I was just talking to someone at the park while pushing my son on a swing, she asked how old he was, then asked if I was his sister?! “No I’m his mother!”
That’s not really a compliment is it!
Mind boggling moment!

Better than being asked if I was my 2 year olds grandmother :(

There are some really young grandmothers around though
I think it’s probably best to assume whoever is with the child is the mother and not another relation. I’m trying to think how old she must have thought I was to have a one year old brother?!

A charming lady once came over to me in the library specifically to tell me (in a loud, very accusing tone!) that I didn’t look old enough to have a child. My dd1 was 2, I was 21 - young, yes, and not very confident so was totally mortified! I just can’t understand why people feel the need to comment at all!

ETA - I’d take it as a compliment now, though - I think the person who said it to you was being complimentary! xx

Even better I was booking into a campsite once and the hoity toity lady said I looked too young to be in charge of two DOGS!! I was 23! And I was so shocked I didn’t know what to say and ended up stuttering ‘it’s ok my husbands here too’! Never been one to think of witty comebacks on the spot!
But you’re right people should not comment, however I would totally accept the compliment! ( it doesn’t happen to me anymore :-( )

AJ x

I love it when this happens.  Last Christmas I went out with the girls for a night, and got asked for ID.  Luckily I had my driving license on me, but they said they wouldn’t serve me as they didn’t beleive I was over 18.  I was 31 at the time!!  It happened once in hospital a few years ago too.  The lady in the bed opposite had seen my visiting hubby and assumed he was my dad!!!  I was like, yeh I always snog my dad…....

I wouldn’t stress about it - everyone between the ages of 17 -47 look very young to me now mind you before I finished up working, one of my patient’s asked me “and do you have a boyfriend dear?”  - I was 45 and very pregnant at the time -lol.  It made me feel a lot better I have to say . xx

I don’t think it was meant as a compliment though! It certainly wasn’t meant in offense either, but I think she genuinely couldn’t believe I was his mum! She said “oh…you look like you’re in your teens…” I just said I was in my twenties, then she asked how I ‘maintain my figure’ so was a bit more flattered than at first, thinking I must look 12 pushing my baby brother on a swing or something!

I agree about it being difficult to ‘age’ people.  It is also more common than you would think for families to have children spread out in age.  My mum is 11 years older than her youngest brother.  One of my uncles has five children eldest is 37 youngest is 15.  I have friends with ten to twelve years between their eldest and youngest children.  I would have taken it as a compliment, I used to love it when I got asked for ID to buy alcohol in my thirties.

I get asked a lot if the boys are my brothers.  It doesn’t help that i’m only 4 ft 10, and my 13 year old is a lot taller than me.  On the plus side, I usually get in as a child to museums, so it saves us money.  It does get annoying when someone knocks on the door and they ask “is your mum or dad home?”.  I didn’t expect to still get that at 31.

It certainly creates confusion when we are on a day out as we often take our granddaughter along with our younger children. People find it hard to comprehend a 6 year old calling us grandad and nan, alongside our own 7, 6 and 3 year olds calling us mum and dad!
A year or two ago I was asked for id in a supermarket when paying for DD1’s shopping. The shp assistant “knew” Emma looked under 25 (she was 22) so figured that as we looked alike I must have been her sister, especially as our children looked a similar age….. I was 38/9 at the time!
Most confusing though was going to the delivery suite as DD1’s birth partner when I was 36 weeks PG myself.
Our DD’s re often asked about their “children” when they take their much younger siblings out….they think it’s quite amusing.

Becks xx

That made me chuckle HippyMum!