to think women without kids look younger than mums?

[Cantz77]

I'm in my mid 40's now with 1 kid under 10 and one of 19 years old. I look and feel at least my age (on a good day) and when I look around the women I know who are roughly my age I notice that the only ones who really stand out as being very youthful looking are those who have never had kids. A few I would even say haven't changed since their early 30's while myself and the rest of the mothers seem to have deflated and expanded in all the wrong places since having kids. I noticed this even after having my 1st when I was in my 20's and still young. I think having kids really does take a lasting toll on your looks, not that I regret it I love my kids and would rather look like quasimodo than lose them but it is a bit of a raw deal!

Crikey NoMore - you are not slack at all It sounds like you have a massive amount to contend with, with four children and one who is autistic. Don't beat yourself, please, you sound amazing

Thank you, SirChenjin. I'm ok. I don't mean to sound sorry for myself. I do know lots of people are worse off. At least we don't have the financial worries that many people in my position have. I think I'm just massively, massively sleep deprived. I wish either my parents or PIL were still alive as I think just s tiny bit of respite would help. I'd use it for sleeping mainly and a little exercise if possible oh and a little time with my older 2 boys who never get any attention. But as I said, we're ok compared to lots. Thanks though

If you exercise nomorerenting I bet you will feel a bit better. I do things in the house as I have no respite at all as dh works around me. I have a wondercore smart exercise machine, and I also do youtube videos. Fitness blender have good ones if you search that.

Just seen your last post my autistic child is the same with the beating. I do find the exercise helps me not be as angry or stressed. I think it is important to take time for yourself if you can.

I noticed at work that the women who regularly binge drink look quite haggard, and quite often are the ones without kids so don't necessarily agree. Although I do agree sleep deprivation makes me look like a goblin -god knows when I last put a face mask on ....:(

I had dc1 at 28. I looked so much younger at 29-32 than I had at 25-28, due to less stress, less booze, more sleep, more exercise and better diet. Helped that ds slept through from 10 weeks and Dd from 12. It was the primary school years that took it out of me (when I also started working harder again). They are now 9 and 11 and I am at 39 starting to get the glow back.

I sleep 8 hours a night don't drink mon-thurs and run 3 times a week.

"What i would say is ime those who had children younger look way older than those who had children older."

That could be socio-economic though.

I've noticed that people my age (late thirties and early forties) with teenage or grown up children seem older than those of us who are childless. It's not so much the way they look as their attitudes. I can only think that remaining childless keeps you young at heart in a way, being the youngest generation in your own family...

It depends. I got married at 24 and had three DC by the time I was 28. This meant that I missed out on a lot of the nights out and holidays/travelling that my uni friends did after they graduated. However it also means that I missed out on the gallons of alcohol, smokey nightclubs and sun damage. Now I'm getting sleep again (my youngest is 9) my skin is in better condition than a lot of theirs.

Disagree. I have no kids, and am thin and gaunt. Fairly good diet, a bit of exercise, but I work long hours in a stressful job, I don't bother much with beauty and all that and god I need to. :( I have no idea where to start though. I look at my friends the same age as me with children who (friends obvs not the kids!) have lovely skin, boobs and curves, and am very jealous. dammit