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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask what’s made you think “I’m getting old” recently?

617 replies

overstimulatedhermit · 14/09/2025 15:56

I’ve noticed I’ve got a favourite seat in the living room and it’s accumulated a few of my things on and around it like my handbag, sweets, book, medication (because it’s the only thing that helps me remember to take it) a couple of letters that I opened and haven’t put away yet and a pack of baby wipes.
Dh is watching the game just now and I’ve sat down in my spot and accidentally knocked my medication off the armrest. I turned to dh and said “ do you know what would be handy, a little table next to me so I can put all my bits and bobs on” 🤦🏻‍♀️ my life flashed before my eyes before the words finished leaving my mouth. I’m 41 by the way how has nobody told me about this monumental moment.

OP posts:
GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 14/09/2025 21:21

Having to get one of those little garden seat cum kneeler things for doing any weeding, because there’s no way I can do it otherwise.

Flooperdooper · 14/09/2025 21:19

The supermarkets used to play old people music... But now they play bangers.

Blarn · 14/09/2025 21:19

My great-grandmother and grandmother had, and mother has a handbag by their chair. I will avoid it, I will never give into the handbag chair!

My hands have suddenly changed. They look older in a way I can't quite describe.

OfAllThePlaces · 14/09/2025 21:18

Ive started listening to a 90s radio station as I don't like modern music or know who any of the artists are. I now sing my heart out in the car while my teenagers die of embarrassment.

EveningSpread · 14/09/2025 21:17

The thought of a late night or party makes me feel queasy.

My wardrobe is designed for comfort.

Zebedee999 · 14/09/2025 21:17

I use a phone torch on restaurant menus...

Birdy1982 · 14/09/2025 21:12

My waist has grown at the same rate my ass has shrunk 🤷‍♀️

heartsinvisiblefury · 14/09/2025 21:11

I’ve just ordered a pair of Skechers slippers and I’m beyond excited for them to arrive.

k1233 · 14/09/2025 21:11

overstimulatedhermit · 14/09/2025 17:11

Now the shocks wore off a bit about the granny table, it’s clear now that there were signs.

Like getting my daughter to put my details into the shops tablet for my receipt because I was unfamiliar with the layout.

Getting my children’s names mixed up and going through all the names until I got to the right one.

Asking dh what my date of birth is.

That reminds me of mine - you need to do math to work out your age as you can't remember...

Secondstart1001 · 14/09/2025 21:10

No longer turning heads anymore and not getting served quickly at the bar. Looking in the mirror and seeing someone else instead of me.

Gremlins101 · 14/09/2025 21:10

TheGirlOnTheLanding · 14/09/2025 16:03

I’ll see your stiff joints and favourite chair and raise you slipper-wearing and a sudden inability to sleep beyond 7 am

That's been me from age 18...

I'm now out and proud about my gardeners world subscription, my love for quality bed linen, and my ambitions for batch cooking. I'm 38.

In terms of my body, I just get AWFUL aching legs and hips if I sleep badly now or have a busy day on my feet. Like, I have to lie down right now levels of aching. Ive started moderating my activity a little and trying to cut down on UPFs.

Inyournewdress · 14/09/2025 21:08

StupidRules · 14/09/2025 19:37

I'm very fond of telling my children about the big clunky push buttons on the telly in the days before remote controls and the fact that it was a very big deal when we finally got a fourth channel after donkey's years of only having three.

