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Original poster

What age is middle aged? Or is it a state of mind rather than an age? And are you middle aged or not?

74 replies

WideWebWitch · 22/07/2006 13:28

I was wondering this as I was in the hairdresser this morning. I'm sure I must be middle aged, being 39 and all but I don't feel it. I know some of my attitudes are and some aren't but what do you reckon mumsnetters? Is it an age and if so, what age or is it attitude and behaviour?

OP posts:
SaintGeorge · 22/07/2006 13:29

It had better not be 39 or I'm middle aged too and I just refuse to be.

southeastastra · 22/07/2006 13:31

no 39 is nowhere near middle aged!i think its about 60 now hehe.

DumbledoresGirl · 22/07/2006 13:32

Oh www, what a great thread for me! I think it must be an attitude rather than an actual age because I am 41 and although on paper I know that must be middle aged, I really honestly do not feel middle aged at all (I am not just saying that!)

Oh well, perhaps when I go past teenagers I feel a bit early middle aged. Also, builders don't wolf whistle me anymore, but that is good isn't it?!

TinyGang · 22/07/2006 13:41

Just swooping in to back up Dumbledores girl (we're the same age!)

Nah...40 is the new 30. I feel more like 30ish. In my head that is. In body some days more like 165 but we'll draw a veil over that!

Anyway, I have spent my 30's mostly having babies and changing nappies. Now in my 40's, I've decided to just think of myself back in my 30's, so I can have another go

Middle age? I suppose to a 17yr old I am, but not to me. I think you have to be careful not to look like the oldest swinger in town though..

noddyholder · 22/07/2006 13:42

I am 41 too!Don't consider myself middle aged but suspect I am!

Original poster
WideWebWitch · 22/07/2006 13:46

blimey according to Wikipedia it's from 40-60 . My dad used to describe himself and his sisters as being 'in the autumn of our years' - his sister used to say (in a broad Cornish accent) 'I hope he aren't going to tell me when it's winter'

I like to think I'm in middle youth as identified by Red and mags of its ilk but looking in the mirror this morning I'm not sure who I'm kidding!

OP posts:
Original poster
WideWebWitch · 22/07/2006 13:46

But another google search defined it as 45-65. Ho hum.

OP posts:
Pinotmum · 22/07/2006 13:52

Definitely 50++! I'm 40 and no way am I middle ged

TinyGang · 22/07/2006 13:53

To digress slightly..

Did anyone hear a programme this morning on R4 about memory and how people feel it all goes pear shaped after 40?

My memory seems very bad and I have to write everything down, but apparantly just being stressed and around children can make it bad.

Well that explains it then...my lot chatter on at me all at once constantly until my head spins. I can't even remember their birth dates half the time if I'm put on the spot.

Apparantly forgetting your children's names and leaving babies in shops and going home is all quite common So it might not just be cos I'm knocking on a bit

beef · 22/07/2006 14:01

39 middle aged

that makes me positively geriatric!

Carmenere · 22/07/2006 14:09

I listened to that programme TG, it was interesting basically I think they were saying that our minds were just so full at 40 that we couldn't access some memories.
As another aside did you think Mariella Fostrops voice sounded a little affected? -kind of like she had poshed up her(already posh) accent for R4?

brimfull · 22/07/2006 14:12

midle aged is always atleast 15 yrs older than me ,.
I'm 44 and feel no different than I did in my 30's.

Carmenere · 22/07/2006 14:16

It's different for different people imo. Like my dmil and dfather are the same age except she has an old lady's perspective on the world and he still thinks like a much younger man. But middleage is going to be a long time coming for most of us as we extended our twenties for so much longer than previous generations. (at least I did)

DumbledoresGirl · 22/07/2006 14:17

Forgetting your children's names is not middle aged! My grandmother who was perfectly compos mentis until she died at 94 was always calling me by my mother/sister/cousin's names and we used to laugh at her. But then I was doing it as soon as I had 2 children to confuse - when I was 33. So then I decided it was a genetic thing, not age related at all.

I wish I had a collective name for my children - well I suppose I have (kids) - so that I can use it without fear of getting the name wrong.

SSSandy · 22/07/2006 14:33

I don't feel grown up enough to be middle aged. I'm starting to wonder if I am ever going to feel truly grown up though

southeastastra · 22/07/2006 14:52

my mil is nearly 80 and still feels 21 (and acts it too) hehe

my dad's 76 and likes hollyoaks, i think we regress once we reach a certain age

Alipiggie · 22/07/2006 15:07

Another 41yr old here. Definitely not middle aged. That starts at about 55 for me as my Nan lived to be 98 . Anyway, life's still got so much to offer that I'm going to stay about 30 forever.

Tinker · 22/07/2006 15:18

Another 41 here and I don't feel middle-aged ata ll. But, it's interesting watching teh late-teens/20 somethings on BB and they way they talk about Susie (43). They're really quite deferential, really see her as oldish.

swedishmum · 22/07/2006 15:21

Definitely an attitude - and I'm not ready for it yet at 42. Was just wondering yesterday if I'll still be shopping in the same places when I'm 50. I distinctly remember my mum wearing Alexon, Country Casuals, Viyella and Jaeger.

southeastastra · 22/07/2006 15:23

i think you reach and age and realise that you could actually be the mother of some of the 'young people' you work with. that makes me feel old - but i sort of like it (im 37)

chenin · 22/07/2006 15:24

Good grief! I'm 51 and would never dream of wearing Jaeger Viyella Country Casuals or anything like that!!!
I've just been shopping and bought some new stuff in H&M, New Look, and Vestry.... Its all a state of mind and no, I don't look like mutton dressed as lamb!
My only worry is... when will I have to stop wearing jeans, cos I love my jeans....
60 plus is middle aged I think (but I would say that, wouldn't I!?)

Blu · 22/07/2006 16:01

I don't think you have to stop wearing jeans, helliebean!
I think people are just different now. All my parents friends (60s-70s) are zapping about being the first to see new art galleries open, wearing dignified but very fashionable clothing, having smart straight-haired cuts and tactful colours rather than perms and blue rinses, debating whether drugs should be legalised and saying how awfully boring James Blunt is, but what IS that word in the lyrics?.

I'm in my forties, but am certainly not ready for a week on a cruise ship listening to crooning cabaret entertainers!

SaintGeorge · 22/07/2006 16:14

My mum has just started to wear jeans - at the age of 68. She looks pretty damn good in them as well.

expatinscotland · 22/07/2006 16:14

Hmm. Could question. One of our honorary fellows was in the other day. A man of 70. He is still working often as a freelance journalist and has just had his first novel accepted by a publisher. One of his daughter's has decided, at 37, to become a single mum and he's looking forward to becoming a grandfather in the Autumn.

He told me he still feels about 35-40, and he has to remind himself that that's not what people see.

Somanybabyseagulls · 22/07/2006 16:35

I'm 42 next Friday and I feel like a teenager! Have absolutely refused to be referred to as a woman, I'm a girly!!!

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