In laws ‘teasing’ about my age

[opaltimer1]

This probably sounds pathetic but here goes…

Recently, every time I see my in laws, they ‘joke’ about my age. I’m 40 for context, they are both mid 60s. They clearly enjoy teasing me about it but it’s now becoming so frequent it’s annoying me. I don’t mind the odd age joke a couple of times a year, to me that’s normal but in the past six months I’d say they’ve brought my age up around 7-10 times. They think it’s hilarious I’m now the wrong side of 40. I joke about their age as a response especially since FIL is officially a pensioner next year so have a comeback as such but nothing changes. If I ignore, they still laugh. I’m planning on sending them OAP type birthday cards to give them a taste of their own medicine.

I feel it’s developing into a form of bullying and want it to stop but nothing really works. I’ve told my partner how I feel but don’t really want him to get involved. If he speaks to them, they have form for ‘kicking off’. I know I can try to not get annoyed etc but it’s got to the point that I don’t want to see them. I went no contact a few years ago (MIL awful favouritism and a big bully) so this teasing is triggering memories of that but want to find a way to stop them without causing upset. Any ideas?

They sound like morons and very boring. Offer to buy them a subscription to The Times newspaper (or any paper ) on- line so they can be better informed in general and you can have a proper conversation about something else (like world affairs) for a change, It really does sound that senility is setting in and they are heading back to second childhood if they are repeatedly saying this and think it funny.

I would just turn it back on them and say but my life is beginning at 40. I'm loving it, just settling into my prime!
Not much they can say to that.
I feel for you though, my family can be the jokey, but cutting types

It's an old joke and wasn't funny when it was new, so it sure isn't now.

Delivered deadpan

This, no reaction whatsoever

What’s the difference in their ages? Is your MIL older than FIL or younger? This seems a weird obsession.