I went to Kohl's today and got a bunch of Spring/Summer clothes for my kids. While checking out an elderly woman behind me asked, "Are you shopping for your own, or for your grandchildren??" I replied, "My own!" I must have looked at her just like that, because she then said, "Oh, I'm sorry! You never know these days." Me: "Well, I suppose I'm old enough to be a grandma technically, but I started late. I won't be a granny for a loong time yet." She made my day. Not. LOL!

By Bellajoe on Wednesday, April 30, 2008 - 04:38 pm:

oh MAN! That stinks. YOu are not old enough to be a grandma, and you probably don't look that old either.

Some people should keep their mouths shut.

By Colette on Wednesday, April 30, 2008 - 04:43 pm:

ouch!

By Trina~moderator on Wednesday, April 30, 2008 - 05:29 pm:

Actually, I am old enough to be a grandmother. I have friends my age who are. I tend to forget how old I am, but that was a reality check. LOL!

By Kaye on Wednesday, April 30, 2008 - 05:42 pm:

Chalk it up to the times though. I hate it when I am with my dad, he is 30 years older than me at age 67, and people ask me about my husband. REALLY??? EWWW! I guess he looks a little young for his age, but still!

By Luvn29 on Wednesday, April 30, 2008 - 08:03 pm:

See, now I had the opposite problem forever. Of course, I did start very young, but since I looked about 13 when I was 19, people really had a time when they found out Emily was my daughter, not my baby sister! Ugh! The thing was, I was very mature for my age mentally but physically I always looked so much younger. I still look younger than I am, but I keep my hair in a style that makes me look a little more mature!

But I definitely feel for you with that comment! I'd die! People just don't know how to be nice anymore! Rude, rude, rude! And I would feel the same way about asking a woman if a young child was their grandchild. If you aren't sure, wait until you are!

By Mom2three1968 on Wednesday, April 30, 2008 - 08:09 pm:

Now see I just turned 40 on April 11th and I already have two grandkids, a boy and a girl. I started young two and no one wants to believe I am 40 much less have two grandkids! I get mistaken for my grandkids mom. These days you just never know so it's best not to say anything!!

By Dawnk777 on Wednesday, April 30, 2008 - 08:20 pm:

I'm sorry Trina! I have people who are surprised when I tell them I'm 48! I would think I look my age, though.

I'm old enough to have children that would be 5-6 years older than they are, and have grandchildren besides, but my kids weren't born until I was 29 and 32, so I shouldn't be a grandma for a long time yet.

By Bellajoe on Thursday, May 1, 2008 - 10:47 am:

My dh and I were at a nursery picking out trees and stuff. The man there thought my dh was my dad!! He doesn't look that old, I think I just look that young.
He was quite embarrassed when he found out we were married.

By Nicki on Thursday, May 1, 2008 - 01:42 pm:

That happens with dh and I sometimes, Patti. We are about the same age. He wears his hair in a crew cut and it has gone gray. I dye mine, so that's the only difference. (Well that and I don't have a crew cut, lol)
I thing presuming someone's age is about as risky as presuming someone is pregnant. Better to avoid both!

By Trina~moderator on Thursday, May 1, 2008 - 01:48 pm:

I thing presuming someone's age is about as risky as presuming someone is pregnant. Better to avoid both!

I agree!

By Bobbie~moderatr on Friday, May 2, 2008 - 08:51 am:

Callie went with my sister and brother in law to buy new mattresses. They walk in the door and a salesman is helping them. BIL was laying down on the beds to see if they felt okay before they bought one, while the salesman told him about all the features the bed offered. My sister is a bit upset because he is answering her questions directed at my BIL. BIL finds one he likes and taps on the mattress and tells my sister to see if she likes it. Then he says, sleeping position, laughing they spoon, they guy looks mortified. And he says, "um, is your wife the size of your daughter?" My sister turned red faced and my BIL says, "This is my wife and although it is none of your business she is 23 years old and the mother of two." The guy fell all over himself apologizing.

With long hair and no make up my sister looks like she is twelve. She too wears her hair cut in a way that makes her looks a bit older now. But she still doesn't look her age.

By Rayanne on Friday, May 2, 2008 - 08:58 am:

OMG!!! That does suck, but I couldn't help but laugh a little. You are so right though, you never know these days. My mom is always out with my niece and everyone thinks that she is hers, so just acts like she is at those times...lol

By Eve on Friday, May 2, 2008 - 11:40 am:

OMG! You definately don't look like a grandmother! I have had people ask if I was the babysitter and also had people make comments like "Being our age.." And I knew they were a decade older than me! Ahh. I ry to avoid comments like that one all together! But, really, you don't look like a Grandma!

By Trina~moderator on Friday, May 2, 2008 - 05:35 pm:

Thanks, Eve! That means a lot coming from you, because you know me IRL.

By Sunny on Friday, May 2, 2008 - 06:47 pm:

I've mistaken grandparents for parents and parents for grandparents. I keep my mouth shut now and wait to hear what the child calls the adult. I mean, really, with people having children in the their late 30's and early 40's, we all should play it safe!

On the other hand, people are surprised when they learn I have 5 kids. They tell me I look too calm. I guess I should look frazzled and stressed-out? LOL

By Bea on Friday, May 2, 2008 - 10:58 pm:

Just a few years ago I had a league member ask me during our final bowling banquet, if I would be back the next year ..."after the baby is born" I'm 61. I told her I wasn't sure if I should be mad at her for calling me fat, or thank her that she thought I was young enough to be pregnant. You just gotta laugh.