Tell me about a time when you felt old

Last time I went into London to see my son. Both times when I got on the tube a lovely young person got up and gave me their seat. I am 61 and really fit but clearly look like someones gran.

When my daughter was 7 and I was 46, a parent at her new school asked me if I looked after my grand-daughter full time.
That’s not as bad as when I was 13 and proudly pushing my new-born cousin’s pram, someone admired the baby and congratulated his mother (my aunt), who was walking alongside me, for having such a lovely grand-child.

Walking along a high street in london. Woman handing out flyers for a nightclub. Took one look at me and pulled in her arm and turned away.

I had a similar experience recently. I’m in my forties, and relatively slim and petite. As I was walking towards someone hanging out nightclub flyers they reached out as though to pass me one. But when I was level with her and she saw my tired, distinctly mid forties face, she quickly moved away the flyer away from me.

The little boy who lives across the road from me shouted "Grandma" at me the other day. It was probably just his way of saying I reminded him of his grandma but I still felt old! (Also, I know his grandma and she's at least 20 years older than me).

when I was with my dd in a phone shop looking for a new phone for me..when I spoke he listened and then looked at my dd the whole time explaining and discussing options like I was an deluded old woman from 1800s .. then on purchasing phone and leaving he said thanks love 😳🤬🤬 I felt like a helpless old woman I was fucking fuming.. I was about 46 ffs

Yes! It strikes me that the main problem with ageing is not how we feel, it's how other people treat us. Badly mostly. I once had to go to the ticket office at the National Theatre as very unusually i failed to manage buy a ticket online. The young woman serving me kept putting her head on one side and saying "ah, bless",she was so nauseatingly patronising i was stunned.

In the Apple Store, buying a top of the range Apple Watch with money I had earned from my own consultancy, where my day rate was probably 10x that of the teenager serving me.

She turned away from me to my dd and said "have we chosen which colour strap we want yet?" with a tilty head and a smile. I was We.

I was INCANDESCENT with rage.

I am a university professor. I came as a real shock to me that, suddenly, when I met them at graduation, my students' parents were much younger than me. The problem with this job is that every year I get older, but my students - in their incoming classes - stay the same age.

Walking around an antique shop and seeing objects I had bought new for my first home.
They had my kitchen table and cgairs advertised as mid centuary pieces, which were much sort after! Im only 65

Talking about when we had no central heating. The only heat in the whole house was a gas fire in the downstairs front and back room.

Picked my nephew up from a club & they told him 'nanny is here'

I'm 34. Ouch

These are brilliant!! 🤣

at the shop years ago I got asked if my son could reach the top shelf for (ironically) a little old lady (🙈) she was probably in her 80’s.

I was 41 & with my wife 🙈 neither of us were very impressed but did see the funny side & help her out!!

When I TA for student teachers who are younger than my own Ds (who is a teacher).

Letting on I was born the same year as the moon landings. Blows their minds 😂

I am still slightly upset that I now qualify for Asda‘s “winter warmers” in their cafe…. soup, bread, and a hot drink for £1 for the over 60’s

Another one - I was organising a team event in Manchester and asked the team for suggestions. One 20 year old suggested a team building thing we could do ‘based on a really old TV show called Crystal Maze’ LOL

Another , last time I saw the hygienist late last year, she was talking to me about tooth care, and said to take care with flossing as it’s harder for older people to do it.
I'm 41 next week 🤣

Walking along a high street in london. Woman handing out flyers for a nightclub. Took one look at me and pulled in her arm and turned away.

I was chatting to a student midwife, who may support in delivering my baby in a couple of weeks, and she was in year 8 during Covid 😭

My 14 year old niece told me that she watched the first Fast & Furious movie - she said she was confused because they used flip phones and she didn’t understand how they could send text messages 🤣
I felt old!!

When I was all of about 35 one of DD1's classmates asked me if I was DD1's mum or granny.

Getting my roots done at a new hairdresser the other week. Grey roots admittedly but there was no need for her to say "awww, bless" every time I spoke! Like I was in a hospice with the grim reaper tapping on the door. I'm 60 but quite fit and (I thought) not decrepit.

Ds asking me if we had colour TV when I was young

🤣

I'm 43

I have a much younger sister.

Once I was talking about the Foo Fighters and she dropped the words: "I like listening to old music too".

Over Christmas I went to a small party, there was a lovely woman there with her 10 month baby who I was admiring, she then asked me if I had any grandchildren, I’m 57 and my youngest child (16) is still at school. What’s particularly tragic is I had made a big effort with my hair, make up and outfit and actually felt quite decent. I haven’t got any grandchildren.

Someone offered me a seat on the Tube when I was about 42. I was overweight then which probably made me look older, but still!