[bunnysquared]

I am a 41 year old solo mum of twins. I had my hair done just recently so no grey!

I was going to do some clothes shopping, but a random stranger on the train put an end to that by telling me I was good to be taking the grandkids out.

Was so p*ssed off I could just glare at her and say that I was the mother.

So cranky when I got off the train that I couldn't shop !!

Anyone got a good comeback line if this happens again (god forbid).

[Suz01]

That is so rude. I wouldn't worry, people with big mouths. Even if you were their grandmother who asked them...

[aprilrain]

Maybe choose to 'act' , not 'react'. Somebody is nice enough to start a conversation with you. At 40 you could be either Mum or Nanna. That is reality. Someone can always choose to be offended.

Happens again - maybe smile and answer pleasantly. I know what I would be thinking if you glared at me.

[FrogIsAFrogIsAFr...]

I have little filter between my brain and mouth, so I would have thought out loud and embarrassed her:
"WHAT? Do I look that old??" However she answered, I would have told her that it was a rude, presumptuous thing to say.

I'd just put it out there.

[Chedasha]

I am 41 with a 17mth old. I could be her grandmother. I wouldn't let it bother me. I either would either nod and agree or just make a joke of it. Definitely wouldn't get so mad I didn't go shopping.

[Jemstar]

It's not rude, just a wrong assumption. Easy mistake to make, someone was just trying to be pleasant, as frustrating as it is. I would have come back with some sort of pithy comment rather than an angry glare.

[Mianta]

Sorry pp, but she has every right to feel the way she does. What kind of idiot makes that assumption? It is like being asked when you are due when you are simply overweight! I think what needs to be practiced is to stop being so presumptious and if you can't figure out if someone is old/just overweight not pregnant/gay or straight or whatever, then you need to just shut the **** up.

[Jemstar]

What kind of idiot makes an assumption that someone in their 40s might be a grandmother? Plenty of people I would say, there was a time that it wasn't uncommon at all, and I know a few people even now that are grandparents in their 40s.

Why get all p*ssed off and have your day ruined by an off the cuff comment by someone who was just trying to be friendly - let it go FFS and get on with your life, respond with a comment that lets the person know of their error, but it's hardly worth getting your knickers in a twist over it. Perhaps if people weren't so overly sensitive about every freaking little thing we'd live in a friendlier society with, I dunno, a sense of community!

This post has been edited by Jemstar: 12/11/2012, 05:43 PM

[SugarMumma]

I am 41 with a 17mth old. I could be her grandmother. I wouldn't let it bother me. I either would either nod and agree or just make a joke of it. Definitely wouldn't get so mad I didn't go shopping.

This, especially the shopping! lol. Ex's mum was just 40 when we had DS, maybe they just thought you were a young one. Having said that it was very rude, grand parents would probably be very happy to correct if someone assumed the children were their little ones but I cannot see any situation where the reverse would be true.

[stephanu]

I agree with pp, you should have politely corrected her and gotten on with your day. She was trying to be friendly and probably felt awful already that she had put her foot in her mouth, a glare and nasty come back wouldn't of helped either of you feel ok about the situation. She shouldn't of assumed but its not unheard of for someone your age to be a grandparent.


This post has been edited by stephanu: 12/11/2012, 05:49 PM