OMG - how do I recover from this?

[awaywiththepixies]

Just spent the weekend at my brother's house. Popped into my brother's business to see him and he wasn't there but spoke to his new employee. It went like this:

Me: hi, is Joe here?
Employee: hi, you must be Joes mum. He said for you to go to his house.

FFS, I'm just 18 months older than my brother not 20 years. Am well and truly gutted. I know I've let myself go, but his mother for god sake.

[SundaySimmons]

How old is the employee? If they are young then anyone over thirty falls into the age bracket of being ancient.

Must admit I used to take great pleasure in my ex being mistaken for my dad as he is only five years older than me!

If the employee is female then they may just be bitchy if they were in a bad mood or if male then unless you have ginormous boobs pushed in their face or a skirt up your arse, then men don't really pay any attention to what you look like and therefore thinking you were your brothers mum is an easy mistake when you are not paying any attention!

Did you kick the person by the way. I would have. ;)

[lifesgreatquestions]

I agree with the others, he either did not really look at you or did not know how to speak.

[BeCool]

I was asked if I was my friends mother once. I was 26 she was 22.
To put in context though I used to henna my hair - we were travelling in rural Turkey (well away from any holiday resorts) and there older women henna their hair, not young women. I still remember this very clearly.

Recently I was with a colleague from overseas having coffee in London and a parking warden I was having a 'discussion' with, asked me if my colleague was my Mum. She's 10 years older than me - I'm 45. I still feel the horror (we both felt) in the pit of my stomach from that experience. She said "did he just ask if I was your Mum" with all the blood draining from her face and I simply replied "that man is a fucking idiot" - it was horrible. Seriously - some people are just daft.

Try to just let it go, move on, it fades.

[YellowbelliedSapsucker]

Agree he saw what he was expecting to see (i.e. Joe's mum) and probably didn't look at you properly at all. Do you think you look 20 years older than your brother? It's v unlikely!

[BigBrassBand]

That's gutting for you, how awful! I got called a "middle-aged woman" not long ago. Am 31. Can sympathise.

You say you've let yourself go, is that in the sense of hair, clothes, makeup, skin care, everything? Hair can completely change the way others perceive you, as can clothing. Maybe that first glance impression isn't doing you justice.

[mogontheblock]

Oldbagwantsnewbag is absolutely right I think. Don't worry about it for a moment longer x

[MedusaIsHavingaBadHairday]

I went to pick my brother up from work. I looked around the large store and couldn't see him so asked a nearby assistant, 'Is Lewis around'
Assistant went near the back of the store, spotted him and shouted
'Lewis your Mum's here!'

Then he came back to me..looked a little more closely and said 'Your not his Mum are you?' 'Nope' 'Your his sister aren't you?' 'Yep' 'There is nothing I can say that is going to make this ANY better is there?' ''Nope'

His face was like this only redder .....

[ironmansmum]

Let's face it - men have no clue when it comes to judging women's ages!

It does make you feel crap though! Happened to me twice - local guy asked me why I hadn't got my
Grandson with me. Ok, I am an older mum and my son is pre school but come on! Initially I was fuming and
then felt devastated. Absolutely gutted.

Prior to that someone mistook me for my mate's mum - 10 years difference between us!

Just got to face up to the fact that I am not wearing very well. (My lovely hubby's theory is that people try to
make conversation and fill a silence without actually engaging their brain! Bless him!)

[SundaySimmons]

Ironmansmum, your husband is correct.

[Birdies]

I've done this before. Went to someone's house to pay for some building work. A woman answered and I gave her the money. Next time I saw the (young) builder I said "was that your mum?" Turns out it was his wife. I was mortified. I realised that she would be far to young to be his mum so I think it's just that I thought it was his mums house, not his. So as someone said above, it's what people expect that makes them think/say things, not necessarily what they actually see.

[poachedeggs]

When I was newly qualified (age 23) I had a 15 year old work experience student shadowing me. A client asked if he was my son. He's now qualified and working with me - I bloody hope nobody else thinks he's my son!