Nothing like a teenage daughter to keep you humbled…

[JamieOliverPetrolStation]

I leaned into the culottes and polka dot trend this season and was delighted with this bargain in Sainsburys last week. I thought I looked great. Effortless and summery chic etc etc. Until 14yo DD looked up at me with withering disdain and asked why was I dressed like a Tombliboo.

We had a similar situation last year when I bought a striped teeshirt and they called me Bagpuss for the whole summer.

On the other side of the coin, my 25 yr old daughter has said that she thinks I’m “too extra”! (I’m 60!)

She also “sat me down” a few months ago and said (quite seriously) that she thinks my husband and I “should calm down” i.e. we should stop riding motorbikes and should stop going out and having a good time “at our ages”! I reminded her that we are the parents (not her!) and that we had spent twenty-odd years totally dedicated to our four kids (now all adults - our three boys aged 19-24 still live at home) so we deserved to be able to do what we like before we get too old to enjoy ourselves!

Tombliboos and soviet grandmother had me rolling 🤣

DD (5) asked me why I didn't look like a hippopotamus on my wedding day but I do now 🫣🤣

I had my hair pinned up for my wedding day. Next day, it was standing straight up. 'Oh no,' said my new husband. 'I married a troll doll'. He's lucky we're still married!

I go to my teens to ask them if my shoes of choice match my outfit.

LOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL so funny omg how cute bless her!

🙄

This has properly made me cry laughing in the waiting room at A&E, I’m getting very strange looks. I think it’s the going back for the extra jab on the phone, I wasn’t expecting it 🤣

A colleague was, shall we say, a little on the large side (huge!). He used to love wind surfing and wore a black wetsuit but said he had a problem getting back on the beach. He joked that people used to try and drag him back into the water to refloat him.

My DD is only just 2 so I’m not there yet but I’m weirdly looking forward to it 😅 I’m not fashionable, could probably use the sartorial feedback tbh.

She does already notice any little tiny change or new item. She piped up from the backseat “I like your pink t-shirt, Mummy!” after I dyed my white top with some red trousers 🙈 And the other day I’d dug out an ancient white top with black spots which did not look good, it was at least 4 sizes too big, but she said she loved my ‘dress’ and kept saying it was “like a panda” - I’m happy with that rather than cow!

Oh, she did say as we came down the stairs the other day and I was wearing a black maxi dress, “mummy, witch!” But honestly I take that as a compliment.

See, there’s this thing called Google…

You could say that in response to half the questions asked on MN. 😂

In fact, since AI and Chat GPT, I often get halfway through writing a post with a specific question or situation that I require advice or information om (not really googleable as too nuanced and not straightforward) and I think 'sod it, why am I bothering to ask on MN? I'll just ask Chat GPT.'

I think it was Kathy Lette (correct me if wrong) who said living with a teenage girl was like living with the Taliban. They're horrified at the sight or even thought of their mum in a short dress, or (God forbid) dancing or laughing or in any way seeming to be 'partying'.

🤣😅

• A pale blue waistcoat and trousers set made me look like I was at a lesbian wedding

My daughter is gay. She wore an outfit just like this to a recent wedding.

Just had the following exchange with DD19. She is ill with an ear infection and feeling rubbish. She put my birkenstocks on to go to the garage and I said to her, "Those birkenstocks actually really suit you." (I was being serious). She just looked at me and said, "As if my day couldn't get any worse."

It's a good look! I'm contemplating it for my cousin's wedding but do need to check what the bride(s) will be wearing.

My DD has continued the horrible, negative comments and she is 46! Someone tell me there is hope? For example being told my once natural blonde hair which turned mouse was

My mum had a very distinct 80s look with big shoulder pads, belts and big hair. She was desperate to ‘dress me up’ but as a teen, I just wanted to blend in with dark clothes!

Today I am wearing brown linen trousers and a grass green vest top.
DD14 - You look like a Minecraft block.

Well I'm speechless. DD mentioned she's waiting on some vintage juicy couture velvet trackies and said she might need a thong.
I offered the unworn ones I had in my drawer. She looked my size 16 frame up and down and said 'they won't fit me'.
As I've slimmed from a 24 she can buy her own!

It’s a good look. 🫣😅

That brings back bad memories from my stepdad, but not my mother; she has a sense of humor. Sometimes they can be cheeky monkeys, but I'm really glad my grandchildren aren't treated the way children were in the 60s.

In Italy, going for the local achingly cool vibe, I bought a very chic (I thought) cream linen shift dress and chunky beads and sashayed into breakfast next morning. Without a beat “ Who have you come as…Wilma Flintstone?” came the greeting from teen at the table. What would we do without the little darlings? !

‘An English teacher who has made deputy head’. How utterly withering 😂😂😂. As that’s me, I now need to know what that supposedly looks like!