I am very much no longer young

[StealthPolarBear]

I am turning forty this year and am having a mild and amusing mid life crisis.
Lots if little things, but the latest is that I've just tried to brush away a stubborn eye brow hair that was lodged just under my eye... It was a wrinkle.
I have also developed joint pain, in my thumb of all places.
Please tell me this is as bad as it gets :o

A well-lit mirror is no friend to the mature.

I leave the house feeling quite confident and chipper, and it's only when I spy myself in a shop mirror that I realise that I look bloody awful. And as for photos...

LOL at Monty Don fancying. Dh tried a jacket on on Saturday. It looked quite good (for him) and had very useful large pockets. Nearly on the point of purchase, dh ventured, "Does it look a bit... Monty Don?" I had to agree that give him a trowel and a golden retriever and he could present Gardener's World.

"missyfafa

My advice is have kids at 40."
NOT a chance thanks. My dc are 12 and 9. The bum wiping days are behind me.

It gets so much worse OP. So much worse.

I was sitting on a bus on Saturday and my tooth fell out. I'm a proper crone (aged 47).

WTF is vaginal atrophy??? I'm far too afraid to Google it in case I catch it by association!!! Arrrgghhh!!!

I know it's generally a lighthearted thread but I find some of this a bit sad tbh. This is all choice, surely. Very little of this can't be countered with a bit of just giving a shit.

I'm 44.

I've been going to the gym for the past few months - I've lost weight, I'm the fittest I've ever been and my metabolic age is lower (just!) than my chronological age.

Grey hair is easily covered with dye.

Turmeric milk has sorted out the aching joints.

My libido is the highest it's ever been.

I play bass guitar in a band and gig regularly.

I don't generally wear make up but can still super goth it up for gigs.

I have 8 pairs of DMs.

Since adopting the oil cleansing method around 6 years ago, people regularly think I'm younger than I am.

Why have people lost sight of having fun? I don't mean going out clubbing and getting pissed - I don't do that either but the idea that people are reaching their mid 30s/early 40s and are just setting down into a sedate life of comfortable middle age is bizarre!

I also plan to grow old disgracefully!

I’m 54. Everything hurts and I haven’t been able to sleep past 4am without needing a wee for years.

I hate the neck crepe even more than aching joints.

I’m 48, and hated the thought of growing old, it would depress me. I’ve just had a bit of a health scare (hopefully it’s nothing) but I’m never complaining of growin old again, saying that, there is absolutely no way on this earth, I’m growing old gracefully. I will take all the help I can get be that from a plastic surgeon or a cream.

I'm 60. Still wearing my turn ups and DMs every day!!

@Rhubarbisevil

Wait until you turn 50 grin

Wait until you turn 55

I just turned 50 and feel fitter than ever. I’m even attempting the 3 peaks over a weeks’ holiday this summer. I was so unfit in my 30 & 40s. Ages is just a number.

I keep thinking getting older is a passing phase. I really do. I'm much older than you.

What, pray tell, is the ‘oil cleansing’ method?!! I’m ‘ oil’ears!

Well said, Foodologist and Showme. Getting older is such a privilege. (Goes off for a lie down after contemplating Monty Don is corduroys....).

Just wait. It's not for wimps.

Just a thought from a 55 year old. If everyone here on mumsnet is wearing them, should we not rename granny pants to the more appropriate and less pejorative* “smart” pants?

*pejorative to both fabulous grandmothers and fabulous pants

I'm 45. I bloody love it. I've never been so ugly or fat, or so happy.

At 33 (post-DC) I graduated into granny pants.

At 35 I got my first jet black chin hair. Boy am I glad I didn't know that after 40, they would all spring out. If I didn't pluck, I reckon I'd look like "The Laughing Cavalier" by now.

At 40 I lost a load of weight quickly and discovered hidden jowls.

I have just taken up embroidery.

After reading this thread, I realise I'm going to have to Google "vaginal atrophy" to see what Mother Nature has in store for me next.

But I am way happier than I ever have been. I have enough cash to get by, two gorgeous teenage dds, a fabulous ageing husband. Somehow its worth all the random aches, pains and hairs.

I now want big pants! Never had them. I am late 50s and hate every single pic anyone takes of me. I have a reasonable figure apart from my stomach which is huge - and I have no kids! Nothing medical - just put on weight there after the menopause. I hate it but refuse to give up my one pleasure (wine) to get rid of it!!

I looked at a bloke and thought "Mmmmmm . . .nice cardie . . . " and winked.

50s here.
Good things - no hair dye needed as yet - no greys at all. And few skin creases due to very low alcohol intake.
Bad things - still got sodding periods, grossly irregular, vastly varying in 'volume', struggling to reach feet thanks to adipose splinting and general stiffness, anxiety levels stupidly high, high pitch hearing loss so the dentist's ultrasonic cleaner getting less squealy. Eyesight changes continue so I can't focus on anything, near or far, it feels like. Grandparents, parents and all their siblings have moved to Rose Cottage over a decade ago.
My favourite thing is going to sleep. In bed. At 8pm.

Should have mentioned I suppose - I'm 65.

40 years old is practically a foetus in my book.

@DarlingNikita.. I have also saved the 2nd part of Monty's Japanese Gardens for a 'me time' moment too. Whenever I try to watch anything i spend too much time on MN and end up rewinding it about 7x or just give up! I don't fancy Monty but def he's got something..think it's his voice. It makes me feel all sleepy!

@missyfafa.. you have it spot on! I had my one and only DC at 40, nearly 41, and I looked young...Yes young! ..now at 47 I look and feel horrific! Those who say having kids keeps you young obv never had kids.. and I've only got one!

My DS said to me today, "Mummy you are old"..I said "No darling just well seasoned ". He's only 5 and has no idea what that means..neither do I come to think of it! It just sounded good

BeersandBass

Why have people lost sight of having fun?

I thought this thread was fun. Obviously there are some bits about getting older that are hard, and being able to moan about those things and take the piss out of oneself is an ok way of dealing with some if those things isn't it?

....and I'll be sipping rum cocktails in hell before anyone persuades me to drink turmeric milk!!

I've never heard of turmeric milk?