to feel I've become middle-aged and irrelevant almost overnight?

[WhatsGoingOnEh]

I've just turned 47. And I don't know what's happened! I use to understand memes and cultural references, but now I understand barely 1 word out of 10 in my DC's conversations.

I crave old-fashioned values like kindness, punctuality (I never used to be punctual!!!) and reliability.

Bits of my job (marketing) annoy me now. When people talk about "creating stories" I just think, "oh shut up, you ponce".

I buy things because they look well-made rather than cool.

I crave silence, and reading, and little treats with a coffee. My face scares me if I don't have make-up on. I'm suddenly into gardening.

I'm realising I've probably blown my chances to be a best-selling novelist and TV presenter/Instagram influencer, but I'm finding I'm not really that bothered about it.

My DH is 2 years older and he pusses me if when he suggests going to gigs in the pub, because I've been doing that for 30 years and would just like a nice dinner party, really.

I feel I've gone from young to old in 6 months. Is this normal? Is this how it happens?

welcome to our club. i was roped into a fitness well being test today out shopping - one question ' do you drink and then do anything you regret?' ' not in the last 30 years' was my reply.

57 here and just starting the descent.

Don't they say that you know you are middle aged when a cancelled social engagement makes you relieved rather than indignant?

I'm there.

It's when you buy a pair of shoes for comfort rather than fashion and look at people in ripped jeans that you start to feel of mature years

zap, even the thought of going out or getting dressed up brings me out in hives these days.

The poncey talk at work .
I'll have to name change after this but my employer is moving away from 'offices' to 'inspirational spaces'. Luckily I have friends who are a similar age so we just roll our eyes together.
ps I do not work in a creative industry.

I never had a wild youth and I suspect that most MNetters didn't either.

I have never understood a cancelled social engagement making you feel relieved. I love socialising.

I recognise a lot of what you're saying, though I would not be at all pussed off if DH suggested going to a gig in a pub. Tends to be me suggesting this and him finding excuses not to..hey ho.

I think most hate the poncey talk at work as they get older, because you realise it is a load of rubbish. You do get wiser and see through loads of rubbish that people say and do.

Welcome to my world. I'm not going down without a fight though

36 and kind of wear this stuff like a badge as it’s actually who i am not “trying to be xxxx” in my twenties!!

#simplethings

It's also not the gardening but when you join a gardening club and then volunteer to be firstly on the committee and then treasurer

I never had a wild youth and I suspect that most MNetters didn't either

Neither did I — but I'm having a totally outrageous middle age

I've been there (except the gardening bit) for some years. I go to bed at 10pm, I like to read, my taste in music is classic or dated, I find corporate-speak inane and silly. Most of the new exciting initiatives I have seen before at some point in my 20 year career. I enjoy long walks with the dog or snuggling down on the sofa to watch Dr Who re-runs or read a trashy novel. I refuse to wear shoes that hurt my feet. I don't use text speak. I am 40 and I think I found middle-age around 33!

If I finally get totally pussed if with DH and tried dating again, a man could seduce me just by sexting me about his final-salary pension, BUPA, pet plans and comprehensive car insurance.

Yes that's how it happens .
I'm loving the ' not giving a shit' aspect of it all.
I look worse than ever but am more self confident that ever too

The weird thing is, I had a wild youth. I was a Goth. I went to art college. I saw so many bands. I lived in crazy house-shares. I had a poncey media job. I did drugs. I drank about 850 units a week. I lived on the edge.

Now I don't go anywhere near the edge, even when I'm crossing the road.

Oh OP, I think it's less that you're middle aged and more that you just know who you are and what you like.

I'm 32 and found myself nodding along to your post! I love silence and reading and good people! I potted a hanging basket for the first time and it's flowering and I've found myself gazing at the garden wondering what else I can create

I can't be arsed with big gobs, gossip peddlers or the ever-offended. I like to be in bed for 10:30pm and I have recently started not buying 100% cotton tops.

Written down I sound boring as fuck. I also like talking to other women who have something funny and interesting to say rather than young child related drivel. I like getting a bit smashed and wearing short shorts and dirty dancing with the girls. I am just becoming content with who I am and what I value and it sounds like you are too. Definitely not a bad thing!

When I see someone doing something even slightly risky (for example, as dare-devil as not waiting for the Green Man to appear on the pedestrian crossing), I have to stop myself tutting and yelling, "Someone who loves you would not want you to do that!"

I have almost enough bravery to tell people off for making phone calls from the Quiet Carriage. Almost.

Love this thread !

I have almost enough bravery to tell people off for making phone calls from the Quiet Carriage. Almost.

I did that once. One "FUCK OFF WANKER" yelled in my face later, I have never done it again! She did get moved off the train though, so I had my moment of glory.

other half and I go walking and have even started visiting those NGS Open Gardens.

It's a slippery slope

It's the hangovers that have done it for me. Ruins a night out really as I know I'm going to be suffering for the next week. I'd still be up for going out etc if I didn't feel so knackered all the time even when eating well, exercising and not drinking. I'd be a mess if I still lived like I did in my 20s.

I'm there. I am all partied-out and quite ready to be middle-aged.

I am 49 and am a weird mixture of middle (or old) aged and inappropriately youthful. I go to festivals, albeit child-friendly v small ones as my days of large crowds and dodgy loos are long behind me. Like the PP above, I have never met a plant I couldn't kill within hours and am actually depressed when someone buys me flowers. I am also rarely in bed before midnight and was completely excited by the arrival of the new Jurassic Worlkd film (which was disappointingly crap btw).

However, I am obsessed with comfortable footwear and always have been (luckily DMs were v cool when I was a student in the paleolithic period), buy my clothes from such tragic outfitters as Debenhams Classic collection and even Bon Marche (largely because I am fat admittedly), and still mourn the loss of BhS where I could always get a trouser to fit.

However, I think the real nail in my coffin is that on a sunny day my first thought is invariably "Ooh, great drying out today!". I am officially my Mum.