Once you have kids you can never look young again

[Peridotty]

I used to look really young for my age. People always thought i was in my early to mid twenties. Since having a baby I look and feel really old (but I’m happy being a mum and think it’s totally worth it. I’m also not vain at all). My baby is a terrible sleeper which could contribute to the tired look in my eyes. aibu to think that once you have kids you can never look ‘youthful’ again.

I still looked youthful after DS1...I was 30 and at uni and the other students still invited me to the pub etc "oh I though you were about 25" I think I looked really nice at my 30th birthday party (photo popped up on fb recently).

Then I had DS2 and the pandemic started a month after so I live in leggings and look tiiiired. I also gave myself a haircut recently, I'm sure its uneven but I dont want to mess it up more

I agree, but it’s not the same for everyone as I have young looking friends with kids!

Personally I look thinner and more haggard and always tired. I do wear make up and do my hair, nails and wear nice clothes but it’s always in a rush and interrupted by demands for juice/play/watch me mummy/wipe my bottom/find my green vest etc etc!

I disagree. I had DS at 38 and looked terrible for years but he's 11 now and I've fully recovered. I looked younger now than I did in photos from 6 or 7 years ago. I have more time to spend on myself, more time for fresh air and exercise, and can wear nice clothes again.
There is light at the end of the tunnel!

I had my son at 20
He’s 26 now
I can pass for mid thirties
People have thought my son is my boyfriend on holiday 😂
Botox helps

That's what botox is for 😉

Wow wow wow I mean this is quite an unoptimistic take on things!

My soon-to-be SIL is 26 and already has 3 children. She definitely looks very young and is very baby faced so I think your thread title is a bit of a sweeping statement.

I got IDd a few weeks after my 30th birthday. I had 3 kids at that point.

I looked very young ( for my age ) pre my first child . I also started to look very young again after the baby was sleeping a lot better. I think YABU so have confidence that you will be happy with your appearance again ( I'm holding on to this belief for my sake as well- baby in arms!).

@BaronessBomburst

I disagree. I had DS at 38 and looked terrible for years but he's 11 now and I've fully recovered. I looked younger now than I did in photos from 6 or 7 years ago. I have more time to spend on myself, more time for fresh air and exercise, and can wear nice clothes again. There is light at the end of the tunnel!

That’s my experience. I had DS at 39, looked like a baggy-eyed scarecrow for years, now look better than I did before having him at 48.

You are wrong about this but you won't know how wrong until you are much older.nI know this because I recently came upon a photo of me and DH with our DDs taken on DD2 first birthday and DD1 was not quite 3. I must have been 31 and DH 30 at the time. We look so young, I really can't quite believe how young we looked. I look nothing like that now at age 58!

I still look good in just what my mother gave me but probably not quite as stunning as I was when I was 18. But it’s all relative, I’m happy to have three kids, a nice house and a slightly eccentric husband.

Nope ! I’m nearly 45 and dcs are 18 and nearly 21 someone thought I was me dcs21 sister so I guess I still look young 😃

I was asked what A levels I had taken when I was appraising the induction lecture my colleague was giving, I was 32. I still look younger than I am though since lockdown there is a definite downward trend but I am Chinese and it’s a genetics thing.

Disagree. I had DS at 22 so I hope I still looked youthful! I was still getting asked for ID at 29 so I must have.

I hear you! This is me - I've aged so much it's ridiculous. Although, since lockdown (first one), I took up exercising (running) and also starting dying my white hairs - that helps. Even if it isn't mentally, it makes me feel a few year younger and I find I have more energy now that I'm exercising more.... still bloody knackered generally though!

Genes also play a massive part.
I come from a long line of youthful looking females once we hit our late 20's. Until then we all look old and haggered, and any age related childrens things ID is needed lol.

The males however, poor buggars age quickly. My brother hates going out with me and my kids as people think me and my eldest are siblings, and he's grandad to my younger ones. Wouldn't be as bad if there was a massive age difference, he's less than 2 years older than me

@skybluee

Wow wow wow I mean this is quite an unoptimistic take on things!

Better to be honest than revoltingly asinine.

Have started applying olay serum. Officially old now. Hate it. Meant to be a bridesmaid in a couple of years, not sure anybody wants to see a 36 year old bridesmaid.

Yanbu. Since my second 3 years ago I think I've aged about 15 years. I look at photos after my first and I can't believe the difference. I do look after myself and my skin and keep in shape but I genuinely look 15 years older I think!

Yes absolutely - the first year with my son I think I must have looked dead behind my eyes 🙈 also piled weight on due to PND and couldn’t be arsed making an effort with myself. I was too knackered.

I’ve definitely got more wrinkles too.

I have however started a good skincare routine and do a mud mask that takes 10 mins 3 times a week. Drinking lots more water and better diet. My skin is looking way healthier but still got the wrinkles, they’re here to stay I think!

My friends that have children seem to look very tired, which ages you a lot

I don't this is true at all! There are loads of people who still look amazing
and youthful after children

But as with most appearance thigs, it comes down to time, priorities and money. Which of course are all connected.

No only dark circles. Damn grey hairs.
Depends good skin or how well kept you are.
I like the natural look of a mother even with wrinkles I think it is lovely, with a decent hair cut colour and well done makeup anyone can look nice even aged.
Many women I look at only seem to have weight gain than anything and hate on those of us who do not... they forget it is genes.
Natural versus Botox any day!

I’ve always looked young for my age, it’s a family thing but since having my son and pressures of pandemic etc, I look like a steaming bag of shite, and an old one at that.