A staff-room conversation today left me with a yucky feeling.
One of my colleagues (herself in her early fifties, mother of three adult sons)had overheard a conversation between a couple of students, in which a girl had been saying that, because she'd been born when her mother was only 17, her mom was determined that she (the student) not fall pregnant young.
So far so good, but as the conversation progressed my colleague said something like "Can you imagine having a 17 year old at 35? Ridiculous!". And there were general agreement noises from all around the table. Except from me, because, as it so happens, I have a just-turned 17 year old, and I have just turned 37, so yes, I can imagine that situation quite well. So I was sitting there feeling sort of defensive about having been a young mother, and then I realised that everyone was assuming I was in agreement with them on the whole "young parents are clueless and stupid" thing, which made me feel depressed as well as awkward because evidently people don't realise I had Steve so young (and they do know how old my children are), so that must mean I look incredibly ancient and ugly.
Ugh.
And then I stopped in at the grocery store on my walk back home and saw that they have easter eggs on display and are selling hot cross buns, and I felt all outraged that Christmas is barely over and already the Easter stuff is out, and then I truly did feel depressed, because that sort of outrage is definitely the preserve of grumpy old people.
5 comments:
I think you can be grouchy without being old. :) but then I'm a little younger than you and filled with that type of outrage.
I have always thought you looked younger than you are, and never understood how you had a teenager, I assumed there was a time warp.
I always come up with a good response a day or two later - I wonder what a good response would have been to the other staff?
I think you look awesome so it really can't be that...I'd say it has more to do with their self-righteous and close-minded attitude that you were left feeling yucky/grouchy. I always get defensive in situations like that because of my friend (who is now my sister in law). She was a teenage mom and that never held her back from doing what she wanted (she just finished her masters last year)- The only reason I wasn't one is because of my infertility as I was sexually active then (and had ahem...a few mishaps) - it always bugs me when they jump on that high-horse...it could have been them.
you don't look old at all!
i think people do, in general, have a hard time with judging peoples ages from 35ish to 45ish. it is a very hard stage to peg someone's age.
there are tons of women i know who i thought were in their 30;s and i found out they were in their 40's and also the other way, i thought they were def 45ish and i find out they are younger than me!
btw, wasn't it just yesterday Stephen was into Buzz Lightyear? please tell me you are joking and he is not really 17....!!!!!!
egads!!!!!!! now i am feeling ancient!!!
I always admire people that have achieved incredible things at a young age. Ignore them.
And Easter stuff already...run and hide!
I was 35 when I had a 17 yr old. Now I'm 46 and I have a 27 yr old and a 6 yr old. Just try pigeonholing me! lol.
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