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.

There is something wonderful about having a daughter become a teenager just as you enter perimenopause. She regularly gives me 'the look' or drops a 'tombliboo-style' comment - and I regularly give no f&cks whatsoever - it is marvellous! I think mother nature must have intended it this way because I don't think I'd have survived the savagery in my 30s!

I used to say similar to my poor mum. Do you like this? God no! Oh for you, yeah it's OK
Bless her

I have had (these are mostly from my son but my daughter is starting to get in on the act too):

"Why are you going to work dressed as a milkmaid?" (during heatwave wore a long floaty dress with square neckline and slightly puffed elbow length sleeves).

"Oh look it's Professor McGonagall" (Long black dress with white collar)

"Oh look it's the Grim Reaper" (Long black dress with hood. Ok fair enough for that one.)

"Oh look it's Kat Slater" (Leopard print top).

"Do not come to Parents Evening wearing shorts. Ever. Again."

Persistently addressed as "Comrade". (Nice bright red House of Bruar coat with big buttons. I thought it was really nice until then.)

A waiter in Paris told my 11 year old daughter she was lucky to have such a stylish mother. When he walked off she rolled her eyes and muttered "well he's just hoping for a good tip, isn't he?" She probably wasn't wrong but honestly, let me have my moment!

I’m loving these comments. Older kids can be just as funny as toddlers. I haven’t got a clothes one yet but on a family bike ride at the weekend I was lagging behind enjoying the scenery and DS12 shouted “come on Lewis Mumilton!” made me laugh.

Both my DC are famously tactful.

DD always tries to frame things in a positive light, and says things like, that dress is a good cut on you but I think a different colour might be better with your skin tone and eyes.

DS aged 15 always, "as my mum you are the most beautiful woman in the world to me". DD ticks him off for nauseating sentimentality.

DD said she doesn't understand why older people would take advice from her generation as they wear those star pimple patches! As I said very tactful.

I find the most horrendous fashion criticism come from my dad, in his 80s, he asked if our unbelievably beautiful and fashionable au pair was short of money because in his opinion she dressed so appallingly. I had a quiet giggle to myself. He always ventures an opinion and is very traditional, DD always says "just ignore grandpa!"

I laughed too.

It's very unkind, OP, but console yourself with the fact that your family have a sense of humour.

Love this! I worked in Educational support for students with additional educational needs, I got my hair cut and one student on autism spectrum said oh like your hair you are the weakest link goodbye! Anne Robinson was not the look I was going for …

I brought a new jumpsuit, DC1 then aged 5 goes "I like your outfit mummy, you look like a baby"

DH has a red & white striped top and every time he wears it once of the kids shouts "Wally" or "found him"

I got my hair cut and my 14year old told me I looked like He Man.

I wore a grey hoodie, teen said I'm "Getty images"

I was holding some wide leg blue and white stripy summer trousers in a shop ready to buy, I put them back when my teen asked if I've read The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas..

I'm 37. My 8 year old daughter was watching me put makeup on yesterday and asks mum why do old ladies have to wear makeup?!

Yes - grandpa in this house specialises in ‘did you mean to go out with no trousers on’

Wearing a jumpsuit- "mummy what are you painting today?"
Wearing Velvet trousers- "why are you dressed like an elf?"
Wearing patterned trousers about to leave the house- "you're still wearing your pyjammas"

She's 4... 4!! I'm really screwed when the teen years hit aren't i?

I once had a nice outfit on and we went into Kate spade (in America) and the sales assistant said- that's a cute outfit. And dh sidles up to me and says do they have to say that to everyone. I was like nooo it's a cute outfit asshole.

I will admit I thought your daughter was mental because I got tombliboos confused with ponitpines initially.

Remembered another. I got a sensible Regatta raincoat and my teen asked how I'm getting on with my duke of Edinburgh award 🫪

I have to say I am genuinely amazed that so many of you allow your children to be so rude to you - you just seem to think it's funny! I would never have spoken to my mother like that or criticised her clothes.

I visited our DD recently. First time in ages.
I was wearing new glasses. She told me that I looked like Edna from the Incredibles.
Her partner said they were more like Michael Caine

My DC would have probably have said something similar as a joke but that’s their sense of humour and they inherited from me in the first place.

I'm guilty the other way round

My mum had a black spotty t-shirt with red trim and I called her Minnie Mouse all day, encouraged other people to also do it - also enquired if they were pyjamas.

Apparently I look like a shrivelled teletubbie in my dungarees.

I had to look up what a Tombliboo was - haven’t laughed at a thread in a while so thanks to your daughter 😂

I was wearing a new band T shirt and jeans once and got told ‘you look like someone old trying to be young’, with her sister nodding in agreement in the background. Followed up by ‘but not in a nasty way Mum’. Crushed.

Just ignore and wear what you like.

I love this!

My 6yo DD asked why part of my tshirt was tucked into my jeans. I explained it was a millennial/french tuck.

She looked me up and down, curled her lip Elvis style and said “I don’t think I like a millennial tuck”.

She is six, I don’t stand a chance once she hits her teens