the topic of this blog! I am 47 and have been having those “can’t believe this is happening to me” feelings for about 6 months. It is getting easier to accept and I think your blog will help share experiences!

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- Barbara Younger on October 3, 2011 at 9:42 pm said:
  
  Thank you! It can be a wild ride, but plenty to look forward to, too.
  
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Patti Winker on October 23, 2011 at 2:22 pm said:

Hi Barbara,

I’m so glad you stopped by my blog so I could get to meet you!

I had to laugh when you said most women who have arrived at menopause (or The Great Pause as you call it) don’t have much to say about what it was like. It’s sort of like childbirth; once it’s over it’s over and the brain does it’s wonderful trick of amnesia. This is a nifty necessity for sanity, erasing all those god-awful memories!

Or, it could be all the gallons of wine guzzled during those years… Either way, I got the same response from women I asked: “Oh, it wasn’t so bad.” But I remember being around these women during those years and they were NUTS! I can say that now that I’ve gone through The Change – I was NUTS, too!

Now I’m just stubborn, set in my ways, and pretty much snarky and self-centered (but with a generous, soft heart.) Okay, sort of like a teenager again. And I LOVE it! My husband, on the other hand, can’t figure out where the “girl he married” went. I say Sainara! I like Menopause Patti. Everybody just has to adjust, I guess, or stay away.

Anyway, I’m so glad to be here with you. This blog is incredible and I look forward to giving your books a look-see, as well as more of these blog posts. See ya ’round the blog-world!

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- Barbara Younger on October 24, 2011 at 8:40 pm said:
  
  Patti,
  
  Thanks so much for your kind words. Interesting you found the same reaction that I did—women not remembering menopause.
  
  Let’s keep in touch!
  
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cyclingrandma on November 15, 2011 at 6:30 am said:

Great blog! You nail the ups and downs with grace and humor. Yes.. just when you think you’re “over”.. the symptoms return. Ugh!
You had a nice plug from Hope Clark- isn’t she amazing?
Hope you stop by my blog to visit!

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- Barbara Younger on November 15, 2011 at 8:27 pm said:
  
  Thanks for your good words about the blog. Yes, I have Hope to credit! I had fun checking yours out and loved the To Kill A Mockingbird history and your time in the play. So cool!
  
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Julianne Walder on February 6, 2012 at 9:35 am said:

Check out this funny picture…
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=339515872745632&set=a.269766086387278.68845.100000616663828&type=1&theater

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- Barbara Younger on February 6, 2012 at 4:45 pm said:
  
  Fun. Thanks for posting!
  
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cyclingrandma on March 20, 2012 at 7:31 am said:

Hi,
I just gave you the Good Apple Award! Have fun!

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- Barbara Younger on March 20, 2012 at 8:17 am said:
  
  Thank you! You must have known that today is my birthday!
  
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  - cyclingrandma on March 20, 2012 at 8:46 am said:
    
    Happy Birthday! Hope this doesn’t create too much work– they’re fun but a bit time consuming!
    Have a wonderful day and many more!
  - cyclingrandma on March 20, 2012 at 8:47 am said:
    
    Happy Birthday! Hope this doesn’t create too much work- they’re fun but a bit time consuming. Have a wonderful day and many more!
Sandra on May 9, 2012 at 10:05 am said:

Hi just wanted to tell you that I nominated you for the Versatile blogger award. I have been reading your posts on the reader and really enjoy your work. I can totally relate to the age and stage. Menapause sucks but when we can laugh at it, and embrace it all at the same time it gets a little easier. Thanks and sorry for the extra work this creates. Here’s the link http://wp.me/p2n3MW-3m

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- Barbara Younger on May 9, 2012 at 11:14 am said:
  
  Sandra, Thanks so much! I’d love to have you do a guest post for Friend for the Ride.
  
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40 Fit In The Mitt on August 27, 2012 at 10:44 pm said:

Hello Barbara, love the blog and I think I found it just in time. I’m on my way to 43 and want to get informed and prepped for the future. I have been told I may experience Menopause early due to never having children. Not sure if that is true or if I really even care when it happens, I just want to ride the wave out when it does happen, and no one ever seems to speak about it other than hot flashes, Looking forward to your posts and gaining insight. Thank-you for a much needed blog.

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- Barbara Younger on August 28, 2012 at 10:57 am said:
  
  Welcome! I wish I had been more prepared, especially for the emotional aspects. Menopause is an interesting time, in silly and serious ways. Thanks for your enthusiasm!
  
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Life in the 50's and beyond... on January 28, 2013 at 8:02 pm said:

Oh gosh… I can’t believe I am not the only one who forgot menopause. When I started to read your page, I immediately thought…. “can’t really remember much about it” maybe there’s a reason for that! Seriously my menopause was really a piece of cake (and pie and chocolate and wine) I had some night sweats but nothing like what other ladies describe.
Here’s hoping your pause will be as easy as mine.

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- Barbara Younger on January 28, 2013 at 8:04 pm said:
  
  MIne’s been medium but how about a guest post on an easy menopause?
  
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  - Life in the 50's and beyond... on January 28, 2013 at 8:25 pm said:
    
    Ok I will give it a try….Thanks for asking…
  - Barbara Younger on January 28, 2013 at 8:28 pm said:
    
    I put a comment on your blog too (earlier today.) Love a ’50′s post. Didn’t mean to ask you for two posts in one day. I’m a non-paying market but most writers report having a good time. Short posts are good!
LB on April 30, 2013 at 7:14 am said:

I came to your site via Ruth (Retired Ruth) and am happy to have found you! As a Certified National Menopause Practitioner (and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner), I welcome any forum that provides encouragement and accurate information about this wonderful, perplexing time of life. There is too much misinformation out there!
Thanks!!

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- Barbara Younger on April 30, 2013 at 8:20 am said:
  
  Thanks so much for your comment. Love to hear more about life as a Certified National Menopause Practitioner! (I send you an email. Am hoping I can talk you into a post for us.)
  
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