And how we used to have to wait for the telly to warm up after we turned it on. Sometimes if the reception was dodgy we used to have to whack the side of the telly really hard. I'm not entirely sure how this helped, mind you. 😂

I’m realising too that my stories now are the equivalent of my DM’s stories about how if you wanted to make a distance call you had to speak to the operator first 😆

MayaPinion · 14/09/2025 21:07

Almost every year for the last 20 or so years a group of us (friends since schooldays) go to Ibiza for a long weekend. It’s a sort of post-summer, getting the kids back to school/uni, letting off steam treat with champagne, preez, cocktails, dancing, post night out drinks on the balcony, smoking our heads off, and generally putting the world to rights. Over the last few years it has morphed into long walks, nice dinners, a glass of wine or two, and bed by 11pm. Nobody smokes anymore, we all bring trainers instead of stilettos, we’re all up nice and early to swim a kilometre before the pool gets too busy, and we talk about skincare and ailments now 😂

Catsinaflat · 14/09/2025 21:07

I was speaking to a patient and looking at their notes. I realised he had exactly the same date of birth as my eldest dc. I then saw the next box along said age 37 and I thought that can’t be right my dc isnt that age - oh yes he is. For some reason in my head dc is in his early twentiesGrin

MinnieCauldwell · 14/09/2025 21:05

ThriveAT · 14/09/2025 20:48

Come on! You don't take a cushion, do you? Have you got back issues?

Yes many oain issues due to MS, I was very discreet no one was really there to notice

Soooooooverthisnow · 14/09/2025 21:05

The fact I had to get a little makeup bag to put all our pills and potions in when we went away this year

BurntBroccoli · 14/09/2025 21:03

I avoid looking at mirrors in shops when I’m out and about.
My knees are getting achey.
i can only drink one coffee a day
I get a massive hangover if I drink more than 2 glasses of wine.

TheFifthTellytubby · 14/09/2025 21:02

thatsthatsaidthemayor · 14/09/2025 16:09

Taking a picture of a label so that o can zoom in to read it. It

Wait - doesn't everyone do that? 🤔😂

feelingalittlehorse · 14/09/2025 21:02

Making a noise as I get up and sit back down. Not a groan as much, but an audible small grunt.

overstimulatedhermit · 14/09/2025 21:00

SuchiRolls · 14/09/2025 20:51

OP when you said about all the bits you’ve accumulated and getting the little table next to your chair…identical to my own mum who is 68. It’s a practical thing isn’t it 😅 She rarely leaves her chair unless she has to though hence the practicality of it. She specifically got one that fit snuggly in to the gap between her chair and the wall 😂

When I said that to dh he looked at me with horror in his face 🤣 I thought I had at least another 20 years before I’d need this lol

OP posts:
JustineRobots · 14/09/2025 21:00

I was watching Emmerdale and Dawn’s year of birth was shown as 1997. I thought “That’s got to be a mistake - if she was born in 1997 she’d only be… oh. 28. Oh shit.”

I am… not 28.

ifIwerenotanandroid · 14/09/2025 20:59

When the GP asked if I could touch my toes & I could see he was getting ready to say reassuringly, "Never mind, we all get older" - but I asked, "Like a pilates rolldown?" & did a perfect one, with my hands folding up on the floor because I got down so far.

When people started patronising me while e.g. holding a door open or letting me go first; before I aged, they'd just do it in silence. I suppose it's sweet. I may start to milk it.

When I talk about taping programmes onto the recordable DVD thingy, whatever it's called.

When I became able to throw away/donate yarn because life's now too short to use it all. Don't touch my fabrics & paints, though!

PrincessHoneysuckle · 14/09/2025 20:58

In the school I work in most teachers and all of SLT are younger than me.Im 45

StrawberryGinger · 14/09/2025 20:56

Littletreefrog · 14/09/2025 19:17

Went for an eye test recently. I wear glasses for distance. Now apparently I am both long and short sighted at the same time. The very young Optician said 'it's nothing to worry about it's just your age, these things happen as our body starts to wear out". I am 41.

@Littletreefrog my eyes have been like that since I was a teen so don't worry it's not actually an age thing! 😂 I made it to my 30s before they stopped complimenting each other and start competing so now I need glasses

ThriveAT · 14/09/2025 20:55

FurForksSake · 14/09/2025 20:54

@ThriveATi went to the theatre last night with my own seat pad and walking stick. im 42 and disabled, but even if I weren’t I’m fairly slimmish (8st7) and chairs hurt my arse.

Fair enough.

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