Looking young for my age, feeling very self conscious

[Lillygreen]

I am a 26 year old mum to 6 month old baby. I am married and he was a very much planned for and wanted baby. I am aware that these days, being 26 this does make me one of the younger mums around (women tend to be having babies older now).

However, I think I do look about 10 years younger. I am often asked for ID when buying alcohol e.t.c. I feel that I am treated young and people are often surprised when they find out I am married and have a baby (in my line of work, I move around a lot and work with new people every day).

While on a flight with my mum, and ordering a white wine, the flight attendant asked my mum if I was old enough!... asked if "I am going back to school soon" (near end of summer holidays) asked if I am at university all the time e.t.c

Most recently, with my baby I was asked for ID in the supermarket. When I showed her my driving license the lady said "I would never have guessed" (So basically she must have assumed I was a teenage mum...)

The other week I walked over with my baby to enter a competition to win £10,000. (One of those on stands at malls) The lady told me I needed to be over 18 to enter . I was with my MIL and we both had a giggle as the lady on the stand thought MIL was the mother of my baby and I was her daughter. (But inside I was a little embarrassed/ sad that I don't look like a mum)

I feel like people look at me like a girl/child that has had a baby too young. I think I might just be being super sensitive and overthinking it. But I feel the eyes of people looking and judging me

I try to look like a mum by dressing older and not wearing the fashionable clothes that I love as I know the shorts and skirts definitely look much younger.

I feel more confident when I am with my DH as he looks much older- in his 30s.

Gosh this post sounds so silly doesn't it. Could I ask you all- do you ever secretly judge mums that look too young? (Or do you not care whatsoever!)

I was a mum at 18 and I've now just become a mum again at nearly 40. I'm currently wearing skinny jeans, Jack Wills flip flops (showing off my blue toenail polish) and a tight white vest. I don't really understand what point your trying to make. Surely at 26 you're old enough to be pleased you look younger. Not sure why you're choosing to dress odd either!

Started my current job a couple of years back at the age of 30, and lost count of the number of times I was asked if I'd come straight from university.

I also got a few people look absolutely dumbfounded when they found out I had a child, and even more shocked when I said she was 6.

I'm a 28 year old mum of one, and when cold callers come to my door I still get asked if my parents are home?! See it as a positive. Please wear the clothes you like!

I'm 31 and married young (23), and have one DD. I think that I look a few years younger, if people don't look close up and notice my grey hairs! I have always loved fashion, although I am not a victim and mix fashionable pieces with my own style. I also have quite long hair, which I always wear down, and always wear make up. I am also a very naturally smiley person.

We live in a part of West London, in which lots of other professional and middle class families live. Whenever I walk around the town centre or go to playgroups, clinics or parks, I am usually one of the youngest parents there. The vast majority (even those who are first time parents) are in their late 30's - 40's. I couldn't care less about people's ages and when they decided to have children, but so many of these parents give my DH and I filthy looks, and look pissed off with us. My DH also looks like he's in his late 20's, and dresses well, and keeps in very good shape.

We are looked at and treated with contempt by these older parents, whether we are out together or alone with our DD.

My DH and I have come to to the conclusion that they assume we are even younger than we are, and are jealous that we have the same, if not similar things in our lives as they have acquired/achieved a lot later in life. They are very unapproachable, and often rude if you dare try to speak with them.

As a consequence, I have spent most of my time here feeling incredibly isolated, and both of us would move away tomorrow if we could afford to. Me being a sahm isn't conducive to getting another mortgage though.

If ever we visit outer London areas, or the Home Counties, we are never treated like this, as parents there seem to be younger.

Try to keep your head held high, and tell yourself it is the others who have a problem, and that they are probably jealous that you look so good. Don't give up on wearing what you want to wear, do not let these people change you - this is what I constantly tell myself.

I'm the same as yourself OP, I was just turned 25 having DS (now 27), but many people are shocked when realising how old I am and think I'm 19/20.

I've never experienced people judging me negatively, although you never know what strangers are thinking, however I have found that many people feel sorry for me but I think that's added to with the fact I'm a single parent too.

DM always broadcasts my age to people though, because she worries that people will judge her parenting if they think I was still a teenager when having DS, although this just makes people do the maths and figure out she was just 18 when she had me so if they're the judging type, then they've still got reason to

It does come in handy when people try and stop me in the street to support their causes though, I just tell them I'm 17 and they don't question it