have you ever been told you looked older/younger than you are?

[thebear1]

when i was 14 i got told i looked 18.

 

[disneychrista]

BOTH!

As a young teen, I always was told I looked older. I guess it was because I was "developed" more than my peers.

Now as an adult, I get told I look younger than I am. One person thought I was nearly 20 years younger than I really am.

 

[rastahomie]

When I was in my teens, I looked so much like my dad that people would mistake me for him. Like, people would walk up to me and say "Hey, Mark, yada yada blah blah blah," and I'd have to remind them that Mark was over there.

So when I was 15 or so apparently I resembled a man who was comfortably in his thirties.

 

[RangerPooh]

While In college I took a beverage management class, and was approached by an ATF employee about working with them to pose as an underage buyer of alcohol. He thought that I was one of the under 21 aged students in the class. Nope I was 22. Recently I started a new job and on the first day the secretary thought that I was one of the 20-something college age students hanging outside waiting for the office to open. Nope. Been a number of years since I've been in my 20s.

 

[Mizzoufan]

I'm also told I look younger. I just assume people are being kind.

 

[Westcoastwild]

My hair has premature gray streaks- it's been like that since late teens. When I got braces and started dying my hair a few years back, I started getting ID'd at every single bar. Like places I didn't even get ID'd at when I was 21.

If it's been a few too many weeks since my last cut and dye, and I don't immediately smile (showing braces) I don't get asked. It's weird.

 

[lorimay]

I became a grandma at 44, and most people thought I was mommy. I love it for sure. 9 years later people still think I'm mommy, my daughter rolls her eyes, I jump up and down, LOL. She has been asked several times if she is my nanny.

 

[DisneyOma]

When hubby and I were both 25, and going to see the minister about getting married, she asked us how old we were - she said she thought we were around 18, and was going to refuse to marry us! At age 27 I had my first child, and never got carded again. Something about childbirth stamped 'don't ask, she's old enough for alcohol and needs it' on my face. I also tanned way too much as a kid/teen/young adult, and squint, so I look much older than I should. Oh well.

Hubby got carded well into his late 40's. Once the cashier at a grocery store though he was my son. I almost killed her. Now hubby has grey hair, and doesn't get carded anymore. I did my job.

 

[Rockette]

I always get younger when I don't dress up or put makeup on. I still get routinely ID'ed. I'm 27.

My fiance is the same way. He's 29.

We both get 20-22 when people guess our approximate ages.

 

[superme80]

People seem to think I am 27. They seriously do. I love them!

 

[BadPinkTink]

Most of my life I have been told I look younger than I am. Even when I was a teenager, I was questioned about my age. I had to bring ID to the cinema when I was 18. I'm 41 but most people assume I am late 20's early 30's. I'm so used to being asked for ID in bars, clubs and liquor stores now that most times I just carry ID automatically.

 

[amberpi]

From teens until about 21, people thought I was older. Now they think I'm younger. I use Uber all the time, and my drivers frequently think I'm their age - mid 20s. I'm most certainly not. One of the baristas at a local coffee house kept asking me out for a drink, I had been declining and we'd been joking about it for a few months, when I finally told him he was FAR too young for me, I had to prove my age with my license. I don't think I have a baby face at all, but I'm thin and have a pretty "current" look. I take care of myself and do some things to stay young looking, but I seriously think that being slim and wearing dresses makes me appear younger...to men. Women guess me younger than my age, but not by a huge amount, I figure they're just being sweet.

 

[justussix]

People have always guessed my age exactly right my whole life. It's incredible really.

 

[Magpie]

Well, until recently I would have said everyone tells me I look younger than my age, but just a few days ago, a long-time friend aged me up by about six years!

I think she was thinking I must be the same age as her, but she'd actually closer to my husband's age.

As for whether other folks are just being kind, or not, I have no idea. I suspect the ones who ask my husband if he's meeting his "daughter" for lunch, aren't actually trying to flatter me. But, at the same time, I don't suppose it really matters.

I was really pleased, though, when my mum told me recently that I've done an amazing job of "keeping my figure". That's such a nice change from the "too bad, you've inherited my flat chest and your aunt's (unspoken implied "enormous") hips," I grew up hearing from her my whole life!

 

[Wendy31]

I have good genes in that both my parents looked a lot younger than their actual ages (especially my dad) for many years. They both turn 70 this year, &, while neither looks 70, they are both starting to look older to me & more... I guess... "frail" - but they're both coping w/ different medical conditions too, which, I think, adds to how I'm personally starting to see them. Neither has completely gray hair though - their hair would still be considered brown & not gray.

Anyway, w/ their genes, I've always looked younger than I am as well. I'm also petite w/ blonde hair - so I think that adds to me looking younger than I am.

When I was younger, I absolutely HATED people thinking I was younger than I really was. Now, of course, it's not such a big deal! LOL!

However, I think I am starting to look, if not my actual age, at least older.

I'm in my 40s. While some may guess that I'm in my 30s & would be surprised to find out I just turned 44, I don't think anyone would still place me in my 20s. But I think my being a mom of 2 teenagers helps people more accurately guess my age as well - "She has a 17 year old daughter - she's probably not in her 20s!"

DH has always looked younger than he is too. I remember, right after we got married, a salesman came to our door. When DH answered the door, the salesman asked to speak to "the man of the house". LOL!

 

[BrianL]

I am often told I look younger than I am, which I will gladly take. One time a security guard at a casino was giving me a little of a hassle because he didn't believe my birthday was in 1978. This was just about 2 years ago.

 

[amberpi]

[QUOTE="Magpie, post: 57936367, member: 166552"

I was really pleased, though, when my mum told me recently that I've done an amazing job of "keeping my figure". That's such a nice change from the "too bad, you've inherited my flat chest and your aunt's (unspoken implied "enormous") hips," I grew up hearing from her my whole life![/QUOTE]

I'm pretty sure I saw pic of you somewhere and you're adorable! You look super young!

 

[BadPinkTink]

Looking younger than my age has caused problems for me in the past during my career. In one job I was promoted to supervisor and many work colleagues had issues with my promotion because I didn't look like I had enough experience to do the job. Its something that has been a feature during most of my career. As I have always looked 10 years younger than my age, my skills and knowledge have always been doubted and I have to work that much harder to prove that I do know what I am talking about and yes I have x amount of years experience in this industry. Its one thing your superiors and senior management knowing you have the skills and experience as they have seen your resume and got references from your previous employers but then you have to lead a team who just see you as a young girl and how could you know more than them or be more skilled than them.

 

[justussix]

I was really pleased, though, when my mum told me recently that I've done an amazing job of "keeping my figure". That's such a nice change from the "too bad, you've inherited my flat chest and your aunt's (unspoken implied "enormous") hips," I grew up hearing from her my whole life!

If somebody spent their whole life insulting me then said I haven't changed, I'm not sure how I'd take that.

Okay - sorry, couldn't resist.

 

[Magpie]

If somebody spent their whole life insulting me then said I haven't changed, I'm not sure how I'd take that.

Okay - sorry, couldn't resist.

I'm quite sure she'd never think of it as being insulting. Sometimes she'll say the most awful things to us, but so sincerely and innocently that you're left just kind of going, "Wait, what?"

Mum's social instincts aren't the sharpest. But fortunately she's got many other excellent qualities and we love her.