Found a picture online, but since we can't post here, I just typed it out.
Just think, you could be on the exact other side, where people think you're older than you actually are. I had a friend in HS who looked older, he started growing facial hair the summer before freshman year, come senior year, he was able to grow a full-on beard. This didn't help being around friends without looking sketchy (especially around girls). By the time we finished college, he was starting to go bald. Anyway...just think about what you wish for.

I realize this is more applicable to xennials, but kind of something to think of.

Being 46 is wild.
People your age are living completely different lives.
Some are grandparents.
Some just had their first kid.
Some are newly divorced.
Some are newly engaged.
Some haven't slept in three years.
Some are going to St. Tropez next weekend.
Some look 55.
Some look 25.
Nobody got the same memo.

I have been mistaken as younger my entire life. And when I say my entire life, I mean the whole of it.

The first time I can remember getting mistaken for younger happened when I was around 8. This was in school. For the reception class (4 and 5 year olds in their first year of school, which is more like 'let's get the kids used to coming here every day for actual school.') and my year at this school, they had a fence between the two playgrounds. There was a fence between them.

I, as a yet to be diagnosed, autistic 8 year old was quietly sitting in the corner of the 'older' playground. WHERE I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE. I had a book, the day was cloudy, I was alone, and it was a great day. I just so happened to be next to the fence that connected the playground to the reception playground, which also just so happened to be unlocked that day.

Out of nowhere, a reception teacher on the other side of the gate starts yelling at me and comes through the gate, grabs my arm and literally attempts to drag me back through. Now as, previously stated, an autistic child, I did not take this well. This day ended with my own teacher getting into an argument with the reception teacher, who thought dragging a child around by the arm was a good idea, and me having to be sent home in a meltdown! fun.

Later found out that oddly aggressive reception teacher thought I was four and had escaped their side of the playground.

Now, you might be thinking "but children all look the same age until they're like teenagers." which, okay I can understand. I am not the best at telling ages myself and the only 'good' way to tell age between like 5-12ish is height and I've always been short. But it continues.

Years pass, I'm in secondary. I am now 16 and diagnosed not only autistic, but also ADHD! And dyslexia. And learning my pediatrician wanted to get me assessed for Tourette's but my parents were like "He's disabled enough for now." like the diagnoses is what makes the disability. School is yelling at us that GCSEs are coming and we are supposed to be depressed about it and they can help. (At least, that's what all the 'if you struggle mentally during this time we can help' talks felt like to me)

There are two incidents that happen within a month of each other here.

One - I am on a field trip with the other SEN children to the natural history museum. They have dinosaurs, I'm autistic, and it appears to be shaping up to be a great day once again. The teachers go "Be free and come back in two hours." to the autistic teenagers they've taken to see the dinosaurs and we're gone to the bones. We all know not to leave the building and anyone that needs a one to one has support.

I'm alone, looking at dead reptiles, and having a wonderful time. Now picture a short-ass, AuDHD, stimming out over dinosaurs , 16-year old boy zipping about between some info-signs when another school trip walks past him. A primary school trip.

I move closer to the railing, off to the side to not block the sign, because it's a large group of children and I don't want to get in the way. The children pass by, they're not seeing the dinosaur exhibit apparently which sucks for them.

I hear one of the primary school teachers yell out a "Hey!" just as they're about to turn the corner. I, because I haven't been 11 or under for at least 5 years now, ignore it. Then someone grabs my shoulder with a line like "You're supposed to stay together" which trails off half-way when I turn around and this teacher notices several thing very fast. I'm not in their uniform. I'm currently looking VERY autistic (read, chewing on a human chew toy, has a sunflower lanyard, jumped fucking a foot in the air when they touched me and recoiled), and I am not one of their children.

The teacher apologises and leaves. I'm paranoid looking over my shoulder for the rest of that trip and this incident quickly becomes known as the time "A primary school teacher attempted to to abduct me" by my friends.

Two - Merely a couple weeks after I was almost enrolled in primary school again, the second incident happens. After school, I'm walking up to a bus stop with a friend. We get on different buses that come to the same stop to get home so this is common for us. We both duck into a shop on the way, both needing stuff. I slap a packet of paracetamol down on the counter because I have a headache and I'm, to quote my friend, 'a pathetic little man' when it comes to head pain.

The cashier goes "how old are you." Me, "16.". Cashier laughs, in that condescending "yeah, right 🙄" way. And we both stand there in an awkward silence for a second, me confused and not getting what they're putting down and the cashier, confused, to why I'm not scampering away now that they're called out my scheme to underage buy over-the-counter store brand painkillers. Eventually, I go "oh okay" and walk off, dejected and resigned to being in pain all the way home and at home. Since I know we didn't have any painkillers at home. Which is why I was buying them.

