Terrible insult - I am devastated

[mousymary]

Was out yesterday and a woman stopped me and asked if I was Sam's mum. No, I reply, not Sam's mum. She goes on to say I am spitting image of her daughter's friend's mother, and so I ask if she is confusing me with another woman whose mum I might be, and, if so, how old is her daughter and friend.

Forty !!!!! I actually exclaimed "Forty! You think I could have a forty-year-old daughter!!" And I walked off saying I was going home to soak in a bath of Oil of Olay.

I am so upset. I am 52, but to have a 40-year-old dd... well, that would make me 56 at absolute best but in all probability... mid 60s.

Now, I don't take that much care of my appearance, but now I'm staring in the mirror thinking perhaps I do look old for my age. I don't wear "old lady" clothes, nor do I have grey hair. Is there anywhere that does a Ten Years Younger service? I feel really down about this.

I think I am over it now!

A bit silly those spouting "Beauty Myth" stuff. As I have repeatedly said, I am not tottering along on 5" heels with a faceful of Botox waiting for builders to wolf whistle at me. I just do not want to be Mrs Overall in Acorn Antiques... (Julie Walters was under 40 when she played this part) yet.

So your idea of a woman in her mid sixties is a caricature from a thirty year old comedy show?

And you're calling those who question your thinking 'silly'?

I've taken to telling people I am 5 years older than I actually am. It's great, all I ever get is compliments ( and the lie doesn't count if you cross your fingers )

I stopped to let my 3 yo DS give the lady with the charity box some pennies the other day, while pushing the pram with DS2.
The lady looked up and asked me if I was nana or grandma?!! I'm mid thirties, and certainly don't look like my DCs grandmother!?!! My husband was with us, and found the whole thing hilarious.
There was another lady collecting next to her, and when she overheard the comment she looked horrified, and mouthed 'you don't look like a nana!' to me...
Maybe it's time to invest more in the skincare routine....

I just think some people have no perception of age.

One of my neighbours called round and my mother was here. He called her by my name and she took great delight in thinking I looked as old as her. I assumed he probably just said it by accident

Another lady I met said you probably haven't started your family yet when I was 45 and had finished.

So I wouldn't take too much heed

Come on, OP, you're the one being a bit daft now, assuming all older looking women must be a frumpy and unattractive outdated stereotype. You sounded like your self esteem had crumbled because of one throwaway comment about your appearance - a 'terrible insult' indeed. You do sound like you could use some straight talking Feminism.

She sounds completely batty. I would forget about it and move on.

On my 45th birthday I went to the cinema by myself to see Macbeth..OH was working, and would have hated it anyway..the insufferably perky 18 year old on the till (if even 18) looked me up and down and without asking gave me a senior citizen ticket. I was so gobsmacked I couldn't speak. I phoned OH who said "well at least you got in cheap!" (Cheers darling..) ..to which I replied "yes, but at incalculable cost to my ego!". I've had better birthdays ;)