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30 Bizarre Situations Women Found Themselves In Because Of Their “Baby Faces”, As Shared In This Online Community
Looking young – is it a blessing or a curse?
Some might argue that being the owner of a "baby face" has its perks; for instance, you might get away with a couple of cheeky discounts here and there, plus you are bound to keep your young demeanor for a little longer than most.
Now, even though you are probably tired of people exclaiming "really?" every time you tell them your age and of all the embarrassing inside jokes your pals are ready to use at any given chance – looking younger than your age also comes with a side of giggles:
“Women who look young, what’s the funniest/strangest/most memorable comment about your age you’ve ever received from a stranger?” – this online user turned to one of Reddit’s communities to find out what noteworthy remarks women with young features received. The thread has managed to receive 1.8K upvotes and 1.5K worth of amusing tales.
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Too many funny ones to count, but I’ll give my favourite interaction award to one where it benefited me
A year ago I was involved in a car accident, 100% my fault, was distracted arguing with my mother on hands free and ploughed down the side of an articulated lorry. Was driving my ‘100% a parent’ SUV but thankfully no kids in the car at the time
I got out in shock, really worried as the man driving the lorry was pissed (rightfully so) he got out and saw me holding back tears and said ‘do you need me to call your parents to come and get you?’
His attitude changed in seconds and was so caring, talking about how it must have been a shock having only been driving a short while (assumed I was still a teenager) and how he had a 17y/o daughter and was worried something like this would happen to her when she passed her test
I was too deep at this point so had to carry on the charade, he even got me a McDonald’s breakfast to calm me down (crashed near a service station)
It was the day before my 30th birthday
When buying alcohol in my country it's mandatory to show your ID if they think you could be under 25.
I bought a bottle of wine, and this kid behind the counter asked if he could see my ID. 'Uh, sure. Thanks, I guess'.
Him: 'Woooah, you're 35?! You don't have wrinkles or anything. I'm 16 and I have classmates who look older than you!'
That was pretty good for the ego. :')
I had a police officer ask me where my daughters parents were and why we were out alone. I didn’t have any proof on me that she was mine lol I ended up just showing him my stretch marks. He was pretty embarrassed
Some police look so young these days I want to ask where there parents are.
That is sooo true 🤣🤣🤣🙈 I think I'm just getting old 🤣😇
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And yet, at age 18 no one batted at an eye my friend having a 5 year old with her constantly, and I can honestly say we looked 14-15. It was her brother, in case ya’ll were wondering, but he actually looked like my kid. 😂
My friend got dirty looks and rude comments when she took her much younger foster brother out in her late teens/ early 20s.
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You showed your stretch marks? I had my daughter really young but yeah I'm calling BS on this one
I asked on an makeup Facebook group for tips to help me appear more mature as I felt it was holding me back at work. Someone replied telling me that I should stop complaining about looking younger and that I'll be grateful for it when I'm 30. I was 34 at the time.
We had our holiday luncheon last week, and talking with a coworker, he asked about kids. I said yes I have a 28 year old.
He said “holy s**t! Your kid is older than you!”
Most recently, on an airplane, wearing a university hoodie (I'm a grad student) and carrying a backpack. It's 6am, I have on no makeup and my hair is in a messy ponytail and ofc a mask is covering half my face. I ask an elderly couple if I could have their window seat. They say yes, and the woman helps her husband up, explaining to me that he's blind. I slide into my seat and the woman starts describing the scene to her husband.
Her: you're sitting next to a sweet little girl, she's got a (university) hoodie on and her bag. She's probably - how old are you dear?
Me: I turn 27 tomorrow.
Her: oh! Oh wow. I thought you were much younger. Like a high school senior.
The husband is absolutely guffawing. They were a dear couple. We had a great flight.
Had been seeing a new hairdresser for several months. One day she announced she was having a baby. I congratulated her and added that she was braver than me as I didn’t want kids. She said “you might change your mind someday”. I said “I think at 42 I’m pretty sure that’s not gonna happen”. She bopped me on the head with the brush (not hard) and laughed and said “you are not 42”. I pulled out my drivers license to prove it. She went on for awhile about me not having gray hairs and I had to explain that I have my dad’s hair and he didn’t start graying until his mid 50s. But the bop with the hair brush was pretty funny.
"And why do you think you can just sit in the teachers lounge?! Get back to class immediately!!!"
Me with my head bent over a stack of exams holding a red pen looking like a surprised pikachu. In fairness I was only 22 at the time but she really thought I was 12..
(It hasnt gotten better. I'm 27 and I am ALWAYS IDed for alcohol. The drinking age here? 18.)
Mine was when I was at a golfing range with my high school boyfriend. We were both 18 and he was teaching me how to drive. A man in his 60s came up to me, started to give me advice on how to swing, and then asked me “do you and your father golf together often?”
Guy thought I was like, 12 and that my boyfriend was in his 30s. Very awkward situation all around
I've had the opposite. Went to a car show with a friend and his family. His daughter wanted a ride in my car (two-seater) and he followed in his with the rest of the family. When I arrived someone made the assumption that the daughter was my girlfriend. She was about 14 and I was rapidly approaching 40! Granted at that time she was nearly as tall as me, but she still had a young face. That was a few years ago - she's 6ft4 now and towers over me!
I was in Atlantic City with my parents and siblings years ago, one day we decided to eat breakfast at a diner. I am the second oldest in my family with an age gap ranging from 6-13 years with my younger siblings, I'm also only 5 feet tall. The hostess bent down to eye level with her hands on her knees and went down the line asking all of my younger siblings their ages. When she got to me, she asked me the same question "and how old are you?!" in the same patronizing voice only to be visually surprised when I answered very flatly, "19."
Even as a young child, I disliked it when people would say things like that, with fake enthusiasm. It felt condescending, as if they were mocking me.
"Here's your menu."
It was a kids' menu. I was 22.
Same. Also wasn't going to be let in for a PG-13 movie. I was at least 17 or 18.