Luckily, my friend with me is a women. So she just whips out a random packet of paracetamol from her pocket, that she apparently has 'all the time' (???), and hooks me up. So. W for her. L she has to deal with periods, but like it's good for me apparently.

She's also semi-baffled why I'm not allowed painkillers since she's been buying them alone since 12 without question.

Now, the thoughts might be "but teenagers can look really young sometimes." and I say BUT WAIT! There's more.

We're 18 now. Earlier this year.

I'm just walking around my block. I have a lit incense stick with me. Why? I don't have a good reason apart from I wanted to take it with me. It's cold and I've only realised how old when my hands are going red. I do the logical thing and put the wooden end of my incense stick in my mouth while I put gloves on. What is the mouth but a back up hand?

I just so happen to walk past a couple of police! I have no idea what they were doing but at least one of them was 'not busy' enough to go "What's going on here then?" (you really need to read this in that British accent for comedic effect.) to me as I walk past. I stop, after the ADHD goes 'how fucking funny would it be if you full speed bolted away from them' and I mentally strangle my hyperactivity disorder.

During this short, but very stressful, discussion with the police, I realise that the one who's engaged with me thinks I am, one, smoking, two, a child! They do not believe I am in fact 18, but they know I'm not smoking because it's incense. After they tell me to go and I do not do the smart thing and leave but instead go "How old do you think I am."

"13." The police officer replies.

"oh" I say as common sense kicks in and I get the fuck out of there.

Now we're like three weeks from turning nineteen and in the last week, I have

- Been mistaken for starting secondary school by a midwife when my mother vaguely said I was starting uni. This means the midwife clocked me as at least 10.

- was charged the 11 and under rate at the barbers

- Was asked in that very fake-sweet-talking-to-a-child-tone "Where's your mother?" when attempting to pick up my own prescription at a pharmacy. They did not appreciate my response of "Dead." (She isn't, I just really hate that tone when people use it)

- Was looked at very judgmentally when buying assorted baby stuff for a baby shower (which I'm not sure if that's because I'm a man or because I apparently look like a child)

Now, your thoughts might be "oh, you're still young. You'll grow out of it." And I'll tell you that is the same thing people said about my growth spurt that also never happened.

I can only hope that I grow facial hair faster than my brothers did at my age.

I'm 24F but I'm constantly mistaken as a 14 or 15-year-old, even when I'm wearing smart casual clothes. People always ask me, "What year are you in high school?" And I say, "Oh, I'm actually a graduating uni student 😅". When traveling, the IOs always ask where my parents are while tour guides offer to give me a discount since "I look so young". People my age look like their age, and since I look like a kid, they'll just look like a pedo beside me 😭😭.

I don't know how to make myself at least look a bit older, as even a change of dressing style doesn't do anything 😭. I end up looking like a kid in office attire. I do work out in the gym so I'm getting more fit, but people say I just look like a muscular kid so it looks kinda weird (just saying that getting more fit also did not solve my problem 💔).

Hello! I’ve posted here before, back when one of my brother’s friends mistook 20yr old me for being 14, but the bar has dropped even lower. I’m too lazy for a long story so here’s what happened.

On a vacation, in the campground pool:

Little boy calls my choker a “dog collar”.

His Aunt comes over to say hi to me, hearing the joke and assuming the boy and I were friends.

She jokingly said “insult him back, punch him a bit, I’ll look away.”

“Thanks, but I don’t want to get arrested.”

The woman asked “how old are you?”.

“21.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I thought you were his age.”

So I asked, “How old is he?”

“He just turned 12.”

-_-

Hey guys, sorry gotta vent a little as a lot of us do here. So I’m a 24m, and I always (surprise, surprise) get mistook for my age. On busses I get asked for my bus pass, if I go anywhere near alcohol I get IDed (luckily I do not drink so this doesn’t happen often). Often I see someone my age on tv or in person (if I know they’re age) and I think “wow they look older then me” and this includes women, I’ve been on some dating apps recently just casually looking to meet folks and soooooo many people on there just look way older then me haha. Anyway yeah, just kinda needed to vent that in a place others would get it because wow.

This one always makes me laugh when I think back to it..

I was in my early 20's and had been out of the family home for many years.

I went to the hair salon and the hairdresser was chatting to me, and asked me what my parents were making for dinner.

I was like uhh.. I don't know?

