That's not me

1My elder daughter will be 60 in the next couple of years. That CAN'T be true as it's no time at all since MY 50'th birthday!

Recently I was both touched and flattered when my 16 year old granddaughter said 'Grandma may be 78 but she doesn't think old'.

Old/elderly is ten years older than I am, and always will be.

I realise I can't do everything I did 10 or 20 years ago and I think there's a real danger if you don't accept this. You get elderly men climbing ladders for instance, insisting they can still do it. Until they fall. You get elderly people driving cars when their eyesight and reflexes are no longer functioning properly, which puts everyone at risk. I think middle-aged children are sometimes tearing their hair out when their elderly parents won't slow down when they really should.

Not vintage though, bluebelle. I was vintage . A GP friend gave me a bottle of Vintage Mumm ?

76 still feel a spring chicken most of the time although I m not stupid and know I m not but hey ho I m happy kidding myself
BUT I m far from geriatric ….by the way when I had my third child at 28 I was called a geriatric mother

What's in a name, eh? I think of myself as old(ish!) but never elderly. My younger self would have thought me ancient. I'm lucky enough to enjoy good health at the moment (I think!) which contributes to this current youthful joie we vivre. Long may it continue!

Does anyone else get a shock when reading something like that

Nope.

But then I was the oldest mum around when my youngest was at primary school, older than many of the kids' grandmas. Then when DD was at secondary school I was pipped to that place by one other person.

I don't believe people are really shocked at being thought old when they get into their seventies. I also think it's ageist of old people to pretend that they are shocked at being thought so. What is wrong with being old and being thought old? Nothing.

Old does not automatically mean suffering from dementia and needing a walking frame, though there's nothing wrong with being at that stage either. Old/elderly means older than people who are obviously young.

It also means more susceptible in statistical terms to various health issues.

We all know this.

I’m 77 and all bits are still working .

Well, the newness has worn off a bit, but old?

I am now 72 and didn't realise that was elderly until the pandemic. A bit of a reality shock.

I keep battling on to keep to the standards of 10 years ago (I'm 85) and protest that I can still do those things.Eg making bread - started at 1pm and it's not in the oven yet and I'm kn-----ed. So why do I do it?
It's as if I don't want to get old and feeble, but now I'm beginning to think it would be nice to be looked after for a change. I was in hospial a few times last year, for tests etc and really enjoyed it.
Suppose it would be worse if I was really poorly so must be careful what I wish for.
Aye, old age is no joke.

Well in that case I have 7 months until I am geriatric best start planning some wild parties/activities beforehand

I think of myself as "Not as young as I was", but at 75 I don't really feel elderly. It reminds me of my grandmother who used to walk with a stick, eat a light diet and have a rest after lunch. I don't do any of those things. I wear jeans and trainers _ she wore directoire knickers!

My brain says I am 21, my body tells me otherwise ??

No - anybody 65 or older is 'geriatric' in medical terms. We don't 'feel' old - unless we're ill - but a quick look in the mirror confirms we're elderly!

I do wonder how old some Gransnetters are sodapop!

I'm around that age too and it was a shock when DD said that she was middle-aged now. I can't be the mother of a middle-aged child, can I?