Is someone told you they lost their parents when they were “young”, how old would you assume they were?

[Restorationandredecoration]

Title says it all really. Is someone told you they lost both parents when they were young what age range would you assume? What would be the cut off above which you wouldn’t call someone young for losing their parents?

You were definitely young and she was very rude. I lost my father when I was 35 but I didn’t feel young as I had lived independently for many years and was about to get married.

I have a friend who often talks about how unfair it was that she lost her stepfather to a particular cancer when she was 40. She does this in front of my DH who was 18 when he lost his father to the same type of cancer. And still I am supportive because it’s her grief and it’s not up to me to point out that someone else had it worse.

Under 20 I would say, though I’d assume younger end of that.

Posted too soon but was going to say that she was very rude and unthinking, to have lost both parents by 23 is very young and I am so sorry

So sorry OP she was very insensitive! I lost mine at 38 and 40. They were both 65 when they died (in fact if you do the maths my mum died when she would have been 9 days younger than my dad) - I usually say that they died when they were young, but I do recall a colleague at work, she was very sensible and a nice lady, who said to me 'flumpers you're too young to lose both your parents' and she was right.
Sorry you lost your parents so young, and you were young IMO 💕

YANBU, losing both parents when under 25 is when you were a young adult. You were young. Not a child but young. I lost my dad at 16 - can’t imagine the heartbreak at losing both so young 💐

That is young and she was rude. I lost a parent at 21. My father was in his forties. At 21 I certainly felt young and lost having to organise and deal with his funeral, sell his house etc whilst all my friends were living care free. She was rude and insensitive.

OP she was rude to say 'that's not young' regardless of your age when you lost them.

Under 21 roughly, but maybe up to 23 or 24 - if they said "young" rather than "a child". Of an age when parents are often still supporting their offspring financially/ it's still not that unusual to be living in the parental home or studying for a first degree as a full time student I guess.

She was rude and insensitive and you were young when you lost your parents.

I bet she had thought about it and is mortified now but won’t really be able to say anything without digging herself a bigger hole.

Sorry just read all your posts - to lose one parent at 19 is young and to lose both by 23 is young, yes of course it is!

I would say under 20. But she was incredibly rude and I think I might have told her to piss off. I lost a sibling when I was 21, if it comes up I say I lost a sibling when I was younger but regardless, grief has no age limit, to lose a family member is devastating at any age.

See for me I would say when they were a child so under 18.....

Depends on the context. Without any context I'd say under 30 maybe? But at least mid/late teens, otherwise I'd expect someone to say they were a child. But it could also be 40s or even 50s if talking to/about people who lost parents in their 60s. It's all relative!

I was 19 when I lost my father, 23 when I lost my mother. I am 41 now. It was just an odd reaction from her. Like I was trying to describe myself as an orphan or something

OP, you are an orphan!

So sorry for your loss.

Having no parents at such a young age is hard.

Your parents must have both been quite young themselves, I hope you have other family to support you.

I have lost both my parents and I am 32, I consider myself very young to have lost both. My parents were 60 so I also would not have classed as ‘old’ either.

Sorry for your loss OP, the comment was extremely rude and it would have upset me as well.

Wow she’s rude
I would say under 25 is young in that context

I'd assume you meant when you were a child I think.

If they actually stated when they were young, I would assume a child. I think anything under about 50 is quite young to lose a parent in this day and age though, but if they specified 'when I was young' I would definitely assume an actual child.

I'd assume under 30. But it doesnt matter how old you were, it was very rude of her to question it! I'm sorry you lost both of your parents so young.

Probably under thirty, but I guess it depend a bit on how old your parents were too.

My mum died when I was four - that was definitely young.
My dad died when I was 43 - that definitely wasn't young (especially as he was nearly 40 when I was born and I was surprised he lived that long considering his health).

Under 30

I Assumed you meant a teen or younger- but I’m basing that on my experience: mum died when I was 8, my dad after i just turned 20

I lost my own father when I was 18, which is relatively young, but not outwith the realms of the possible for a young adult.

If somebody told me they lost a parent young, I would tend to assume during their formative childhood, so under 12, I think.

Well that's one of the most cuntish things I've heard in a long time @Restorationandredecoration

What an absolutely awful thing for her to say. Even if she'd be orphaned at birth, you were still very young to lose both your parents. What in an insensitive cow.

I lost my mum suddenly a few months ago, and even at 40 I feel way too young to not have a mum 😔