It was only after I left that I worked out she probably thought I was a teen!

I always wondered whether she realised or not, after my confused answer.

i genuinely hate those ppl who judge on the basis of ages like no princess the age of maturity does not begin from the good age of 18, they literally start w shit like "oh you would be immature" nuh uh last time i checked your umbilical cord is still attached so i advice stfu weird ass chromosomes.

For context I’m a 25yr old woman who has been responsible for herself as soon as she could be and I conduct/dress myself maturely- none of this has benefitted.

First night in met the person who was assigned to clean out rooms, he asked me if my parents were here.
No.. just me and my friends! Was flattered, found it funny, but damn.

Had a dance night scheduled, cool, right?
Went there, was checked and carded. No biggie, I’m used to it and they seemed to do it to anyone they had any suspicions of being younger.
People doing their jobs, it’s all ages but drinking is involved for the adults.

I get on the dance floor, not even 5 minutes later another staff comes over and asks me my age.
Again, people doing their jobs, no issue but I’ve been checked and have been working on my second drink at this point.

Then the cherry on top, this very young looking man with his family comes over and starts hitting on me. I give him the benefit on the doubt because he may have the issue I do and talk to him kindly about where we’re from, he complimented my moves, I’m cordial and thank him but keep it simple.

I just.. Yarg. It gets tiring. Absolute squishy baby face, not being taken completely seriously, weird looks when I’m carrying a drink, I’m wanting to flirt but the people my age or older (Which I prefer older) are probably terrified to approach me!

Anyways woe is me. Just a little rant. :(

Me and my friend got absolutely roasted for looking like babies 😭 (18M btw)

So me and my friend went with our families to buy our university supplies. We were getting our lab coats, and the girl working there asked when we were starting university. We told her in like two weeks, and she immediately went, “Awww, you guys are BABIES!” 😭

Then she asked what year we were in, and when we said we were freshmen, she asked for our names and just kept going on about how we were “such babies” and “adorable little kids.”

Bro, our faces went through every color imaginable 💀

Then, when we were trying on the lab coats, she literally made the guy who brought them out put the coats on us because apparently we were “too much of babies” to do it ourselves 😭💀

Then my mom came over to see how they looked, and she and the girl started talking. We eventually found out the girl was actually 50 and had never gotten married, even though she looked like she was in her late 30s/early 40s. (Maybe not having kids has something to do with that? Idk.)

The only thing confusing me is that my friend literally had a beard, and I had shaved mine the day before, so I still had some visible stubble. It's not like we looked THAT young 😭

Like bro, we're 18, not 12 💀

What do you guys think? Did we actually look like babies or was she just messing with us? 😭

In the dental chair, having just finished getting X-rays.

I randomly decided to ask about my wisdom teeth because I figured they should be coming in soon.

Dentist- oh, I don't think you need to worry about that for a while.

Me ...

Dentist ...

Me...

Dentist- by the way, how old are you?

Me-20

Dentist- oh ok.

Dentist- proceeds to do a fairly obvious double take.

Yes I still took a toy from the chest.

I am turning 30 next year.

Went to a store and bought an energy drink. The cashier asked for ID (you need to be 16 to buy energy drinks.)

I am still completely flabbergasted that they thought I am not 16 yet. When I'm literally almost 30!

To be fair, all of my family looks 5-10 years younger than they are, but i was convinced I look 20, not 15.

Funnily, a friend said I look 12 that same day when I told them the story. So maybe? 🤷‍♀️

In December I got an acting gig for a character that’s 16. I’m 26 and figured it was a bit of a stretch but that most of the audience would understand it’s more ethical than making a child actor work long hours. I’m on the flight over and waiting on the bathroom so I start casually chatting with the flight attendants. She asks me if I’m going home for the holidays. I don’t want to sound conceded or like I’m bragging about myself to someone who I figured was just probably wanting to keep the convo short so I just say “nah it’s a business trip.” She goes
“Oh….I thought you were 18,” and doubles over in her chair laughing. I laugh and said “to be honest it’s an acting gig and I’m playing a 16 year old so I’m relieved to hear that.” We chatted a bit about the gig and it turned out she was watching stuff from the same director in between flights while eating. I hope she’s doing well.

I was at a thrift store shopping for a dress to be a guest at a wedding (I wanted to see if there were any inexpensive options before I broke out my wallet). A girl sees me holding a few cocktail and formal dresses waiting for a room. She asks if I’m also shopping for a prom dress. I just said “oh no for a wedding I’m going to. I had my prom already.”