I was 24 and had a 6 months old baby. A cashier thought my husband was my father and wouldn't accept his ID. Another time I was out with my husband and my 13 yo daughter and my 5 year old daughter and someone thought we were all sisters. They were praising my husband for dealing with all his kids by himself. I just died laughing. He didn't think it was quite as funny. I was 36.
Time has since caught up with me but it was nice for a while. I still occasionally get carded tho.
I sound like a small child on the phone apparently. When landlines were still a thing, telemarketers would always say, "Can I speak to your mommy please?" I would pretend to be clueless and say she wasn't home. Now they ask to speak to MRS Surname. I just reply, "This is MISS Surname!"
I went to get the flu shot while running errands with my mom. The lady at the counter asked my mom to sign the forms for me because she thought I was a minor. I was 30.
When I was 24 I had a Police Officer approach me in a Target one day and basically accuse me of truancy. There was a high school nearby and he apparently thought that I was skipping school.
Oh yeah, getting stopped by cops while picking younger siblings up from school in my 20s. The school has uniforms, so that made it worse for me.
When I worked at a cafe for a while and all my coworkers were shocked to find out that I was married “at such young age!” (their words).
I was 29.
I was meeting with some pickers (I'm an antique jewelry dealer) a few weeks ago. I mentioned that I got married at 29 and both of the pickers were shocked I was that old when I got married. (blue collar town)
I went to a bank to apply for my first ever credit card. They told me "Sorry, we do not allow minors to open their own credit cards. You need to have your guardian as the primary card holder." I said "... you have my current payroll account...." then they caught the hint, checked my information and figured out I was in no way a minor. I was 25 years old.
I was damn near 30 and some older woman *tsk'd* and remarked "Babies having babies" while I was in the family area of the hospital my youngest was in with my older son.
I said, lol "No, thanks though. I'm almost 30".
She was like; "OH! Sorry!"
I guess I look like a teenager.
I started working at a high school and a fellow teacher turned to me and said "I know you're new but freshmen should not be up here until 8:30." Freshmen in my country are 14 I was 26-27 at the time.
Another was my first date with my ex, the bounder said now man I know you not trying to sneak this teen in here. My ex said she is 24, he said let me see. Shocked him.
I was working at a pizza place and we had a new hire who was 16 (I was 25 at the time). We were chatting while making pizzas, and I don’t remember what he said but my response was something like “Yeah, I went to culinary school actually” and he said “Idk where that is, I go to *name of local high school. Have you graduated yet?”
And I was like “no, _culinary_ school” and he said “oh, none of my friends go there”
And I was like dude, I’m 25 lol. I went to cooking school. And he just stared at me for a second and said he thought I was 16
Got carded at the liquor store two weeks ago, with my son who’s almost 21. She carded him as well and I was like “oh that’s my kid” and she gave me the “sure it is” look.
But then I was at the park over the summer with the toddler I watch and the old ladies that walk the park loop asked if I was his grandma.
I don’t know what’s happening anymore.
I should have added, I’m 48. So I definitely don’t look that young.
My wife was taking our eldest to Primary school one day for a Meet the Parents morning. The woman & child ahead of her entered the classroom & the teacher said 'Oh, you've brought your grandmother, that's nice'. Only problem was, as the woman loudly pointed out, she was the child's mother
Told a group of new coworkers about my 8 year-old son starting 3rd grade. One of the ladies said she was impressed I was able to finish high school, finish college and earned my CPA with being a teen mom. I must have had a supportive family. I was so confused because I am 37 years old, had my son well after high school and college. My new coworkers thought I was 25 years old and assumed I had been a teen mom.
I work with a lovely lady who appears to be in her early 20's. She was telling me about her having twins right out of the college so I assumed that the twins were babies, maybe toddlers at the most. When she said the twins were about to turn 19, I almost fell over. This woman is in her 40's and I would never have been able to tell just from looking at her.
I was working in finance, dressed professionally and one of the customers that came in said, "Do your mommy and daddy know you aren't at school?" And he just kept going on and on about how I didn't look old enough to work here, and thought he was so hilarious. I had been working in finance for 5 years at the time. Still the most frustrating comment about my age that I've ever heard.
Working in a school, walking with a 5th grader down the hall (I was 25 at the time) and being told we looked like twins. In a high school, I've been mistaken for a student. Had bars question my real ID and refuse to serve me. When I was 22 I got carded to see a rated-R movie. People think it's cute and funny to tell me that I just look SO young. Truthfully, it's been an insecurity for me most of my life. I just want to be taken seriously.
I looked 18 when I was 14. It had it's good and bad points. I had a 40 year old ask me out.
“Wait till you’re in your thirties, it won’t be so easy to stay in shape”
“Ma’am I’m 35”
Just tuned 39 four days ago so now it's my coworkers saying "wait til ur 45!!"
I was asked if I was at least 21 by a female bartender.
I said "I'm actually 31, this has been the second time in 24hrs someone thought I was younger...maybe it's the backpack?"
Second female bartender said "ya probably Dora." As is Dora the explorer.
My mom laughed hard. I said ouch. And now I don't use my enamal Pin backpack for non theme park activities anymore.
A girl I had casually known for a year found out I was in my 30s, looked at me with complete shock and whispered “Lady Bathory”…
I took it as a compliment!!!
a TSA officer looking at me on my way to Florida checking my boarding pass and asking me "umm how old are you?" Insinuating I might not be old enough to fly unaccompanied. I told him I'm 31. He almost fell off his stool. I mean I look a bit younger than my age but under 18 is pushing it.
This just happened to my daughter yesterday. She’s 18 but looks about 12 poor kid
I was 28 and had recently bought a house. Had someone tell me I'd understand things better when I was older. Dude, how old do you think I am. Turns out he thought I was 19.
At the pet store with my best friend who is in her 50s and her daughter (13) who wanted to hold a Guinea pig but her daughter was standing about 50 feet away from us, looking at hamsters they have for sale. My best friend asks a store employee if her daughter can hold a Guinea pig.
The store employee goes on about how their store policy is that any potential buyer needs to be at least 18 years old to hold a pet and assumed that I was her daughter. Then he says to me “May I ask how old you are?” I was 35.
