I Must Confess: When I chose to call this blog “Middle Aged Mama”, I had no idea that the name might be off putting – purely because nobody wants to be middle aged!
Personally, I love being a middle aged woman – I feel like I’m in the prime of life – still young enough to enjoy things, but old enough to hopefully have the benefit of a bit of wisdom and experience. Not to mention the freedom that comes once the kids are grown, and more disposable income!
The Negative Stereotype
However, it’s certainly not a label that most women wear proudly. I only really discovered this recently, when I asked on Facebook what people thought of as the middle aged woman stereotype.
Here are just some of the responses:
Nola: Always older than me. Oh wait … if I’m not middle-aged yet it means I’ll live past 106!!
Bron: Fuddy duddy. Even though I apparently am one …
Caroline: Always someone older than me. Sometimes I think they are rather square and old fashioned in their appearance, but wise with a lived-in look …
Caitlin from Caitlin’s Happy Heart: Oh, I’m struggling with this one as I’m approaching 40 at the end of the year and people are starting to call me middle aged!
Sharon: I plan to live to around 93 or so, so I haven’t reached my midway point yet …
Keri: Let’s just say it gets more and more flattering the closer I get haha!
Chantel: As I get older, my definition of middle age changes … I’m 40 next year, but don’t think of myself as middle aged.
Jess: She wears comfortable shoes, cuts her hair short, buys underwear that holds it all in, drinks tea for all occasions …
Looking on the Bright Side of Middle Age …
Fortunately, there were some positive souls out there who looked at middle age in a different light.
Jess (again – clearly she can see both sides!): … has crazy girls’ nights out where she she doesn’t care what people think, is comfortable in who she is and doesn’t take crap, because she’s done that and is just embracing her.
Letitia: Years of experience.
Kathy from 50 Shades of Age: Getting better with age like a good wine!
But the last word surely has to go to Kathy from Yin Yang Mother: An image I plan on challenging by staying strong and fit and ageing gracefully.
And so say all of us!
Now it’s your turn: what do you think of as the middle aged woman stereotype? Are you middle aged – and willing to admit to it?!
Lots of interesting perspectives here. Some days I feel 100; others I feel 20! A great, thought-provoking start to my Monday! Have a good week.
Tonia, I know the feeling 😉
Some of my favourite people in the world are ‘middle aged’ and yet I don’t see them like that. There’s a stereotype, and then there are amazing awesome women out there challenging the stereotype and you are one of them! I don’t think it’s anything to be feared. 🙂
Me either Jess!!!!
I missed the question on Facebook. I’m fast approaching middle age myself. At 44, you could argue I’m almost there. I too have mixed emotions with middle age. I can see the good, the bad and the downright ugly side of it too.
We have seen some of the ugly ourselves lately (just like you) … health scares … it’s not nice is it.
I do think the words middle aged sound older than I think I am. Is middle aged how you feel or the age your are? I would say I am middle aged at 42 but I have never felt healthier .. Thanks for coming over to #imustconfess this week
I think it’s just the age you are … do any of us really feel middle aged? I still feel about 25!
I don’t think my brain matured until I hit 45. Some say it still hasn’t matured ten years later!
I think middle age is a fab place where women finally feel confident, strong and ready to take on the world!
YEAH! Actually it’s funny, I have a couple of friends in the same age bracket and we do joke about world domination LOL
Having not put a lot of thought into what I think about Middle Aged (probably through denial) I went to trusty old Google and it tells me that the average life expectancy of women is 73.2 years so if middle aged is half way then that means I AM SMACK ON MIDDLE AGED!!!!! How could this be?? haha…
must go now, you will find me rocking in the corner!
LOL Zita, it’s not that bad – I’ve got more than ten years on you! xxx
I remember when I was about 35 and I was sitting on a bus during a shopping tour with my best friend and her mother. Her mother referred to us as middle aged THEN! I was insulted. Thirty five is YOUNG! 13 years later and I embrace the idea of being middle aged. I am having more fun in my 40’s than I did in my 20’s and 30’s. Women in their 50’s are telling me that THEY’RE having even more of a ball! I often say, “Who was the genius who decided that one revolution around the sun meant that we had to move up another number?” I think age is a nebulous concept anyway. 🙂
I like your thinking Leisa 🙂
Middle aged is a lot trendier that it used to be I think. You make Middle aged look cool Janet. x
Nawww I will treasure your lovely compliment!