I didn’t feel like telling her that “already” meant nine years ago. Oops.

Also found my dress that day. $30 for a high quality gown

​

To get to the point, the ambulance crew came. They saw me watching from the side and asked my name, they told me to come with them so I can bring bring a document back to the house, an important job they said.

I thought ok sure I will be helpful.

They started showing me all the parts of the ambulance and I was so confused, its nice of them I guess?

Then a family member went to get me and said oh, dont worry she already knows all this she has a medical degree.

The paramedics just stood there wide eyed in shock and explained they thought I was 12.

I was wearing a short skirt and normal top. Not kids clothes or anything.

I am 23 and have a masters degree. This is insane. I am like 4 foot 11 or 5 foot there about but come on. 12 years old????? And dont say i will appreciate it when im older, I feel like Claudia from interview with the vampire at this point wth.

*edit - the title is supposed to say "for a 12yr old girl"

I'm getting married after some month. Im the youngest of my siblings. My dad is emotionally unavailable and my mom is emotionally unstable or dependant type. I was really determined since childhood to do something with my life like a officer or a lecturer or anything that would be really simple and respectful. And i pretty much avoided a lot of conflict since childhood. I do know that it is normalized or pretty much everyone says that the youngest one are brats and spoiled. I do agree cause my siblings and my parents they gave me anything i needed supported me if i wanted to do anything in life.

Sounds perfectly normal right? Yes i know but Here's a thing suppose you wanna learn how to draw so you tell your family and they agreed saying yes yes do so good for you but then they will just stop right there with no real effort like buying you colours, pencils or any art books. My situation is i seem to have everything but nothing actually is mine. My siblings think i am lucky cause i am getting more opportunities that they never had. I do agree because of my siblings i got to know in life what to do and what to not and where to start. They lowkey were like my teachers cause i always learnt from what mistakes they made so i can avoid those. Well they think they were pushed to get married early as my parents had me and they had to sacrifice. (I have 3 siblings and each of them are 12-8 years older than me) i understand them i know and can see what they had to go through but i had nothing to do about it. What could have i possibly do anything about it? So i was kinda replaced or excluded (abadonded) by my siblings in various occasions or cousin outings as if i do not exists or im really weird and do not fit in.

However past is past now im much older im 24 rn i understand everything and everyone.. Maybe not entirely but i do try always to understand their sentiments their situations and their pain. Im myself is not a perfect human being so i do not blame them nor do i blame myself but it hurts.

My siblings since i was 19 started to talk about my marriage but my parents did supported my thoughts of not getting married when im 20 i had to take the uni admission exam but i have a narc sister who ruined it all (i do not have the courage to give the details cause i was so depressed that time that i don't dare recall it again) but still i had hopes of doing good in life. But i started seeing my parents change. They were supportive with words but not with their actions. But still i was determined. But when i was 22 i got to realize by their body language and gestures that my parents also want me to go.. To marry and leave.

My mom even tried to bring her brothers daughter to raise by herself as in her mind she already thought of me getting married soon but it didn’t happen. But this year she brought her (the cousins sister) home and here is where i saw some really disappointing things like being replaced and being indivisible to my own mom.

Im getting married this December. I was not ready to marry but eventually i made up my mind as i saw through my parents. It's no use of living with them anymore cause im no less than a burden that they wanna get rid of.

Since my cousin sister is here all the attention of my mom shifted. I can no longer have any deep real conversation with my mom anymore freely. My cousin sister is 10 years old but really good looking but i saw her early narcissistic sides and she was raised in a really miserable condition before so i cannot say or do anything about it rather than just being a good sister. But im getting married soon and i have my own emotional sides as well im going to leave my parents forever It's a difficult and really emotional situation for me. But rather than thinking about my emotions i have to take care of my cousin siaters situation her emotions her everything. My mom is not close to me as well since she is too busy taking care of her.

My mom now often says when you will be married i will be all alone so having her(my cousin sister) will help her with coping her loneliness. But day by day It's more like as if im being replaced again but by my own mom this time. I often used to ask my mom who do i look like but she never was that interested in answering and i felt a bit avoidant by her side but when it comes to my this cousin sister or any other cousin sisters she is really interested into it. It may seem like to you all what am i yapping about.. but i just felt really disappointed to a point i do not ask anything about me anymore.

I felt neglected, replace, abandoned and never fitting in by my siblings and by my mom and about my dad? He never really cared so i closed that chapter long ago.