Okay, but what kind of store policy is that? I can understand toddlers/small children, but only 18 or older is harsh.
Being asked if I was the high school work experience girl on my first day at a new job.
Or being asked if I was lost, and a stranger offering me her phone if I wanted to call my parents. I was 22.
My mum made me get my hair and makeup done for my Year 12 formal, when I was 17. The lady doing the makeup was talking about not putting too much makeup on me, because she thought it was for a Year 6 graduation. I should have played along rather than blurt out I was Year 12, because then I wouldn't have had to wear too much of that gunk on my face.
The make up lol! I'm glad my family was poor and found it a waste of money to get hair and make up done for the formal. I just had mascara and a bit of eye shadow because I didn't know how to apply eyeliner yet :)
I was walking my dog on a beautiful summer day and walked past a man maybe 10 years older than me. He said "Hey, beautiful day!" and I agreed with him. Then he looked at me a bit closer and said: "You must know my son Brandon." I don't know any Brandons. I asked him how old Brandon was and he answered "He's 24." Nope, not a friend of 24 year old Brandon and I am old enough to be his mother.
I went to a single's conference at a hotel with a bunch of people from our church. There were singles all ages there. I had a guy come over to me and acted very interested. We were talking for a while and comparing schedules. Found out he was in the 30's group. I was in the one two levels above that. I was 20 years older than him. I walked away from that one. He thought I was in his group. Thanks for the compliment but too much age difference for me.
Not a stranger but I contractor I hired for my home. I'd been coordinating for weeks to have a new garage door and opener installed. Contractor shows up and goes
Him: ....so.....you're the owner?
Me: Yes
Him: Oh...you just look really young.
Me: Yeah I get that a lot. How old did you think I was?
Him: Umm like 16?
It killed me. How many 16 y.o.'s out there coordinating contractors for their homes?? Yeah that's what I thought LOL
Yep if this is the other side of shallow. I may look like some college kid, but Mr. Contractor I drew those plans and a proper chartered engineer signed-off on it. Does that ring a bell?
I used to work in geriatric health care and many disoriented patients would refer to me to the other nurses as "the little black girl" "that little girl who was just here" while I was in my mid 20s!
I frequently got asked when I was starting college at one of my previous jobs. At the time I had just started my last year of a master's degree.
I was in a cab with 3 of my friends (all 25f) with three of us in the back and my friend up front. The cab driver asked us why we put the 12 year old in the front seat, genuinely concerned.
When I was in college (20) I was a camp counselor for a middle school summer camp (12-13 year olds) and the class instructors would constantly scold me for not doing the work and being on my phone
I was working in a mall for ~2 years and one client came to me one day to ask me if I'm on my school internship (in my country we're supposed to do an internship at ~14 to help us choose our future high school). Her face when I told her that I did this internship 10 years ago xD
Now I'm 28 and some bartenders still ask for my ID
My fiancé and I were in queue at a deli, mild PDA was happening and an elderly woman in front of us gave him a horrible look and said “you should be dating someone your own age, shame on you!” I’m 26 he’s 32.
*Turns to the old lady* "Sorry, dearie, but 26 year old men bore me, so I started looking for older men..."
I was getting a massage and my massage therapist was asking me about my pets and it turned into a conversation about the house my partner and I recently bought and she said:
“You must be rich because that’s such a big house for such a young woman.”
It’s not that big of a house and I’m 43. I then told her my age and she said oh I thought you were 30 tops
I was sent to Bangkok years ago for work and had to go back and forth every few weeks. Anyway, one weekend after flying in, I was absolutely knackered and went for a massage. The masseur "advised" me to not do that too often because at that age, I am not fully developed yet. I was in my early 30s.
I went to a famous historical museum with my family, all of which are EXTREMELY tall except for me. I’m 5’8”, while they’re 6’0”+.My middle school cousin and I were the same height and she’s 12… so I got into the museum for free because children don’t need to pay, & they thought I was a child! =_= I HATED it… but I’ll take the free pass, thank you! Haha!
(The mixture of having a shorter height PLUS looking young helped me get into a museum for free.)
Edit: >_> I was 22…
A friend & I went to a Sizzler one night mid-week where Seniors (over 65) were offered a discount. In front of the cashier - you paid in advance at Sizzler in Australia - my friend jokingly said 'Oh look, you get a discount'. The cashier, who looked to be in her late teens/early 20's promptly gave me the discount when I paid. I was 51 at the time & my friend was 54, she consoled me by saying that to the young cashier anyone over 45 probably looked old enough to qualify
I went to a high school graduation party and had on a new dress.
One of my sister's friends who is a freshman in college went up to her and said, "Man who is that, she's really hot".
She responded, with the most dead-panned expression, and said, "She's my thirteen-year-old sister, you perv".
So yeah, not so much funny, but I still laugh about it!
Looking significantly younger than your age, whilst daring to be female, can result in a boat-load of condescension. It is not at all amusing when face with this in professional, or medical circumstances. And, no, looking young at 30. 40 or 50 is not compensation, It's just more of the same!
It isn't much better being male and looking younger. I've had to deal with power plays far too often than I'd liked. People are shallow. And some of these t*ssers want to remain relevant despite being rubbish at their jobs. Hence the politics and power plays.
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When I was in high school, I was always mistaken for being much older. I had someone warn me that as fun as that was, I probably wouldn't appreciate looking older when I was 40. Well, ironically, I am constantly mistaken for being younger. Not decades or anything. But when I say I'm 52, I usually hear, "I thought you were like 40!" LOL!!! I guess I got lucky. (Plenty of other thing about the way I look that aren't wonderful, so I'll take it!!!)
I was the same. At 17 I had "Ugly Betty" glasses and was asked if I was my 9 year old sister's mother. 50 years later people ask which of us is older.
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My wife was asked if she was a half-fare (under 16) on the bus. She was 32 at the time!
Similar problem. I'm eligible for all sorts of discounts at 70 but most people assume I'm in my 50s. No grey or wrinkles and the mask hides my lower face that's just starting to sag a bit.
