Did you notice people changing how they treat you when you hit your 40s?
In a good way or a bad way?
shareIn a good way or a bad way?
shareI didn't really notice a change at all.
shareI haven't hit that age yet, but I know people who have and they haven't noticed any change in the way they are treated.
shareTHATS WHEN THE TEENAGERS START LOOKING AT YOU LIKE A SAD OLD HOBO.
shareI know teenagers probably see me as old but I fear that people in their early 20s are like 'that guys old'. Some aren't, I have some friends in their early 20s but I'm sure some look at me and think I'm really old. I just wish I could know who sees me which way.
shareNo, not at all.
sharei certainly noticed around that age that i stopped getting looks from women. not that i've really deteriorated, and it's not like it was something that happened all the time, but the occasional looks & chats pretty much dried up around that age. i think i'm pretty much invisible now.
that's the only thing that's really bummed me out about getting older. not that one's self-esteem ought to live or die on such matters, but it was always a nice little ego boost when things like that would happen, and it's firmly a thing of the past now.
Eh. At least we're not alone.
shareWell, I work out and I've kept a good figure so it still happens for me...but not like before. And I've come to terms with that. I'm not the same person I use to be anyway.
On the bright side other women are friendlier and that's kind of a relief..
In my early 30s I remember a lot of people checking me out and it's really died down lol.
shareI started getting looked at more.
shareyou should be married and have kids.
shareReplace that should with could. I hate that there is the expectation that we have to be married with kids by a certain age.
shareWhat I meant was when I was younger that was the expectation. Things sure have changed.
shareIt was an expectation for me as well. Now I'm in my 40s, divorced, childless, and living in sin. Honestly I've never been happier (aside from health issues). I have cultivated a circle of childless friends as well, and there is a lot of hurt in regards to those expectations. It's like if you don't want kids there has to be something wrong with you. Or if you haven't found a spouse then there really is something wrong. I'm glad things have changed, but I think that there is still a lack of acceptance with older generations.
shareAre you antinatalist?
shareNot at all. I originally wanted children but my ex husband had a problem with alcohol and I decided that it would be best not to have children with him. Now, I have fertility issues. I don't regret not having them though. Of my childless friends only a couple have never wanted kids.
sharemy niece had her first and only baby (so i am told) at 38 a few months ago. i know she was going back and forth whether to have a kid or not.
shareOne of my second cousins had a daughter through artificial insemination at 39. She divorced and really wanted a kid. My great aunt who was about 95 at the time kept telling everyone that her great grand daughter was a 'sperm' baby. She was actually really proud of my cousin.
sharemy niece went about it the old fashioned way 😊 😊
shareA very cute young lady I wouldn't have hesitated to flirt good naturedly with the day before, saw me coming toward the door of the convenience store, held the door open for me, and called me "sir" as I passed her.
At that point I was officially old like dirt.
I had a similar experience with a young guy a few years ago when we were going through a door at the same time. He politely referred to me as “pops”. But it didn’t bother me because I don’t care about how another dude sees me, only the ladies.
share