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 pushing 60, former punk, currently pink haired, single mum of 3, including one sitting A levels this year. Sole breadwinner in a professional role and also training in my spare time to add additional skills to make me more employable.

I make my living from people paying me to use my brain and TBH I think it is sharper and more creative than it has ever been. I have a wide circle of friends of different ages and interests which has continued expanding during the time of corona. Sadly this does not include garden centres :)

I saw my parents retire and get old overnight, especially my dad who was desperately frustrated at being booted out of his job when he reached mandatory retirement age. In contrast I can't see I will ever stop moving and learning and thankfully now there is much more scope to do so on your own terms.

I also get very frustrated with the ageism right through British society. In the US the (admittedly less than ideal) presidential candidates are 74 and 77. Wouldn't happen here in the UK.

50 year old checking in.

Judging from the huge traffic on the A levels, UCAS and university threads there must be an awful lot of women in at least their early fifties on here.

52 here, working full time in a demanding job.

Two adult children at home, both working.

The ageism on MN is shocking at times - pre-COVID, I was going to music festivals and gigs, snowboarding...and will do so again when this pandemic is over

I'm 52 and way fitter now than I was through my 20s and 30s. Still have all the same interests, tons of energy, demanding job, and feel that I have a good 30 years left to learn new skills and run more marathons.

I agree that there is some awful ageism on MN. Do these people never take a look around them and realise they're surrounded by 50something women who are in their absolute prime?

I'm over 50. Heck, I'm over 60! I don't suck toffees, I don't go to day centres, I don't do coach trips or cruises and I don't play any card games or do bingo.

I run my own business (I don't run marathons though) and I volunteer in two or three different capacities to put something back into various cmmunities. My experience of intersectionality has been broadened by grappling with new (to me) stereotypes about what older people should be like being layered on top of lifelong stereotypes about what girls and women are supposed to be like.

If we could just step away from lazy reliance on such stereotypes, most gender dysphoria would evaporate.

Also, LaureBerthaud, I'm surprised anyone would have the neck to be ageist towards you, given your hard-nosed Parisienne crime-fighting expertise

Well, of course they won't actually say it to my face the snivelling cowards

Actually, did you know that Caroline Proust (the actress who plays me in Spiral) is 53 soon? And she can remember her lines and find her way round Paris!

Working more hours than ever as frontline NHS HCP, incl nights/weekends.
4 DCs, youngest aged 10.

Tbh, ageism works both ways, plenty of digs at 'young mums' etc. IME and IMO plonkers and Good Eggs come in all shapes, sizes, ages, colours, creeds etc etc.

Really not the time to be partisan.

I'm 63 and still working part-time, enjoying life while wearing my mask and looking at babies that don't belong to me

Never EVER shall I run a marathon though - that's just madness!!

Early 50s, still full of beans (most of the time) Worked outside the home throughout lockdown as well as supporting my mother and adult kids where possible.
When I think of protecting the elderly I think of my mum and my aunt. Both of them are in their 80s. Hadn't crossed my mind to think anyone might mean me!
My mother is more sociable than I am and really missing the clubs she goes to, so she and all her mates have embraced Zoom meetings. Her only complaint about that is that the screen makes her look old...
I have animals to look after too, so I don't anticipate being locked away unless I need to self isolate.

50. Rapidly going off mumsnet.

2 teenagers, run own business, chair of governors plus other volunteering.

Just hope that after this crisis, society gets a whole lot kinder.

I agree with pp about the 'vulnerable' too. My niece is vulnerable but you'd never know it to look at her. She shielded when she had to but is a teacher in a primary school and is back in the fray now, vulnerable or not.

I'm mid fifties, my children are both at secondary school and I am a teacher so worked throughout lockdown (and the Easter holidays). I am very active socially (although with a maximum of six friends obviously). I have a mortgage to pay like everyone else I know.

I’m a hair’s breath away from 50, have a chronic health condition but work part-time. Live with and care for my elderly mother who has Parkinson’s

Pushing sixty here, I did join Gransnet but it wasn't right for me ( proving that all people including older people are different) I don't have paid employment but unfortunately wouldn't be able to go on the nice coach trip or social centre sessions as I care for my youngest son who has autism and my ninety-one year old mother who's still living independently with a little help from me and her cleaner.

I'm nearly 50, I have a 16 YO DD, I have contributed tax to the running of this country for 33 years. If you were born in those years my tax helped pay for your healthcare, education and the infrastructure, etc. I have paid and continue to pay for my pension and any social care I may need in the future via contributions. I ask for nothing I haven't provided myself.

I’m 50 with an 8 year old. I haven’t encountered any ageism here thankfully. No one in real life would dare say anything to my face either I’m sure. I’ve got a good job - I’m at the gym - got the PT... I’m the one out of all my younger friends who’s likely to be in Central London at exhibitions and drinking cocktails. 🤷‍♀️

61, married, childfree by choice, gave up work a few years back and cared for my Dad until he died in 2018. Now looking at a full house renovation next year, if I can fit it in with my heavy online gaming commitments :) I love a Werther's Original, but haven't had one for ages. I spend most of my time exercising our dogs, feeding the cat, cooking for us and friends when Covid restrictions allow. We don't have a telly, so the delights of Homes Under the Hammer are lost to me. Looking forward to more Henry Cavill in The Witcher, though :)

What about those of us who can almost reach out and touch 70

I’d have kicked off stink if anyone had tried to lock me up.

I'm in

Also 50 plus, but I wasn't planning on staying home anyway in this pandemic, work, job. I do think young people are being completely shafted though, they will also need jobs, interesting lives, relationships.

I don't think being over 50 is always a high risk factor for covid, there's so many more, and the highest risk is to the very old which is the same for pneumonia and the flu. We know more old people die when they are in fuel poverty/can't afford to heat their homes, but the gov't don't do as much as they could about that and every year people die.

Being old sucks and I am definitely going to keep working to improve my pension, find other sources of income, because I sure as heck don't want to depend on the government entirely.

I’m almost 70. I took 10 years away from paid employment to bring up my family, so worked for 45 years. I’m recently retired from all paid work but work part time as a volunteer. I provide childcare on a regular basis for DGCs and have several hobbies.

I’m fit, active and well. Nowhere near ready to give up.

Life is short enough.

I’m nearer 60 than 50 and worked throughout the whole Lockdown, etc in a specialist school setting as a full time teacher.

I’m not worried about getting Covid (actually think I and colleagues may have had it v early on) as I am fit and healthy and not anxious. Which is just as well as my uni aged children came home from partying were with us throughout

51 here. Still a person.

51 with a nine year old and a demanding part time job in education.