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I got one - I met my mom at her hair salon to pick her up to go to dinner. Hair stylist asked me if I was 18 and I jokingly said yes because I thought she was just being funny. A few minutes later she asked me if I was heading to college in the fall. I had to tell her I was 30.
These stories make my blood boil. Things like this happen to me all the time. I get it that you are confused by my appearance, but you are not giving me a compliment when you tell me I look young, you're just commenting on something that's none of your business. Making friends is hard for any adult, but I feel that looking like a teen has made it even harder for me to make friends in my 30's. I've started introducing myself with my name and age.
This 1000 times! I've even stopped saying "thanks" when getting the inevitable "you look so much younger!" because, no, I don't consider it a compliment, I want to be taken seriously and not judged based on their assumptions.
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I seem to have a face like that. When I'm with my kid, many people think I'm the babysitter. When I'm with my dog, people tell me I might have kids some day, too. Either way, men and older women assume I'm dumb.
I was asked for ID to purchase some behind the counter painkillers as you have to be over 16. I'm 40.
Oooh, I have a good one. I went to a festival with my mum, and we bumped into a friend of hers who was there with her twelve year old kid. The kid wandered off into one of the tents, and my mum said "could you please go and keep an eye on her?" I said sure and followed the kid, who was checking out a curry sampling table. The woman handing out the curry took one look at us and said "you need your parents' permission to try some". In an amused voice I said to the kid "did you hear that? We have to go ask our mums!" The kid started giggling, and Curry Lady said "wait... how old are you?" She thought I was 14. In fact I was 24 with multiple tattoos.
My husband likes to get people to guess my age for fun. The youngest guess I got at his brother's wedding was 18, I'm 32 XD
One of my coworkers is very petite and young looking. When I met her the first time I thought she was about 14, so glad I didn't say anything stupid. Her actual age was early 30s.
When my kids were younger, people thought they were my mother's, she looks so young. People still remark to my dad that he got himself a very young bride( they're a year apart in age) and he gets irritated every time. I'm in my later 40's and when I'm with my kids (now in their 20's) people think I'm one of them. My daughter, now in her 20's looks like she's 12, and I tell her it's the family blessing and curse. She is not amused. Oh well.
I got ID'd to buy a lotto ticket when I was 38, minimum age is 18 and they have to ID if you look under 25. Those were the days! At work I find people are really patronising until they realise I'm in my mid 40s. Had a boss tell me "you'll learn that just how it is in business", dude I've been in the business 20 years, I think I know my s**t.
I have just turned 50, I went grey at a very young age my hair is dyed a very unnatural purple, because it's my favourite colour, I'm medically retired and I can do whatever I want with my hair. I have been told I look at least 10 - 15 years younger than I am, and I'm glad to hear it because at least I don't look as old and as sick as I feel...
And a few years ago when I was on a dating site, I was accused of using filters on my photos, because I looked younger than my stated age. Funnily enough, I did decide to try out one of these facetune apps and I had a look at a photo of myself aged a couple of decades and I looked exactly like my grandmother, she was a beautiful looking woman in her old age so there is hope for me!
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I am well in my forties now and I still have to show my ID every now and then - it is no compliment and it is not funny. People simply do not take your opinion seriously and clients constantly question your expertise in professionell settings. I hate it when (always male!!) business partners tell me that they "have more than ten years of experience in this field" - wow, guess what? I am doing my job for 23 years now, believe it or not, this is not my first day on earth...
I'm 18 years older than my little sister, who just recently had her first baby. When she was little, everyone thought I was her mom, and that our mom was her grandma. Now, everybody thinks I'm the younger one. My sister haates it
I've not long turned 40, I often get told I look much younger, I don't really care much, but people face when I tell them my oldest child is 18 next month - you can see them trying to do sone mental arithmetic. I've had people think I'm my childrens older sister, been asked if my mums home when getting deliveries etc, I just laugh. It's not likely to continue much longer.
I am short and look about ten years younger than my actual age. I have been patted on the head by co-workers more than once. They were often younger than me. It feels awful!
Oh, I have a lifetime of stories like this because I had delayed growth (weight/size 2-3 years younger and even more). Very noticeable during my teens and 20's (I am 40 now). Worst one was when once my mom and I took a plane overseas. Not only they let us get on the plane first, but gave me a kid's set to play (they used to give it to kids during boarding back then) and a kids meal. I was 15 yo and truly mortified. My mom thought it was fun 🙄. The stewardess said I looked like 10. Looking much younger has pros and cons. It's cool looking young, but profesionally it has some significant cons. I am often not taken seriously, unconsciously considered inmature and inexperienced. Also cons when dating. Guys my age look much older and I tend to attract guys much younger who are on a different life stage.
my best one lately was in a language class, where the teacher corrected me because she thought i was trying to say i was 24 instead of 34. i also got carded recently, and when the assistant asked if i had any id, i must have looked so confused at the concept that they just kind of shrugged and let it go (not ideal for them to do, but I'm also twice the legal drinking age so 🤷♀️)
At my last workplace, my coworkers all thought I was fresh out of high school or possibly still in college. I was 38 at the time. This was a few years BEFORE HRT started making me look absurdly young, mind you. Now I look like I should be in middle school...
I'm 41 with some gray hair, wrinkles, osteoporosis and early menopause, but a few of these stories stick out in my mind. During my senior year of college, I was engaged and I had an internship (unrelated but these stories both happened that year). My excitement for wedding dress shopping died when the sales people started to ask if I was even old enough to get married. One lady walked away after I said I was 22. Don't you want to make a sale? Also, as an intern I attended some public meetings of local governing bodies. At one meeting, one of the county commissioners suddenly stopped talking to ask who I was and if I was old enough to be there. I was so embarrassed!
I'm from Europe, where you drinking age and porn making age is the same (18) I went to a shop an bought a six-pack of VERY cheap wine (sort of a punk rock thing) and a bag of chips. The cashier looked at me, at my shopping and asked for my ID. I was perplexed as I didn't have my ID, but then I drove there! (Legal driving age also 18!). "Can it be a driver's license?" The cashier said sure, so I gave her my license... I was 24. Tbh I don't know if I looked young or she couldn't believe that an adult would drink that s**t...
