Am I having a mid-life crisis?

"Can we get a puppy?" 

"No, we can't get a puppy."  My husband is as adamant as I am beseeching. 

"Not even a little one?"

"No." 


Strictly between you and me, I fear I may have stumbled inadvertently into a mid-life crisis. 

In men, the mid-life crisis translates into unsuitable sports cars and eager-to-please secretaries.  In women it's more likely to mean impulsive sprees in Cath Kidston, an edgy hair cut and the acquisition of a doe-eyed puppy. 

Am I having a mid-life crisis?  Well, let's look at the facts.  I've just left a secure job in favour of an erratic freelance income.  I've had a drastic hair cut, I'm begging my husband for a baby-substitute pet and last week I spent £82.50 on floral napkins, two hand towels and a teapot.  It's all down hill from here.

It occurred to me that my apparent mid-life crisis could be down to the HRT.  Women blame all sorts of things on HRT, from lack of libido to shoplifting, so it wouldn't be an unreasonable accusation.  I asked my husband to tell me if I had become at all irrational. 

There was an ironically pregnant pause. 

"Er... no,"  he said, pulling nervously at his collar.  "I don't think I can do that." 

"Why on earth not?"  I snapped, irrationally. 

Ah, I see his point.

Emily Carlisle is a freelance writer and columnist for Cotswold Life.  Find out more about her on her website www.allaboutemily.com and read more of her blogs at www.morethanjustamother.com