To ask over 50s to check in to show we are not a separate breed of Mumsnetters

[LaureBerthaud]

COVID has really brought out the ageism on Mumsnet! Over 50s are not an homogeneous group sucking on our Werther's Originals longing for the social centre to re-open so we can resume whist drives and coach trips to outlet stores with a nice cafe attached!

I'm mum to DC who's taking their GCSEs next year and I will have to continue working to support them through uni and because I enjoy working AND I have a mortgage!

So stop trying to lock us down - the economy needs us as taxpayers and consumers!

Another 'well over 50' here! Youngest still at school, middle dc at uni, eldest just flew nest, work part time (in a school), dh wfh so we have nice lunches together, go walking, still manage to meet up with friends despite Covid, play the flute, write poetry - put one on a coronavirus thread recently!

Hate ageism with a passion. We're all in the same boat. Completely randomly, we've all been given this one go at life, and it's ours to embrace and hang on to for as long as we possibly can.

60. Still working full time, often 50 plus hours pw. DC at uni. DH still working.

Social life a bit clipped at present but still loving life. Still feel young at heart.

63 fit and loving an active life. no comorbidities or even allergies for that matter. feel better than i did in my 40's (thank gawd menopause came to an end). youngest 35 all independent.
i'm in canada and living rather rurally so honestly not affected by this covid stuff.
long time married to a fit and active healthy fellow.
two pensions and a hobby that brings in a tiny fun income.
mortgage well it's been paid off more than once.
i do find the hate for boomers amusing at times, think it must be sad to be a hater. i don't even begrudge warren buffet.

I am over 50 and actually (yes, actually) sucking on a Werther's original

They say youth is wasted on the young.
They got that right.

For some reason adverts seem to think old age starts at 50, it’s infuriating! “if your aged 50 -80” is the go to phrase for funeral plans and life insurance, you hear it on adverts all the time and it seeps into the subconscious, it’s no wonder younger people think 50 is old when in the media that is the message they are being fed, when something is said often enough that’s what people will think, that 50 is the same as 80, at least we are entitled to a free pen I suppose , every cloud..........

50s are the best earning years at the top of the career game.

Mortgage (soon to be) paid off with children going to uni in a few years freeing up time to focus even more on the career for a final sprint before slowing down to retirement in mid-60s. I am building up a war chest for the dcs, one of which is not likely to be a high earner and could do with a financial leg up.

50s is where all the perseverance of keeping my hand in at work reaps the dividends. My pension pot is growing faster than ever.

I have already got COVID with antibodies to prove it (twice). No way am I going to lock myself away.

Early fifties, retired at 49ish due to DD dying and having a breakdown. Teen DS has just finished his A levels this year. DH is 50 and is a Professor we met when we worked in the same department in a RG University. Was a trade union activist for many years, love history, gaming, used to love climbing trees but don’t risk it these days. Go for long walks and bike rides. Love holidays and sitting under the pear tree in the garden in summer chatting, doing crosswords and eating cheese and crackers.

@Valkadin
So sorry to hear about your DD

After a very long marriage that ended bitterly thanks to his affairs
I didn’t meet the love of my life till I was 56
Got married to him after being together 7 years when I was 63
That was 5 years ago.
Don’t anyone dare to write me off as elderly.
I’m young I tell you
Young!

@Valkadin
So sorry about the loss of your dd.
It’s good you’ve been able to pick up the pieces of your life again
It’s hard.

Over 50. My work, social life, travel (other than Covid restrictions obvs), Are all as full on as when I was in my 20s/30s. With good health why wouldn’t they be ?
The only diminishing of anything would be career choice - kind of accept I won’t suddenly be re- qualifying into a different profession or similar.

I’ve been lucky not to see rampant ageism here - bloody hell ! Support all.

Me too! I feel quite young at heart , mind and spirit despite appearing to my younger colleagues as existing in an old, large container. I find the casual ageism at work (towards young and old) depressing plenty of microaggressions at work.i am a Generation X-er.

I'm 65 and just gone part-time this year, having worked FT all my working life. I'll work less this coming year, then jack it in. Like others here, I was in my 50s in DD's teen years. My DH died nearly four years ago so the retirement dreams of travel together went 💥, and that's before Le Covid.

I see the rationale of the 50s ads that draw attention to time passing because they want your money. Da yoof need to brick it about pensions far earlier.:o

echt so sorry to read that and others who’ve gone through unexpected/shocking life changes. Support all.

Thank you, Heron

@ssd

Ridiculous *@LaureBerthaud*

I love this thread and am slightly in love with you all too. Such a great outpouring of energy and attitude. I hope a few younger MNetters read this and both realise what a force we are, and also see what they too can become.

But I quite like wethers, especially the ones with the soft middle...

I am not yet but my DM is in her seventies and told me yesterday that feels the same. She is fit as a fiddle, walks miles a day and pre-lockdown was out every day on public transport at clubs, groups, cinema, theatre, seeing friends. She does NOT want to spend another four months unable to do anything on her own, when she is doing her bit and following all the guidelines. Ageism is awful.

Nearly 60 here. A few health issues but I was lucky enough to get redundancy/early retirement a couple of years ago. Financially comfortable and plenty to keep me busy. I'm not going to justify my existence to anyone.

So many of us here are over 50 but had children in our forties (myself included), so have youngish children.

I'm in this age bracket.

I have teenagers and I work full time looking after pre school children aged 1-4. It's a full on, active job and it keeps me very fit.

Luckily I haven't been mistaken for their grandma yet...

I'm in my 50s. Self employed and working full time running my own business until it was destroyed by Covid. Ran my first marathon at 50, enjoy open water swimming and regularly play tennis. Fit and healthy - I hope - and have no health conditions that I'm aware of. Love eating and probably drink too much but life is for living.

Ageism on Mumsnet can be shocking.

waving

50, lone parent (no financial or practical support from ex), youngest is almost 14, just changed career, home owner. Definitely not sedentary, quiet or wealthy enough to not need to work. I WON'T be locked down. Too busy!

mid fifties,
breadwinner
full time key worker - thank god, i would go mad at home, as would my ddog
dc at university
could be fitter tbh