I'm in my mid 30's and I recently had my food shopping delivered. The delivery driver took one look at me and asked "are your Mummy or Daddy home?" I stuttered a bit (I sometimes forget I look like a 14 year old!) and, as politely as I could, explained that I was, in fact, an adult before getting my driving license out to prove it! To be fair to the guy he went bright red and wouldn't stop apologising but it sure made me giggle!
my husband asked for two tickets to an aqua park. I was standing next to him. the cahshier: both for adults? husband: madam, that is my wife. I am 30.
my girlfriend and I went to see an r-rated movie with our friends and the employee handling our tickets told my gf he had to see her id if she was bringing in her daughter. me being the daughter. we were both 22.
Some of my coworkers keep forgetting that I'm at least 10 years older than them
Not even 30. I had two cops try to arrest me at 21 in the LA bus terminal for being a runaway--they thought I was 14 or 15. I was waiting for my fiancé and I couldn't find my ID because it was in my suitcase.
Looking at all the posts, I have to ask. Turners Syndrome or kallmann(s)? Am a 45 year old guy with kallmann's so I can relate on looking younger. It's a damn curse. I still look like a teenager for crying out loud.
Went to see "Young Guns 2" when I was almost 23. They sold me a children's ticket. I didn't complain because it was cheaper, but had I really been under 12, I should not have been allowed to see the film!
While I was a junior in college, my 7th grade cousins asked me to be a chaperone for her field trip to an amusement park. At the end of the day, we were back on the bus ready to head home and the teachers did a head count of the students. They kept counting one extra student. All 5 teachers took turns and couldn't figure out why they were leaving with an extra student. So after a good 15 min, they say "ok, we're gonna point to you and you're going to count yourself out loud one by one." When they get to me, I say "uuuummm I'm not a student, I'm a chaperone" LMAO funniest thing ever then, but now I hate looking young bc adults don't take me serious
Some of these stories arent really in the same league: heaps of people get mistaken for 15 when they're 18-20, or 20 when they're 25. Now the ones where they're mistaken for 10+ years younger are :O Of course, noone should be rude about it >< also to the cop story why would anyone carry proof that their kid is theirs? Thats not a legal requirement. And in most countries there's not even a requirement to carry ID (except for driving or buying age-restricted items ofc)
Oh I have a bunch of stories! When had just bought a house with my boyfriend. People kept asking to see my parents, when I would answer the door. When I was 25, I was at the store buying alcohol and groceries, with my boyfriend, they carded him, then I picked up the alcohol to put in the cart, and the cashier starts SCREACHING "You can't touch that, you're underage!!" When I was 27, I was house-sitting for my parents, and watching my sister. She was 16. I went walking around town with her, and her friends/boyfriend. We walked to her boyfriend's house, and his mom said, "Are any of you old enough to drive?" I slowly walked forward and laughed, "I'm 27." Queue shocked Pikachu. I constantly get people giving me confused faces when I answer the door to my current house. Especially contractors, or people I've hired. A lot of people think I'm not "old enough" to afford anything. I'll get weird responses like, "Oh that's too expensive for you."
I also get a lot of condescending remarks as if I don't understand finances, construction, household management, or other random things. I still get told I'll change my mind about kids, "when I'm older." Although, sometimes I can't tell if it's sexism, or ageism. Lol
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For me it was really awesome when I'd volunteer at my kids' schools . The kids would start to do bad stuff or swear in front of me because I blended in with the students because I'm only 5'0" . One time I was standing there with my daughter and a bully started making fun of her. I was so happy to see him die inside when I stepped up and told him who I was . I was hoping it would scare the little s**t enough to make him leave her alone. It didn't unfortunately
I'm not sure why but I get hit on when I go on vacation WITH my husband. One time this guy who works at the all-inclusive keeps hitting on me and I say "Dude, you're much too young for me" "I'm 40" "I'm 45" "I thought you were 38" "It still doesn't matter, I'm married and you know it too!" "Yes, but are you getting some?" "What?!" "That's an old dude you got there." - Yep, my husband is 10 years older but it looks like he's 20 years older. We get a good laugh at those.
On a tour of Madam Tussaud's and the Planetarium in London many years ago, was handed a child's booklet by an usher who told me it might be useful for projects in school. I was a university science graduate at the time, having left school about five years previously.
I've got some. From 21-25, I had many retired veterans chase me down to yell at me for wearing a military uniform that wasn't my own. It always caused awkwardness when I explained that it was my own uniform, with the proper rank and everything on it.------------- When I went to buy my first house, the homeowner who was selling greeted me, then said that we could wait a bit longer for my parents to show up. I blue-screened, but my brother and the seller's wife chirped up about how I was the buyer. -------------- So many door-to-door salesmen asking me for my parents...then my non-existant husband. I'll give them credit for persistence, even after so many slights before they even started the sales pitches.
What about Paul Rudd? Everyone says he must have a portrait in the attic.
In college I worked as an assistant at an educational day camp for middle school kids. On the first day I was standing around the other volunteers from my college, waiting to see what my job would be when of the teachers came up and very sternly told me I needed to go back with my group, and pointed to the middle school kids. I quickly told him I was one of the teachers’ assistants from the college…and I was 20 years old.
Face and size: went with my boyfriend both 23 to one of those indoor-pools with slides and saunas etc. He paid the full adult price and I paid the price for teenagers up to 14 years. The lady at the cashe desk must have been though how sweet it was that my tall, older brother took me out to have some swimming fun. (I was happy though, after we both found out a little bit later, as we did not pay attention to the other one paying and I first tought there was some morning discount in place... as I was a student at that time 😆)
Getting a new phone at Verizon and was waiting for the guy to get everything switched over on to my new phone. My boyfriend was with me and was waiting over on a couch. The guy helping me with my new phone asked if he was my dad lol. Apparently he looked older than me and assumed I was like 17. At the time I was around 26 or 27 at the time, my boyfriend is only 2 years older.
when my ex and me parted ways me=57 : her=61. a random guy in her place of living asked her if i was her son. she said i was her cousin. we were married for 13 years. another = a coworker, male, said door-to door people would ask if his parents were home. he was about 32 years old. he would say "no" and close the door.
