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!

I’m 51. I have a 10 year old in primary, and a 13 year old in Comp.
I’m not remotely past it yet, and neither is DH who is 56.

If we were to locked up “for our own good” I’d start a fucking revolution.

51 here. On my 17th year of karate training, black belt, instructor, and once all the bloody restrictions have been lifted will be starting up self-defence classes for women.

I also have a 12 year old son.

TBH the 'over 50 is elderly' comments make me laugh a bit, because they so clearly come from juveniles who find anything over 35 'gross' and 'ancient'.

They're most welcome to come and try out one of my classes though, to see if they could hack it

I am 78, and if people wan't to call me an over the hill old soul, I don't care at all, as I am more active, and learned about more things than the people who critisise oldies.

I don't go to bingo or whist drives or on coach trips, I do some garden landscape for people, do all my own diy stuff, and some times write short stories. I tend to have looks of disdain, at all the thousands of people around, who are glued to phones all the time, who you cant have a proper conversation with at all. Sheep people is my favourite, kept to myself term.

Clocking in. I'm 55, still working FT and paying off the mortgage and DD's doing GCSEs next year. I would quite fancy a Werthers Original though 😁

51, feel like I'm 17 sometimes, still laugh at farts and shop for food like my parents are away for the weekend.

Definitely don't feel old enough to have an adult daughter.

We are often full time workers and the financial lnychpin of a family. I support my sons alone and work full time and am over 05. I expect to work until I die so at least another 20 years. I have only seen my GP once for 7 minutes in the last 15 years too and I was just telling my son yesterday I feel one of the luckiest people in the UK not because of career or money but because I don't seem to get physically or mentally ill even though in my 50s.

Women and men in their 50s are some of the UK's highest tax payers as you tend to reach career highs by now and are not yet winding down (if you ever will wind down!). I am paying for my 2 sons' two years of post graduate law and helping them buy properties etc.

I'm over 50 with teenage dcs. I wfh and am fit and healthy. I don't feel at all 'old'. Tbh I haven't noticed much ageism on here, but maybe I'm not visiting the right threads. But irl I was working towards changing career before Covid (on hold now) and was getting despondent about all of the ageist comments from just about everyone about how odd it is to want to change direction at my age. I could have 20 years in a new career, which is longer than a lot of people work in one field. I don't like Werthers.

64 here, and my DS has just started uni. Both parents and DMIL are still around, so it may be some time before I shuffle off.

Where are the threads saying over 50s should be shut in? I'd like to go and 'ave a word .

I find the young and dim can have very funny ideas about age. Do they really think the likes of Zoe Ball, Helen Baxendale, Minnie Driver, Anne-Marie Duff, Simon Pegg, Alexander Armstrong, Johnny Vegas, Joseph Fiennes (to name but a few) have all had their time and should stay indoors so that the young folk can go out and get pissed?

Or what?

52 going on 15 here.

Oh, am soo pleased to read this! 57 with a 12 and 15 year old. I don’t feel old, but with the unspoken pressure of over 50 being old, am aware that I’m starting to question myself and even wonder if I should be buying werthers!
Think it’s interesting that under 50 you are defined by your interests/ work, over 50 you are all lumped together And shown in the media as tanned with white hair and all smiley. Usually cuddling Smiley handsome man without beer gut on a beach Scary af!

Have I missed something? Who said over 50s need to be locked away?

I thought it was only over 70s that had to self isolate before as most covid deaths were related to over 70s. Yes 50-70 are more affected than under 50s but nothing like OAPs

Sorry - what’s the question again?

Hi, op
Your post seems a little confused.. are you ok..? Could it be the start of dementia?
Seriously: I’m 53, going on 153, with two kids in KS2 and two years into a new career. I may be absolutely exhausted much of the time but I’m not in my dotage yet.

Must admit I haven’t seen the ageism threads people are talking about but that’s maybe because I just have avoided them !

Mid 50s here and still working as a TA in a SEN role. It seems that the majority on here want teachers to keep working through this crisis and keep their kids in school - but if all the over 50s teachers had to leave...

I feel like everyone here is justifying their existence by trying to prove how much they do for others. You have the right to exist, regardless of how much you contribute to society
@Booboobibles - I think we're just trying to show that we won't be locked down because we have commitments to DC, dgc and work but you are correct we have a right to exist even if we just want to watch Countdown and Escape to the Country!

@LaureBerthaud but the vulnerable were all "othered"
Now they've mentioned over 50 everyone is up in arms but it was ok for the vulnerable 🤷🏽‍♀️

I'm 36, extremely vulnerable and work FT and entitled to no help

Nearer 60 than 50, work full time and worked right through lockdown in a very diverse team. Hate being lumped into a homogeneous 'over 50' category, still as interested in clothes, makeup, current events, taking on new skills etc as I ever have been. Not ready for the crimpelene just yet (and take issue with a good friend who is obsessed with whether something is 'age-appropriate').

I'm also in my 50s, working on my 2nd uni degree (remotely for now) and I'm a single mum to two teens.

In my 50s

Often appalled at the ageism on MN, and worse, how those (like me) who point it out are sometimes derided for doing so

57 here.

I was at an exercise class this morning and I was beating all the 30/40 year old Mums with my burpees.

I still feel about 17, apart from when I first get up in the morning...

I’m in my 50s, single parent to two teenagers. Surprised to see so many of us have children still in school.

There's a thread in the Coronavirus topic called "Under-50s-wont-receive-the-vaccination" in which the OP suggests isolating over 50s as an example.
Loads of threads have had posts suggesting the 'old' or vulnerable should be locked down. Nobody ever seems to think either group might be working, have dc at school etc.

51 argh! how did that happen. Also I found out today on teh Gov website that I can retire in 2036 and get £176 a week in state pension. So only 15 years to work !

62 here with a 19 yr old. I've still got a lot to offer here.