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!

57, mum to two adult children and foster mum to two babies (11 months and 5.5 months), still quite able to walk the dog while pushing the double buggy up a hill, in the rain, with the wind against me. Love fostering, I specialise in babies with complex needs or those that are drug withdrawing. Covid worries me not for me but for my 30 year old daughter who teaches in a special school and has difficult to treat asthma and for DP who has had a recent cancer diagnosis so we are going into isolation so he can have the surgery that is his only chance of survival in two weeks time.

Love how if you scroll down PD's link, it references an article surveying discussion of eating placenta online 🍲

I think we need an over 50s forum where we can smile indulgently at the young ‘uns who know it all

Hi OP ... I’m 66, so well in line for beige cardigans, fluffy slippers and one of those “God’s waiting room” type retirement villages.

Except, I still wear my size10 skinny jeans, dye my (grey) hair blonde, walk miles with my dog, ride my horse and shock the hell out of people when I tell them how old I am. Most of my many friends are women in their 40s and early 50s who treat me as a contemporary.

I’m not ready to turn up my toes yet.

@YesThisIsMe

That research is from 7 years ago though PacificD0gwood. I think the demographic is ageing with the site so while 20-somethings are joining every day the over 50s aren’t leaving it when their DC leave home. I’d guess that the over 50s are still a relatively small proportion of users but steadily growing.

I don't reckon.

I'd say it's clear from the content of the threads that the demographic is getting younger. When I joined, the actual "baby" stuff of MN was very much a minority part. You would almost forget it was a parenting site. It was possible to sit on here all day and night and see very few threads bar the school ones mentioning kids at all.

This is a very cheering thread!
Chronological age 53
Metabolic age? Hopefully a few years younger than that.
Emotional age 33.

Oh plus some assorted ‘inner children’.
I’m self employed doing work I love and I’m hoping to do more training next year. I run and hike. I’m fitter and enjoy life way more than I did in my 20s - especially now I’m coming out the other side of the menopause.

The 'boomers' comments on here are awful, but the worst are when an older woman is described as 'an old hag' or a 'little old lady'. So grim. I argued with one poster who could not seem to fathom that 'hag' was not an acceptable term.

Great thread OP. Well done for starting it.

Checking in.

Mid-fifties, self-employed IT contractor, two adult children and one grandchild.

'hag' is not acceptable as a label for someone else

Hello! 53 with 16 year old twins. One has returned to 6th form and is loving it. The other is in College doing her dream course and has settled really well.

I haven't been able to work for the past couple of years, although I have recently landed a seasonal job which takes into consideration my disabilities and pays reasonably well. DH is a hardworking keyworker who is our rock.

Can't stand Werthers, but have a rather unhealthy relationship with Skittles! 😉

Fifty-four-year-old here.
I have a nine year old and a 14-year old.
Age and experience is an asset.

Hi I'm 58 - glad to see these posts - I have 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren. work from home full time (not just since lockdown) am probably fitter than I have ever been - along with dh provide childcare for our youngest grandson at least 3 days a week. I'm too busy to be locked down lol

60 (nearly 61, I'm a Libran). Working full time in the office, including all the way through lockdown.

@PickAChew if you lock me away I will only get fatter

In my 50s....one child still at primary! Only use my walking stick on a Monday,,...

Over 50, key worker here. One child taking a gap year.
I'm an old punk, proud of my grey hair.
No Werther's for me.

53 here, regular runner, gym fanatic and single parent. Two autistic sons in special school (one with heart related health issues) so had to stop working some years ago. Private tutor now, for gcse and Alevel maths/ economics. DS1 is taking A levels this year and will hopefully be off to uni. Youngest ds is just 10. I'm not the oldest mum in the primary school, but there are a lot of very overweight young mums. I'm not staying home, I'm in way better shape than. OST younger than me

I'm well over 50, actually well over 60- still work full time for one of the emergency services and consider there's room for women of all ages on Mumsnet. I love reading about new mums' experiences now and comparing them to mine years ago.
However there does seem to be quite a bit of thoughtless ageism on here which I report regularly.

56 here. Made redundant a few months ago but have managed to get another job. About to start a degree. Grown up DC and my beautiful doodle dog who gets far too many walks .

I’m probably fitter than most of the young uns and have no idea who they are talking about when they say over 50’s are old!

I'm not even wearing a coat yet, I walk too fast and hate feeling encumbered

👋 admittedly am knackered but I’m still kicking!

I'm 56, with three sons in their 20s, still working full time in a demanding job I love and living a busy, full happy life.

I get tired of the "youngsters" who feel our lives lack value to such an extent that they want to lock us away so that they can enjoy their lives - stuff that - it's wasted on them...

I'm 62 and have one teen DD at home and a DS at primary.