Wouldn't happen now after menopause has hit me like a freight train, but up to my mid-30s most people thought that my younger brother (7 years gap) was my much older brother, didn't help his hairline was receding already at a very young age! He of course hated it 😆
~3 years ago my SO and I were on summer vacation in Switzerland. We wanted to buy cable car tickets and the lady there turned to me and asked me (in a very sweet voice that you use for kids) "And how old are YOU?" My SO, who had checked the price list beforehand, immediately replied "She's 12." The lady said "Ah, that's good! Kids ride for free." And so I got my free cable car ticket... at the age of 30... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ To be fair: I was wearing a wide t-shirt, sunglasses and a baseball cap - and my SO is 2m tall while I'm 1,61m. So whenever I stand right next to him I look much younger just because of the height difference :D
When I was a teenager, everyone thought I was in my early/mid 20s. Now that I'm 30.... people still think I'm in my early/mid 20s. My skincare routine got better over the last 10 years so I guess I stopped aging? lol
The funniest one in my memory was when I was around 24ish, standing next to my 12 year old brother, and having a sweet little old lady ask if we were both starting at the high school next year. Granted my sibling was my height at the time. Now at 30 my second sibling, who will be 12 in a couple of weeks, is rapidly overtaking me....curse the short gene.
When I first started teaching I subbed at a local high school. I was supposed to park in the teacher's lot for the teacher I was replacing. A man came out and told me off saying students have to park in another lot. I told him I was the sub for which teacher. He argued thinking I was high school trying to pull something. I explained I was in my late 20's and had two kids at home. Then called him by name as I remembered he had been the coach at the high school I attended some ten years before that. That shut him up.
The most absurd one I've had recently was when I went to the pool with my mum. We look VERY similar and I would have thought that makes it less likely they confuse my age these days, because she is almost 60 and I'm 32. Not the case this time, I was asked how old I was so I could get the child discount! The funniest one involving my mum, was back when I was in primary school. Mum walked down the hallway to pick me up early and my teacher saw her and was getting ready to yell at mum for being out of class! She realised her mistake when mum introduced herself. Being only 4ft 7 so her head only just came above the windows of the classroom didn't help :)
Looking significantly younger than your age, whilst daring to be female, can result in a boat-load of condescension. It is not at all amusing when face with this in professional, or medical circumstances. And, no, looking young at 30. 40 or 50 is not compensation, It's just more of the same!
It isn't much better being male and looking younger. I've had to deal with power plays far too often than I'd liked. People are shallow. And some of these t*ssers want to remain relevant despite being rubbish at their jobs. Hence the politics and power plays.
Load More Replies... When I was in high school, I was always mistaken for being much older. I had someone warn me that as fun as that was, I probably wouldn't appreciate looking older when I was 40. Well, ironically, I am constantly mistaken for being younger. Not decades or anything. But when I say I'm 52, I usually hear, "I thought you were like 40!" LOL!!! I guess I got lucky. (Plenty of other thing about the way I look that aren't wonderful, so I'll take it!!!)
I was the same. At 17 I had "Ugly Betty" glasses and was asked if I was my 9 year old sister's mother. 50 years later people ask which of us is older.
Load More Replies... My wife was asked if she was a half-fare (under 16) on the bus. She was 32 at the time!
Similar problem. I'm eligible for all sorts of discounts at 70 but most people assume I'm in my 50s. No grey or wrinkles and the mask hides my lower face that's just starting to sag a bit.
Load More Replies... I got one - I met my mom at her hair salon to pick her up to go to dinner. Hair stylist asked me if I was 18 and I jokingly said yes because I thought she was just being funny. A few minutes later she asked me if I was heading to college in the fall. I had to tell her I was 30.
These stories make my blood boil. Things like this happen to me all the time. I get it that you are confused by my appearance, but you are not giving me a compliment when you tell me I look young, you're just commenting on something that's none of your business. Making friends is hard for any adult, but I feel that looking like a teen has made it even harder for me to make friends in my 30's. I've started introducing myself with my name and age.
This 1000 times! I've even stopped saying "thanks" when getting the inevitable "you look so much younger!" because, no, I don't consider it a compliment, I want to be taken seriously and not judged based on their assumptions.
Load More Replies... I seem to have a face like that. When I'm with my kid, many people think I'm the babysitter. When I'm with my dog, people tell me I might have kids some day, too. Either way, men and older women assume I'm dumb.
I was asked for ID to purchase some behind the counter painkillers as you have to be over 16. I'm 40.
Oooh, I have a good one. I went to a festival with my mum, and we bumped into a friend of hers who was there with her twelve year old kid. The kid wandered off into one of the tents, and my mum said "could you please go and keep an eye on her?" I said sure and followed the kid, who was checking out a curry sampling table. The woman handing out the curry took one look at us and said "you need your parents' permission to try some". In an amused voice I said to the kid "did you hear that? We have to go ask our mums!" The kid started giggling, and Curry Lady said "wait... how old are you?" She thought I was 14. In fact I was 24 with multiple tattoos.
My husband likes to get people to guess my age for fun. The youngest guess I got at his brother's wedding was 18, I'm 32 XD
One of my coworkers is very petite and young looking. When I met her the first time I thought she was about 14, so glad I didn't say anything stupid. Her actual age was early 30s.
When my kids were younger, people thought they were my mother's, she looks so young. People still remark to my dad that he got himself a very young bride( they're a year apart in age) and he gets irritated every time. I'm in my later 40's and when I'm with my kids (now in their 20's) people think I'm one of them. My daughter, now in her 20's looks like she's 12, and I tell her it's the family blessing and curse. She is not amused. Oh well.
I got ID'd to buy a lotto ticket when I was 38, minimum age is 18 and they have to ID if you look under 25. Those were the days! At work I find people are really patronising until they realise I'm in my mid 40s. Had a boss tell me "you'll learn that just how it is in business", dude I've been in the business 20 years, I think I know my s**t.
