Do you ever wish you'd known then what you know now? Clare Spurrell asked iVillagers what advice they wish they could have given themselves through the decades...

iVillage member: itriciao
At 10: My biggest fear was my mum and dad fighting. My happiest moments involved my sister, and my biggest hope was that my dad would stop drinking and stop fighting with my mum.

Advice to myself: Savour the good things in your childhood.

At 20: My biggest fear was being on my own. My happiest moments involved my baby girl, and my biggest hope was that I would get a house.

Advice to myself: Don't rush to be grown up.

At 30: My biggest fear was something happening to my children. My happiest moments involved my daughter and my son, and my biggest hope was that my children would grow up to be lovely adults.

Advice to myself: Grow with your children.

At 40: My biggest fear was that my son would not accept my new husband. My happiest moments involved my wedding, and my biggest hope was for a new baby.

Advice to myself: Don't focus on things that have passed: life is too short, so make the most of it.

And finally: The biggest thing I have learnt is that you need your friends and family.

Member: pipanderson
At 10: My biggest fear was that the boy I liked didn't like me! My happiest moments involved realising that he liked me too, and my biggest hope was to meet David Cassidy.

Advice to myself: Just enjoy.

At 20: My biggest fear was not falling in love again like I had at 16. My happiest moments involved getting married and having my children, and my biggest hope was that we'd all be happy and healthy.

Advice to myself: You're not as grown up as you think and you haven't got everything `sussed'.

At 30: My biggest fear was realising that things weren't as they should be. My happiest moments involved my two children, and my biggest hope was that I'd have the courage to step out on my own.

Advice to myself: Take it in and enjoy the children because before you blink they're teenagers. The time when they were cute toddlers will be a distant memory.

At 40: My biggest fear was not falling in love again. My happiest moments involved living with my two children, and putting together two bedside cabinets by myself! My biggest hope was eventually finding someone who would make my stomach flip when he walked into the room.

Advice to myself: 40 is the new 30 - apparently!

And finally: The one thing I have learnt is you don't have to put up with being unhappy, and always go for what you want in life. I regret things I HAVEN'T done, not things I HAVE.

iVillage member: cl-trix2001
At 10: My biggest fear was an airplane crashing into our chimney (an overactive imagination!) My happiest moments involved going to stay at my Aunty's house and my biggest hope was that we could be a happy family.

Advice to myself: However much you worry, you won't change things.

At 20: My biggest fear was being found out; I was having an affair with a man older than my dad! My happiest moments involved staying with friends, and my biggest hope was to be married with kids.

Advice to myself: What the hell are you doing?

At 30: My biggest fear was whether we could we afford to pay the mortgage. My happiest moments involved my children, and my biggest hope was our money worries would be over

Advice to myself: However much you worry, you won't change things.

At 40: My biggest fear was getting old. My happiest moments involved my children, and my biggest hope was for my kids to be free of worry and to live happy lives.

Advice to myself: I'm 42, so don't have any advice to give to myself yet - ask me again when I am 50!

And finally: The one thing I have learnt is however much you worry, you won't change things. Be pro-active and do something about it!

iVillage member: dabchick
At 10: My biggest fear was being bullied at school. My happiest moments involved playing cards and marbles with my brother and parents, and my biggest hope was for the bullying to stop.

Advice to myself: Watch and listen to my mother more carefully; she died when I was 11-years-old.

At 20: My biggest fear was the blackouts on the nights when the electricity was off due to strike action. My happiest moments involved being out with my boyfriend, and my biggest hope was to find a good person to share my life with.

Advice to myself: Write down the family stories my grandmother told me.

At 30: My biggest fear was that we would never be financially sorted. My happiest moments involved time spent with my husband motorcycling, and my biggest hope was to be able to gain promotion.

Advice to myself: Enjoy the simple things in life.

At 40: My biggest fear was the realisation that probably half of my life had already whizzed by. My happiest moments involved riverboat trips, holidays and of course time with my husband, and my biggest hope was that I was going to enjoy the new job I was about to start.

Advice to myself: Spend more time with your family.

At 50: My biggest fear was that we were never going to have financial security. My happiest moments involved time out with friends, time with my husband, and my biggest hope was that my husband would succeed with his business.

Advice to myself: Enjoy the moment. Time is precious.

And finally: If there is one thing I have learnt so far it is that no matter what, the clock keeps ticking.

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