to be frustrated about looking young?

[Gracie123]

Yes yes, I know I should be flattered, blah blah...

This isn't a brag, as I don't think I'm considered particularly pretty, but just young.

I've recently been ID'd and refused sale for vanilla essence, a vegetable knife and on new years eve a bottle of wine.

I'm nearly 30. DH is a year and a half younger than me, but has on more than one occasion been mistaken for my dad.

I wouldn't care so much, except that DH is in a job where we live on site and it's sort of a lifestyle, but when talking about promotion etc... he is frequently told it will be a few more years based on the fact that we are too young and people wouldn't be able to take us seriously. We have in fact been told this by people who took on the job role younger than us, but just looked more mature.

It's really starting to frustrate me, as we don't dress immaturely and have always conducted ourselves with professionalism, but it seems we won't be going anywhere in a hurry because I don't look the part, despite doing my best! Colleagues (with the kindest intentions) say that we will be perfect for the job role, when we are a little bit older.

I get so irritated with people saying 'oh I'd love to look a bit younger' when they have no idea what it's like to be told that you can't be respected and taken seriously!

Now I am just

What a beautiful family you have.

Oooh, your DP is dishy!

I look much younger than I am, which is great, but what is not so great is being treated much younger than I am and not being taken seriously.

no woman should look that good after having a baby

maybe not 16 but you do look young

And you mum looks really young too, - must run in the family.

My goodness, aren't you a young and attractive couple.

Your dh looks really young too, has that surfer dude look, he looks about 22.

My partner is 31 and gets ided everywhere to buy alcohol. I often wonder what people think when we are out together - that I have cradle snatched him from the local 6th form maybe?

you're supposed to be on my side!!!!

Okay, DH does look young in that picture, but I can assure you he looks more grown up in a suit and tie...

Thank you for the comments about my kids though, they are beautiful aren't they

Realistically though, you wouldn't have a problem with me meeting you on parents evening, would you? If you came to view the school and I greeted you, you wouldn't be put off sending your child there because I didn't look grown up enough, surely?

going - I'm allowed to look good because it was a planned C-section. Note there are no picture of me after a 19 hour labour with DS...

Im 23 I got asked for ID last year to buy a 15 cert game!! I replied

'Yes here is MY DRIVING LISCENCE and those small peopleover there are MY KIDS and that man they arw with.. thats MY HUSBAND, now were going to drive in MY CAR to MY HOUSE.... geddit yet?' The boy behind the till was ever so

Although I am guilty of muttering under my breath at parents evening about the teachers looking like the kids - thats because I am an old git and make the same comments about policemen etc.

I wouldn't have a problem meeting either of you if you acted in a professional manner & knew your stuff.

Ha Ha tits I'm never that bold. I just blush and apologise whilst getting my ID out (or not if I've forgotten it).

I once got told my driving license 'must be a fake' by the door man of a club, who still refused me entry but I was only 19 at the time and looked considerably younger.

I too look young and I find it embarrassing sometimes. Especially when I was pregnant the dirty looks I got it doesn't help that Im a short arse (5ft 1). I got id'd for paracetamol which you have to be 16 to buy (I'm 28)

Thank you Flash

I think the role is usually fulfilled by older teachers, but that's partly why I feel we'd be particularly good at it, because we are still young and enthusiastic enough to put in 24 hour, seven day a week hours during term.

Hahaha I look young too! Most notable example getting asked for I.D. In Tesco aged 24 with couple-of-month-old ds in his pram. Items in my basket included a bottle of vodka, packet of condoms and a birthday cake! Mother of the year alert!

Also, it's usually a 12 year term in the position, so we will be in our 40s when it's over, so could reasonably take on another 12 years at another school. If it's much longer we'll only ever have the chance to do one term (which is what most people do, but we'd love to make a career of it. Pastoral duties appeal to us much more than the academic side of education).

Not that you can't be a perfectly good alcohol-drinking, sex-having mother (ahem!) but the woman obviously thought I was a hard-partying teenage mum! The look on her face!

I would be more intrested in how you conducted yourselves than your ages .Would not put me of at all but would make me feel old when people in your sort of postions are so young

Maybe you need to look elsewhere for jobs? Perhaps your employers just aren't the best. If they are choosing less mature, less experienced people than your DH because they look older and nothing else, then they are not very good managers are they?

Sometimes employers get stuck with an idea of you and nothing you do can change their view...so move on and be taken seriously by another employer who doesn't have that preconception.

BTW I have always looked young for my age. When I was 24 I was put in charge of 100 volunteers aged 60 - 90 and they took me seriously, believe me, even though I looked 16 if that. How you act is far more important. Are you 100% certain that you and your DH have an air of responsibility and seriousness?

I dont think you look much younger than 30.

You are very pretty though and look happy and bubbly--so maybe you just project a youthful image. Your DH also doesnt look too much younger than 30. So maybe it is both your personalities that project youthfulness. That is a good thing though. Better than being old and stale before your time. I wouldnt worry about it and just persevere with your career plans.

I am 41 and I regularly get asked for ID when I buy wine and paracetamol. I found it mortifyingly embarrassing when I was in my late 20's. Now I think it's funny.

Agree with Tebbles - why dampen your personality and demonstrate a dour constitution when this is not a true reflection of you? Old age comes to us all; there is plenty of time for this later when you actually are world-weary and wrinkled! If your current employer will not take you seriously then find another who will. It's a great shame they are so short sighted and don't appreciate your positive, open nature as something that could greatly benefit them. I wish you lots of luck whatever you decide.

You will be grateful for this by the time you reach your 40s/50s, I can guarantee! I 'suffered' from this too. I'm now very, very grateful that people never think I'm the age I am.

However, your comment about older people not having the energy to give the same commitment made me a bit - you're treating older people in the same way you're complaining about!

Have you tried dressing not just in clothes that aren't young, but 'older' clothes? I'm thinking particularly of dressing in a more formal way? A tailored suit will make you seem certainly more 'serious' as well as older - with hair up/back. You could add glasses for an even more serious effect!!!

I have been ID'd when I had 7 year old DS with me recently they didn't allow me to buy it even though DS had referred to me as mum a few fair times by way of natural conversation.

I am also mistaken for the nanny, especially as we have moved into a fairly well to do area, where most mothers are 10+ years older than me in the local park. Then it almost borders in embarrassment.

Ah well I only hope it will continue so that when I am 50 I look 35.

I want to slap the OP