I have just turned 50, I went grey at a very young age my hair is dyed a very unnatural purple, because it's my favourite colour, I'm medically retired and I can do whatever I want with my hair. I have been told I look at least 10 - 15 years younger than I am, and I'm glad to hear it because at least I don't look as old and as sick as I feel...
And a few years ago when I was on a dating site, I was accused of using filters on my photos, because I looked younger than my stated age. Funnily enough, I did decide to try out one of these facetune apps and I had a look at a photo of myself aged a couple of decades and I looked exactly like my grandmother, she was a beautiful looking woman in her old age so there is hope for me!
Load More Replies... I am well in my forties now and I still have to show my ID every now and then - it is no compliment and it is not funny. People simply do not take your opinion seriously and clients constantly question your expertise in professionell settings. I hate it when (always male!!) business partners tell me that they "have more than ten years of experience in this field" - wow, guess what? I am doing my job for 23 years now, believe it or not, this is not my first day on earth...
I'm 18 years older than my little sister, who just recently had her first baby. When she was little, everyone thought I was her mom, and that our mom was her grandma. Now, everybody thinks I'm the younger one. My sister haates it
I've not long turned 40, I often get told I look much younger, I don't really care much, but people face when I tell them my oldest child is 18 next month - you can see them trying to do sone mental arithmetic. I've had people think I'm my childrens older sister, been asked if my mums home when getting deliveries etc, I just laugh. It's not likely to continue much longer.
I am short and look about ten years younger than my actual age. I have been patted on the head by co-workers more than once. They were often younger than me. It feels awful!
Oh, I have a lifetime of stories like this because I had delayed growth (weight/size 2-3 years younger and even more). Very noticeable during my teens and 20's (I am 40 now). Worst one was when once my mom and I took a plane overseas. Not only they let us get on the plane first, but gave me a kid's set to play (they used to give it to kids during boarding back then) and a kids meal. I was 15 yo and truly mortified. My mom thought it was fun 🙄. The stewardess said I looked like 10. Looking much younger has pros and cons. It's cool looking young, but profesionally it has some significant cons. I am often not taken seriously, unconsciously considered inmature and inexperienced. Also cons when dating. Guys my age look much older and I tend to attract guys much younger who are on a different life stage.
my best one lately was in a language class, where the teacher corrected me because she thought i was trying to say i was 24 instead of 34. i also got carded recently, and when the assistant asked if i had any id, i must have looked so confused at the concept that they just kind of shrugged and let it go (not ideal for them to do, but I'm also twice the legal drinking age so 🤷♀️)
At my last workplace, my coworkers all thought I was fresh out of high school or possibly still in college. I was 38 at the time. This was a few years BEFORE HRT started making me look absurdly young, mind you. Now I look like I should be in middle school...
I'm 41 with some gray hair, wrinkles, osteoporosis and early menopause, but a few of these stories stick out in my mind. During my senior year of college, I was engaged and I had an internship (unrelated but these stories both happened that year). My excitement for wedding dress shopping died when the sales people started to ask if I was even old enough to get married. One lady walked away after I said I was 22. Don't you want to make a sale? Also, as an intern I attended some public meetings of local governing bodies. At one meeting, one of the county commissioners suddenly stopped talking to ask who I was and if I was old enough to be there. I was so embarrassed!
I'm from Europe, where you drinking age and porn making age is the same (18) I went to a shop an bought a six-pack of VERY cheap wine (sort of a punk rock thing) and a bag of chips. The cashier looked at me, at my shopping and asked for my ID. I was perplexed as I didn't have my ID, but then I drove there! (Legal driving age also 18!). "Can it be a driver's license?" The cashier said sure, so I gave her my license... I was 24. Tbh I don't know if I looked young or she couldn't believe that an adult would drink that s**t...
I'm in my mid 30's and I recently had my food shopping delivered. The delivery driver took one look at me and asked "are your Mummy or Daddy home?" I stuttered a bit (I sometimes forget I look like a 14 year old!) and, as politely as I could, explained that I was, in fact, an adult before getting my driving license out to prove it! To be fair to the guy he went bright red and wouldn't stop apologising but it sure made me giggle!
my husband asked for two tickets to an aqua park. I was standing next to him. the cahshier: both for adults? husband: madam, that is my wife. I am 30.
my girlfriend and I went to see an r-rated movie with our friends and the employee handling our tickets told my gf he had to see her id if she was bringing in her daughter. me being the daughter. we were both 22.
Some of my coworkers keep forgetting that I'm at least 10 years older than them
Not even 30. I had two cops try to arrest me at 21 in the LA bus terminal for being a runaway--they thought I was 14 or 15. I was waiting for my fiancé and I couldn't find my ID because it was in my suitcase.
Looking at all the posts, I have to ask. Turners Syndrome or kallmann(s)? Am a 45 year old guy with kallmann's so I can relate on looking younger. It's a damn curse. I still look like a teenager for crying out loud.
Went to see "Young Guns 2" when I was almost 23. They sold me a children's ticket. I didn't complain because it was cheaper, but had I really been under 12, I should not have been allowed to see the film!
While I was a junior in college, my 7th grade cousins asked me to be a chaperone for her field trip to an amusement park. At the end of the day, we were back on the bus ready to head home and the teachers did a head count of the students. They kept counting one extra student. All 5 teachers took turns and couldn't figure out why they were leaving with an extra student. So after a good 15 min, they say "ok, we're gonna point to you and you're going to count yourself out loud one by one." When they get to me, I say "uuuummm I'm not a student, I'm a chaperone" LMAO funniest thing ever then, but now I hate looking young bc adults don't take me serious
Some of these stories arent really in the same league: heaps of people get mistaken for 15 when they're 18-20, or 20 when they're 25. Now the ones where they're mistaken for 10+ years younger are :O Of course, noone should be rude about it >< also to the cop story why would anyone carry proof that their kid is theirs? Thats not a legal requirement. And in most countries there's not even a requirement to carry ID (except for driving or buying age-restricted items ofc)
Oh I have a bunch of stories! When had just bought a house with my boyfriend. People kept asking to see my parents, when I would answer the door. When I was 25, I was at the store buying alcohol and groceries, with my boyfriend, they carded him, then I picked up the alcohol to put in the cart, and the cashier starts SCREACHING "You can't touch that, you're underage!!" When I was 27, I was house-sitting for my parents, and watching my sister. She was 16. I went walking around town with her, and her friends/boyfriend. We walked to her boyfriend's house, and his mom said, "Are any of you old enough to drive?" I slowly walked forward and laughed, "I'm 27." Queue shocked Pikachu. I constantly get people giving me confused faces when I answer the door to my current house. Especially contractors, or people I've hired. A lot of people think I'm not "old enough" to afford anything. I'll get weird responses like, "Oh that's too expensive for you."
