Suzanne Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 I shall be 70 this year and feel 40. I read all your letters and realise that I do all of those things!! Yes, I think that Mums and Dads want to feel that they still have something to offer their "children" but also they never stop feeling concern for them and want to protect them. My eldest son is in his 40's and my grandchildren now young adults but my youngest is only in her twenties and facing the world of terrible housing costs, new baby etc. I would dearly like to help them both but this is their world now. Any advice I give is from another world long ago and probably quite useless. They smile and say "Thanks" as I hand them yet another loaf I have made or more eggs!!!! I lost both my parents at a very young age so my children have never had the experience of a Granny or Grand dad. They missed out. So just humour us. It makes us feel good . Still I will be a bit more careful from now on ! Forums are quite useful! PS. Did you know that we always revert to being about 17 years old when we are with our parents? Suzanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 Any advice I give is from another world long ago and probably quite useless. They smile and say "Thanks" as I hand them yet another loaf I have made or more eggs!!!! Hi Suzanne. Congrats on being 70 I am not there yet but it is my next BIG birthday milestone, should I live so long I don't agree that your advice is out of date, what you have is the wisdom of experience which is priceless. Your children may ignore it now but I bet at some point in their lives they will realise that 'mother knows best' My children are both in their twenties and I say the same things to them as my mother said to me. I'm always urging them to wrap up warmly when it's cold "where are your gloves" etc., "don't sit on hot radiators you will get piles" I hear my children saying the same things to my grandchildren and so on it goes The wisdom of age never goes out of date. (obviously the thing about the piles is rubbish, but I still say it) Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucky1 Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 Hello - I am mid 30's with 2 young children. I love this forum as I truly believe that we can ALL learn a great deal from each others comments across a wide spectrum of ages. I am sure that your children and grand-children really appreciate you - I think that your hands on but sensible approach is admirable. I do moan (which I know I should't) about my parents a little too often. However, I know that I would be 'lost' without them. I just wish that I sometimes had the courage to say that to them (instead of on a forum) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 I just wish that I sometimes had the courage to say that to them (instead of on a forum) You've hit on something very profound there Clucky......it is often very hard to express feelings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 I have friends (outside the forum) across a wide range (25-65, at a guess) but that seems to be fairly unusual these days. I love the wide range of backgrounds, lifestyles and experience on here. What I really like is that there is no way of telling someone's age - ok Tessa, I had guessed you were probably a certain age because you have talked aobut grandchildren, and life in the 1960s, but I wouldn't have known you were nearly 70. I bet there would be some surprises if we all met up! My mum used to say 'but I still feel 18 inside' even when she was in her 80s - as I get older, I begin to understand what she meant - you don't age mentally even though you get more wisdom and change physically. And of course sadly some peope don't acquire more wisdom, despite living a long time. Clucky1, I really wish I'd been more open with my parents about my feelings for them. We were not that sort of family - I seldom hugged or kissed my mum, we didn't do emotions - so it wouldn't have come easily. I'm sure she knew, though - and your mum and dad will know it too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzanne Posted March 7, 2008 Author Share Posted March 7, 2008 I realise that I had meant to hit "Reply" to ..."How old do you feel?" but appear to have started this as a "new topic." Silly me! Suzanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucky1 Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 Don't feel silly. It has obviously struck a chord with many of us. Anyway enough to fill two forum threads ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzanne Posted March 7, 2008 Author Share Posted March 7, 2008 Age is a wierd thing. I will be 70 at the end of the year and yet I feel the same as I always did. I just am surprised sometimes that people treat me differently, then I accidently catch sight of myself in a shop window and I get it! I love Per Una clothes (Thank goodness we can wear them ) I love dancing to Rock & Roll in the kitchen when no one is looking. Thank goodness I am Suzanne on the forum. I cannot be traced by the neighbours!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baby bears mum Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 I hit 40 last year and my Mum is 73 and Dad is 80 this year. They are my best friends (OH as well) and I still go to them for advice (may not always listen - and then regret it (nothing new there then )). I do need to help them more these days and do raise my eyebrows regularly at things they say or do but I still love them - up to the moon and back as my daughter says. I saw this in our local newsletter and I had to smile:-- THE IMAGES OF A MOTHER 4 Year Old - My Mummy can do anything! 8 Year Old - My Mum knows a lot! A whole lot! 12 Year Old - My Mother doesn't really know quite everything. 14 Year Old - Naturally my Mother doesn't know that, either. 16 Year Old - Mother? She's hopelessly old fashioned. 18 Year Old - That old woman? She's way out of date! 25 Year Old - Well, she might know a bit about it. 35 Year Old - Before we decide, let's get Mum's opinion. 45 Year Old - Wonder what Mum wold have thought about it? 65 Year Old - Wish I could talke it over with Mum...... Sounds familiar doesn't it!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzanne Posted March 7, 2008 Author Share Posted March 7, 2008 Oh that is lovely Helen and so true! Suzanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 Some of my loveliest friends are 50+ (I'm 35). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucky1 Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 That is REALLY lovely Helen. What a great place this is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 What I really like is that there is no way of telling someone's age - ok Tessa, I had guessed you were probably a certain age because you have talked aobut grandchildren, and life in the 1960s, but I wouldn't have known you were nearly 70. Don't want to mislead you Olly, I'm 61 and threequarters so not nearly 70, but I am very aware that 70 is the next BIG birthday I agree that there is no way of telling someone's age on a forum. I am astounded at the young age of some of the people on here and how mature and sensible they sound. 'Tis also nice to learn that our more mature members can be silly and daft and insane sometimes, you know who you are Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 so, so sorry Tessa - I thought you'd said 'the next BIG milestone will be 70' ... well, you did, but you didn't mean your next birthday! I do apologise for accidentally suggesting you were another 9 years older ... (WHY do we feel embarrassed about suggesting people are older than they are? In some cultures it's a matter of pride!) I stand by my point though - if we didn't reveal a few things about e.g. ages of children, growing up in a certain era, etc, we'd have no idea how old others were. Suzanne, I applaud you for not letting age constrain you. Who says 'women over a certain age should not .... ' (wear Per Una/drive a sports car/go out with younger men) I had my first tattoo at 40! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 I had my first tattoo at 40! I thought you were in your twenties! Always a surprise to be had on the forum! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One Man Banned Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 I had my first tattoo at 40! I thought you were in your twenties! Always a surprise to be had on the forum! I second that! I've thankfully always been very close to my mum, sometimes wish closer as it would have certainly changed our family life for the better. We make up for it now tho, and as much as she can't go two days without at least ringing me - and is it only my mum that rings 10 times and still doesn't just leave a message!! In my close family it's so often me helping them out and giving out the advice, and mum and brother often get the sensible "chat" from me. I may be 27 but I really feel a lot older. My best friend is 34, and my closest friends range from 23-60. I think I gain a lot from them, and sometimes wonder if losing all of my grandparents before I was ten makes me want to be around "older" people. I certainly respect them and their opinions that's for sure A xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 This forum is timeless! I find people who I assumed were old and wise are in fact still at school (Martin and Liz spring to mind) and those I thought were young and daft are those who are just that, only older and wiser I am 323 years old it is not easy being a Vampire, I mean, you try sleeping upside down, then there is all the regulations, risk assessments and the like. Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One Man Banned Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 I am 323 years old it is not easy being a Vampire, I mean, you try sleeping upside down, then there is all the regulations, risk assessments and the like. Kev. what are you like A xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...