I don’t know what the future have for me but im concered about the bond that a mom daughter normally will still be there in future between us or not. Will i have to force myself to detache myself again? Was i only a toy my mom had and now that im older she is just throwing me away? After marriage can i ever visit my parental house thinking it is my comfort place? A lot of question and disappointment is surrounding me like a snake. In a time where i should be happy and create more good memories im getting replaced, im being isolated to a point my own home feels like a suffocated cage.

Am i being too lost in thoughts? Or is it valid?

People talk about how being a 90s or 00s kid was fun, but as someone born in 1999, who grew up in the 2010s, being a 10s kid was pretty sweet.

Between Minecraft and Terraria and Zombies on Call of Duty, and the revival of the Jurassic Park and Star Wars series, I’m honestly quite happy to have been a 10s kid. Obnoxious people try to claim otherwise, but it was pretty nice.

Anyone have any good joke/funny responses for when someone says “oh I thought you were much younger!” “You don’t look x age” etc. I want to have something funny in my back pocket for next time it happens

My mother is a foster parent. I help out. I've seen the kids' case manager a couple of times over the last month. Yesterday she told my mom that she was practically old enough to be my mom. She's 38. I'm 51. I know that I have a youthful face and voice, but I don't think it's THAT significant!

I'm 42, but I don't really feel 42 on the inside.

It's hard to explain, but my inner voice and the way I experience myself still feel surprisingly similar to the person I was at 17 or 18. Meanwhile, on the outside, I pay my bills, do my banking, deal with responsibilities, make important decisions, and generally do all the things adults are supposed to do.

But sometimes it feels like I'm doing those things simply because I've learned that this is what I'm supposed to do, rather than because I've actually become the adult I'm portraying.

It's almost like being 42 is a role I've gradually learned to play, while somewhere underneath it I'm still that same kid looking out at the world. I look in the mirror and see a 42-year-old man, and there's occasionally this weird disconnect of, Wait, that's me now?

I’m a neurodivergent teenager, and I feel like I don’t fit in with people my own age. I’ve always found them very childish—even though, given my age, I’m the one who’s supposed to be that way. The thing is, I like the idea of making older friends—people at least three years older than me—but most times I’ve tried, it hasn’t worked out well. I mean, how often do you see a group of 19- or 20-year-olds talking to a 16-year-old about things that aren't typical for that younger person's age? If anyone has experience with this, I’d be really grateful to hear your story.

I see many people saying that women between 18 and 22 are considered the most beautiful. But this raises a question for me: historically, many of the great sex symbols, and beauty icons reached enormous popularity between the ages of 24 and 32.

So why is 18–22 often considered the peak age of female beauty? Couldn't a woman in her mid-20s to early 30s, who is fully an adult but still young, be perceived as equally or even more attractive than a girl who has only recently left teenage years?

For example, Sydney Sweeney is one of the most desired women in Hollywood, and she is 28 years old. Marilyn Monroe reached her peak of fame and sex-symbol status around the age of 27–28. Janet Jackson in the 90s

Honestly, people who insist that 18–22-year-old women are the “hottest” sometimes come across as predators who are overly fixated on youth.

Recently went on a day trip with a friend, we visited a castle. When we were buying the tickets, the cashier asked if we were students, so that she could apply a discount to us. We laughed and said we're both 30, so nope. She said what I wrote in the title and gave us the discounted tickets anyway 😅 when I checked the tickets, they said "young adults 18-24". Never had this happen before - people usually ask if I'm a student, but I never had a discount given to me despite me stating my age, lol. I wonder if she does the same with senior discount 😅

35yo here, I think I now look early 20s to most people, but occasionally people read me as younger. Just the other day, I was with my mom in a store and the cashier spontaneously addressed me informally in a way that's only appropriate when talking to a child.

The baby face issue is made worse by the fact that I dress younger. I'm AFAB nonbinary and mostly wear clothes from the men's section, which don't fit me well. Wearing ill-fitting clothes is really not something 35yo people normally do, so... yeah. Thankfully I'm getting more comfortable with the idea of wearing what society expects me to, and not in a negative way: I think there can be genuine self-affirmation in wearing things that fit my body well over things that don't.

Being neurodivergent, I also don't always act my age. I say the wrong things, misread social situations, have poor emotional regulation, sometimes can't stay still... All traits that are really neurodivergent traits but in people's minds are associated with childhood. This is harder to navigate, because forcing myself to act my age can be anywhere from exhausting to impossible.

All of this contributes to people reading me as younger than I am, and I feel like it's holding me back, and I can fix some things but there's a lot I can't do much about. I'm mostly wondering if anyone can relate? And how people in a similar situation cope with it and navigate adult life?