I also get a lot of condescending remarks as if I don't understand finances, construction, household management, or other random things. I still get told I'll change my mind about kids, "when I'm older." Although, sometimes I can't tell if it's sexism, or ageism. Lol
Load More Replies... For me it was really awesome when I'd volunteer at my kids' schools . The kids would start to do bad stuff or swear in front of me because I blended in with the students because I'm only 5'0" . One time I was standing there with my daughter and a bully started making fun of her. I was so happy to see him die inside when I stepped up and told him who I was . I was hoping it would scare the little s**t enough to make him leave her alone. It didn't unfortunately
I'm not sure why but I get hit on when I go on vacation WITH my husband. One time this guy who works at the all-inclusive keeps hitting on me and I say "Dude, you're much too young for me" "I'm 40" "I'm 45" "I thought you were 38" "It still doesn't matter, I'm married and you know it too!" "Yes, but are you getting some?" "What?!" "That's an old dude you got there." - Yep, my husband is 10 years older but it looks like he's 20 years older. We get a good laugh at those.
On a tour of Madam Tussaud's and the Planetarium in London many years ago, was handed a child's booklet by an usher who told me it might be useful for projects in school. I was a university science graduate at the time, having left school about five years previously.
I've got some. From 21-25, I had many retired veterans chase me down to yell at me for wearing a military uniform that wasn't my own. It always caused awkwardness when I explained that it was my own uniform, with the proper rank and everything on it.------------- When I went to buy my first house, the homeowner who was selling greeted me, then said that we could wait a bit longer for my parents to show up. I blue-screened, but my brother and the seller's wife chirped up about how I was the buyer. -------------- So many door-to-door salesmen asking me for my parents...then my non-existant husband. I'll give them credit for persistence, even after so many slights before they even started the sales pitches.
What about Paul Rudd? Everyone says he must have a portrait in the attic.
In college I worked as an assistant at an educational day camp for middle school kids. On the first day I was standing around the other volunteers from my college, waiting to see what my job would be when of the teachers came up and very sternly told me I needed to go back with my group, and pointed to the middle school kids. I quickly told him I was one of the teachers’ assistants from the college…and I was 20 years old.
Face and size: went with my boyfriend both 23 to one of those indoor-pools with slides and saunas etc. He paid the full adult price and I paid the price for teenagers up to 14 years. The lady at the cashe desk must have been though how sweet it was that my tall, older brother took me out to have some swimming fun. (I was happy though, after we both found out a little bit later, as we did not pay attention to the other one paying and I first tought there was some morning discount in place... as I was a student at that time 😆)
Getting a new phone at Verizon and was waiting for the guy to get everything switched over on to my new phone. My boyfriend was with me and was waiting over on a couch. The guy helping me with my new phone asked if he was my dad lol. Apparently he looked older than me and assumed I was like 17. At the time I was around 26 or 27 at the time, my boyfriend is only 2 years older.
when my ex and me parted ways me=57 : her=61. a random guy in her place of living asked her if i was her son. she said i was her cousin. we were married for 13 years. another = a coworker, male, said door-to door people would ask if his parents were home. he was about 32 years old. he would say "no" and close the door.
Wouldn't happen now after menopause has hit me like a freight train, but up to my mid-30s most people thought that my younger brother (7 years gap) was my much older brother, didn't help his hairline was receding already at a very young age! He of course hated it 😆
~3 years ago my SO and I were on summer vacation in Switzerland. We wanted to buy cable car tickets and the lady there turned to me and asked me (in a very sweet voice that you use for kids) "And how old are YOU?" My SO, who had checked the price list beforehand, immediately replied "She's 12." The lady said "Ah, that's good! Kids ride for free." And so I got my free cable car ticket... at the age of 30... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ To be fair: I was wearing a wide t-shirt, sunglasses and a baseball cap - and my SO is 2m tall while I'm 1,61m. So whenever I stand right next to him I look much younger just because of the height difference :D
When I was a teenager, everyone thought I was in my early/mid 20s. Now that I'm 30.... people still think I'm in my early/mid 20s. My skincare routine got better over the last 10 years so I guess I stopped aging? lol
The funniest one in my memory was when I was around 24ish, standing next to my 12 year old brother, and having a sweet little old lady ask if we were both starting at the high school next year. Granted my sibling was my height at the time. Now at 30 my second sibling, who will be 12 in a couple of weeks, is rapidly overtaking me....curse the short gene.
When I first started teaching I subbed at a local high school. I was supposed to park in the teacher's lot for the teacher I was replacing. A man came out and told me off saying students have to park in another lot. I told him I was the sub for which teacher. He argued thinking I was high school trying to pull something. I explained I was in my late 20's and had two kids at home. Then called him by name as I remembered he had been the coach at the high school I attended some ten years before that. That shut him up.
The most absurd one I've had recently was when I went to the pool with my mum. We look VERY similar and I would have thought that makes it less likely they confuse my age these days, because she is almost 60 and I'm 32. Not the case this time, I was asked how old I was so I could get the child discount! The funniest one involving my mum, was back when I was in primary school. Mum walked down the hallway to pick me up early and my teacher saw her and was getting ready to yell at mum for being out of class! She realised her mistake when mum introduced herself. Being only 4ft 7 so her head only just came above the windows of the classroom didn't help :)
