To be upset that someone thought I was 16 years old when I'm in my late 20s

I'm very petite and a teacher. I wear XL kids size for my work wear - sports kit - to give you some idea of my size. I find that most of the children I teach are taller than me and I've taken children to sports fixtures and had staff of other schools genuinely question the children (in front of me) where the teacher is. It's now a bit of a running joke and the school children in particular are always shocked that I'm in my 30s, married and have children.

It's only really a problem for me when I interview elsewhere or attend something in formal wear as I look like a sixth form pupil 😂 I'm a bit of a bossy boots and have great relationships with the children I work with so I've never had problems being taken seriously at work despite my young appearance.

@Kanaloa @Maireas it was the lady on reception not the actual optician at least. It was the optician my parents used forever, she was his wife. I have loads of siblings, I'm guessing she just assumed I was younger than my brother (who also probably looks young) and got it very wrong? It was an interesting trip anyway.

@Maximoose it is interesting, I only learned this about a year ago and suddenly everything made sense 😂

Yanbu and it isn’t professional of her to say you’re quite and shy. They should keep conversations neutral, not comment on your age or personality.

Cue the flurry of patronising ‘you should be flattered, I don’t see what the problem is’ replies

This. I used to get that, so I grew a beard, which has been brilliant (except for when people spot the old photo on my work ID). Sadly that's presumably not an option for you OP.

Or the band around wrist when doing any meds.....or the white board, or the chi....🙄

Sure

@Aargghh - so none of the medical staff ever checked your notes?

My sil is like you. Always looked younger and was upset about it for years - but also doesn't want her friends to know her actual age 🙄

Personally take it as a compliment, in 10/15 years time you will be more thankful than you are now.

My best friend also looks younger, even in her early 40's she still gets asked for ID. The only thing that bothers her now is what people think of her clearly late 40's husband holding hands with this 'child' 😂

Stealth boast.

Ignore it. Hairdressers chat a complete load of shite in my experience.

She made a pretty big error and then scrambled for something to explain why!

Don't give it another thought op she's just one random woman don't let it play on your mind :)

I mean ... There are better reasons to be upset over something is all I'm saying.

I totally get where you're coming from with feeling offended. It's not always a blessing.
When I had DCs 1&2, they were in SCBU for 3 weeks after an emergency section at 32 weeks. For the first week or so I felt really uncomfortable and found the nursing staff quite condescending. They would constantly speak to my parents instead of me. I was too exhausted to think anything of it until one day, an HCA asked me for gift ideas for her daughters 18th birthday. I replied something along the lines of 'for my 18th I got xyz....' The HCA just stared at me for a minute or so and said 'you're 18 already?' My DM said 'she's 22...' Next day, the nursing staff all bent over backwards to apologise to me, they thought I was 15-16. I did point out to the sister of the ward that this wasn't an excuse for the ignorant behaviour and the first few days of DCs life being even more stressful than usual.

I was 25 when my parents were moving and I went to a few viewings with them one afternoon out of nosiness. One of them had the vendor doing the viewing. At one point he pointed out of a bedroom window to show how close the grammar school was, "so your daughter could go there for her GCSEs".

I was mistaken for a 15 year old and charged a child’s fare on the bus on the way to take professional exams when I was mid twenties. I remember the outrage I’m in my fifties now and hanker for those times. Don’t worry you will look your age and more at some points in your life. I looked young till I hit menopause, boy that was a shocker.

I'm 29 and get this. Im pregnant with my 3rd child, so yes I do find it upsetting and it makes me very self conscious. I have found I have been taken less serious in work situations and life in general.

Now im approaching 30, i am reaching the point of acceptance and I know I will value having a 'baby face'- but no YANBU.

Christ 35 year old 6th formers. Maybe she’d been watching too much Glee or Buffy the Vampire Slayer and had a skewed idea idea of what a teenager looks like in real life. Either that or she was a patient at the opticians, waiting for her new specs.

That’s interesting! My husband is hyper mobile and looks like a teenager and he’s nearly 40! I’m 10 years younger than him but look about his age 🥲

Other than on mumsnet I’ve never heard of a 28 year old woman who looks 16. If it was that common why can they never find an actor in their 20s/30s to realistically portray teens and kids on TV? But you’ll soon have a flurry of those insisting they can’t even drop their child to nursery without being carried off and popped in a high chair by staff who mistake them for a little toddler.

She was probably just talking nonsense or making a point that you’re really quiet. I don’t know why but being quiet/shy invites comments.

The optician asked if you were on your way home from 6th form? What an odd thing to say.

It can get a bit annoying sometimes. I once popped in to an opticians to pick up my brother’s contact lenses and they asked if I was in my way home from sixth form. I was about 35.

I’m hypermobile though and apparently that makes you look young.

I look much younger than I actually am so I had the same thing. I used to be upset but now I thank them.

Some people can't seem to judge age at all. They're often wildly wrong.

Its incredibly unlikely that you pass for 16 at your age OP!!!

she was probably exaggerating to make her self look interesting/individual

Or she is plain stupid.

It's 15, isn't it?