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Original poster

When did you realise you were getting/feeling older?

128 replies

2anddone · 27/10/2018 20:56

I have driven since I was 17 and over the (many) years I have driven in various different countries on all sorts of roads. It never used to bother me what the weather was like or what time of day it was.
Today I drove home from Birmingham (approx 150 miles) the weather was horrendous and I was scared! People on the roads didn't have their car lights on and weren't indicating. The rain was coming down so hard I could hardly see the road and it was so dark on some roads that I hit a large puddle as I couldn't see it in the dark.
I am now sat at home with my dc in bed and I feel really old I never thought I would be bothered by driving but today (at 42 years old) I was!
What made you feel like you were getting old?

OP posts:
CartwheelCath · 28/10/2018 01:06

Becoming aware that I'm have alot of memories and sometimes thinking oh yeah that was about 10 years ago and then thinking oh shit it was 20 or 30 years ago.

Dh leaving the Forces - that was like being told your ancient. Our last Xmas do I remember being Sat at a table with a load of "old" boring sensible people and watching the young couples having a right blast and remembering when we didn't need to be seen as being sensible at such dos!! (Again feels like yesterday but in reality many years ago).

Going on a girls break away to Spain with similarly aged ladies (Mid 40s) and planning lots of nights out and cocktails etc etc. In reality we partied the first night. We were in bed drinking cups of tea by midnight the next 2 nights and forced ourselves to go out partying the last night!! We all agreed it was quite tragic and that 10/15 years ago we all reckon we could have managed all 4 nights!!

ohtheholidays · 28/10/2018 01:20

When my oldest DS22 is fetching me painkillers and asking me if I need a hot water bottle or anything else.

That's just this minute happened bless him,he was going upto bed he'd just walked out of the room and then he poped his head around the door asking if I was okay and did I need my meds or the hot water bottle.
I hadn't even told him I was in pain.

I've just this minute realized that my DC have started taking over the caring role(looking after they're Mum just like I'd always looked after them)and that has just made me realize just how lucky I am.

sizzledrizz · 28/10/2018 01:26

The joy I feel when I find something with an elasticated waist that looks decent, and was today thinking about adding elastic to waistbands of things

TheLastNigel · 28/10/2018 01:28

When I went I out out a few weeks ago and was truly invisible. I'm quite vain and until now have been able to turn heads. Not any more and it's a bitter pill to swallow at 38. But fair Enough. I'm pretty old so...

Dowser · 28/10/2018 07:20

Thank you graphista.
I get the friends bit too.
I lost a dear friend three years ago.
We’d been friends since my,parents moved next door to her parents over 60 years ago.
I used to visit her at her home until my children came along, but we would ring one another or have a catch up if we bumped into one another when visiting our mothers.
They also kept an eye on my mother when she was in the early throes of dementia.
We never ever fell out. I miss her so much.
Her mother passed away last year and I was away and unable to make the funeral. Her mother was 96 with all her faculties.
They were the streets historians. They knew everyone.
After all that, I’m just grateful to still be here.

BillywilliamV · 28/10/2018 07:27

When I saw the skin on the back of my hands flapping about under hot air hand drier. Sad

QuaterMiss · 28/10/2018 07:34

We seemed so young and carefree when we met aged 55/56

There is so much in this little sentence.

Star
IamMummyhearmeROAR · 28/10/2018 07:49

It was probably the first time I went out on a proper night out when my daughter was about 2- so about 33.I always loved clubs and went 3 times a week in my prime. I was always just a naturally good dancer- not with routines lol- just a ‘good mover’ ( typing that makes me feel ancient!) I got on the floor and my hips just wouldn’t move as they used too. I’ve now given in to the mum dancing and stick to the kitchen disco.

On a less frivolous note at 47 I feel old but this is probably lifestyle. My work and home life give me tremendous stress and it’s aging me dreadfully.

moodyblues · 28/10/2018 07:50

When I go out for a run ( slow shuffle) I listen to downloaded programmes from radio 4. Blush

Original poster
2anddone · 28/10/2018 07:53

Thank you everyone, it's reassuring that it isn't just me who had the realisation I am getting/feeling older!

