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?!