I'm about to turn 40 but look very young

[motherhood2019]

I'm about to turn 40 but I feel embarrassed to tell anyone as I look very young. I have always looked young so I'm fed up of the responses like "you don't look it", "I can't believe that" etc. They think they're being flattering but it really gets me down. I have a small face and generally petite. Any tips or advice?

My DIL 38 was asked yet again for id when buying a bottle of wine the other week. Her mum looks mid thirties still. Enjoy it @motherhood2019

I don’t get it. I get embarrassed on a birthday as I look older than I am. That embarrassment makes sense to me, but being 40 but looking younger is a good thing, surely?

I met a lady the other day who told me she was 92, she didn't look a day over 75. My point is at some stage and it won't be too far away you might look 'young for your age' but you won't look 'very young'. Time catches up to all, your issue will right itself.

If it's any comfort, I can't see it either.

You have my sympathy OP. I'm not petite but I've not really aged much in the last 20 years. And my poor DD looks just like me, and we're confused for siblings a lot. My poor DP (2 years younger than me) gets asked if he's our dad, which we find hilarious.

Stand next to some teenagers. That'll help.
😂

OP is there more to it, for example do you feel like you aren't being taken seriously in a job for example because of the youthful look? I have a friend like this , parents don't always take her seriously as a teacher because of how young she looks, so it's frustrating for her. Or she has been mistaken for being her husband child , when there is only 3 years between them.

Don't worry you are probably one of these people who it all hits at once
I was one of those people it hit all at once.

Sitting there at 42, looking about 30. Woke up at 43 looking about 50

I think people don't know what 40 year old actually look like .

I've said before, people like to think other people are younger, because they can give less respect, or as if they are less experienced/ naive. I wonder if you've experienced this and that is what you don't like about it.

Would love to see a pic @motherhood2019 I’m around the same age and reckon I look my age.

This has got to be a joke surely.

You forgot alcohol 🤣

Perhaps you would like someone to tell you you look nearer 50! No didnt think so.Look many people seem young for their age now ,better diets ,looking after their skin and so on. Be grateful you look youthful (40 is not old by a long shot anyway!)

I looked quite young for my age (as in I was mistaken for a teenager in my late 20s/30s)
I had party for my 40th....all my friends knew how old I was ...because they're my friends. Most random people don't know (or need to know) my age.

This post was good for a genuine laugh out loud. Op enjoy looking young because it will in fact not last. You may look “good “ for your age but you won’t always look young. To add to the agers may I introduce….divorce death/illness of parent and troubled struggling kids. Those can really pile it on too.

There’s no one we all know, like celebs, that actually look more than about 5-8 years younger than they are, but so many mumsnetters say they look 20+ years younger. Yeah right. 🤔

I think most people look their age +/- a few years.

Some people are deluded or believe others when they are being kind or just making conversation when they say ‘you don’t look old enough’.

My son works part time in a supermarket, he’s crap at judging ages so when selling alcohol, he says he ends up asking most people for ID.

I'm sorry I wasn't able to reply to this thread immediately, but I was packing away my tiny little violin and wandering around my oversized mansion trying to find some wifi.
I really wouldn't worry OP. Looking fresh and young is generally perceived to be a good thing, as I'm sure you are aware. You're 40 so knocking a few years off us hardly a problem....you're not going to look like a child. Hitting my 40s I have been generally surprised by the sad hand that life is dealing to some people I really care about. I recommend you stop bothering about something that is such a non issue and embrace your (youthful looking) life with 2 hands because tomorrow is not guaranteed.

😆

Please don’t think I’m being rude but it’s a problem exactly why? Firstly, you are not obligated to disclose your age to anybody. Secondly, lots of women would love to have a “problem” like this. You don’t look 12, that’s for sure. Otherwise, you’re just really blessed and lucky or should be proud of caring for yourself that well.

carbs, sunbeds and fags

Proper LOL.

Ridiculous whinge, OP. Get a grip might be the best advice?

I'm chuckling at mistaking daughters for siblings. Surely no one falls for that old chestnut? It's what waiters on holiday always said to me and my mum - don't get me wrong, she looks fab, but she's 32y older than me and no one with eyes could honestly mistake us for sisters. It's just what they say to women on holiday to make them giggle and leave a tip

What is the point of this post? 🙄

Of course. I remember the "oh signorine, sorelle, cosi bellisime" from my youth in Italy with my mum. Now I go with DD and the grandsons of the same waiters are doing it with DD and me.

It's lovely. But cobblers.

Lol. Dare you to put a guess my age picture on here.