OP posts:
SydneyCarton · 28/10/2018 07:59

Huffing and puffing at the appalling grammar and writing style on the BBC news website Blush

EverardDigby · 28/10/2018 08:04

Also when I started to realise I needed to take my pension seriously and started to talk to friends about pensions and wills rather than mortgages and house prices.

Bluesheep8 · 28/10/2018 08:24

When a colleague informed me during a conversation about our mutual love of Nirvana (I thought I was still one of the cool kids in his eyes) that he wasn't even born when I saw them in 1992....

Justwanttoweeinpeace · 28/10/2018 08:29

I googled a school sweetheart recently and wondered who that middle aged man was...

Dontgiveamonkeys1350 · 28/10/2018 08:30

I will add though. And I always add this to any thread that talks about getting older...

Don’t regret growing older. It’s a privilege that’s denied to so many.

Madeline88 · 28/10/2018 08:33

When I started struggling with technology 😂

AuntieStella · 28/10/2018 08:35

I'm an outlier here.

I don't feel remotely old

(and certainly don't let casual ageism that so many people on this thread are reporting get to me)

Yes, my calendar age is increasing, but I don't feel fully grown up yet, let alone old.

Original poster
2anddone · 28/10/2018 08:36

Don'tgiveamonkeys I totally agree, far too many people gone far too soon and denied the chance to get older .

OP posts:
user1457017537 · 28/10/2018 08:37

I was swimming in a pool in a beautiful 5* resort. I have never, ever used the stairs or steps and always just lifted myself out. Well I managed, with difficulty to get out, and then just laid there like a beached seal. I couldn’t actually stand up from being on the side of the pool. Horrified I tried to style it out pretending to take in the view until I could coordinate my limbs. Finally managed to get to my feet exhausted and totally undignified. Started a diet and Pilates immediately as I was sure I was going to end up laying there forever. Dreams of being a Bond girl over for good.

Dontgiveamonkeys1350 · 28/10/2018 08:38

2anddone. Yup. My Nan made me laugh the other day. She was worried about having three sugars in her coffee. I told her as she was 92 she could have as many sugars in her damn coffee as she wanted.

PollyFlinderz · 28/10/2018 08:46

I’m 60 and I pace myself a bit more now but I’m still very active and I enjoy a full life. I’m a hands on granny to my 6 grandchildren and I do daily school runs and help with dropping off at afternoon activeties. I also have them here to stay often. I enjoy my holidays and having visitors as well. But it’s funny the OP mentioned driving because just this morning I got one of my sons care team to drive me to collect one of my grandchildren from school early because he had a fever. I just felt like it and he was also able to carry him to the car.

Do I ever feel my age? Well funnily enough looking at my 5 children, the eldestcis now 40, is what really makes me realise I’m 60 but it’s in a good way. I’m quietly proud and say to myself - wow, just look what you did.

When I’m tired I no longer stop myself having a fly 40 winks on the couch. I really enjoy it.

QuaterMiss · 28/10/2018 08:56

I'm an outlier here.
I don't feel remotely old

Nor do I. But the OP said older. There's a difference.

(I'm pretty militant as regards ageism. But also slightly horrified at the middle-aged winding down and 'gentle-ing' of life that I see reported everywhere.)

Adversecamber22 · 28/10/2018 09:06

I felt totally fine till post menopause now I do feel a bit older purely because I'm a bit achey and I have a couple of lines now, I had that at 51. A marvellous woman doing a survey said your in the under 34 demographic aren't you? I wondered if she had bad eyesight.

PaigetheRepahite · 28/10/2018 09:10

Almost all of the above, but sweet Jesus, all the many, many chin wires/hairs. And they grow quicker than any other hair. So I can check all’s well before leaving for work and touch my chin and by lunchtime there’s a huge hair growing. I shudder to think what will happen when (if) I get much older.

On a more serious note, it was when my older brother died at 40, 4 years ago. I realised I was the oldest sibling and grandchild and now I hate being older than my big brother. I’m 43 now and I bloody hate being older than he ever got to be Sad

Dickorydockwhatthe · 28/10/2018 09:13

When I realised I could actually be the mother of one of my work colleagues and technically a granny!! I’m 38 😩

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