Not addressing my age at work

[Anonymous]

33 yo and just found out #3 is on the way. Won't tell anyone at work until I start showing. I already feel awkward because of my age.

I'm senior leadership, have a phd and 2 kids and everyone assumes I'm older. I sheepishly nod to any pop cultural reference from 'contemporaries' and avoid discussing ones that show my age. I fear that if people learn my true age they'll be dismissive.

Not complaining, fishing, boasting or trolling. Just wondering if anyone else feels the same way or is in a similar situation.

[Anonymous]

What? What is the problem?

[Anonymous]

Huh? You're young to have kids around these parts. I suspect many of your collegues a decade older have kids your kids' ages.

[Anonymous]

Not sure I understand the issue either. Being pregnant does not necessarily identify you as being young, unless people are assuming you are older than 45ish. I hope for your sake you don't look 12 years older than your age!

[Anonymous]

OP here.
There is no problem. I just wonder if there are others who feel compelled to pretend to be older.

[Anonymous]

I don't get it either. Is your issue that because you're pregnant people will know you're younger than they think you are?

[Anonymous]

OP here.

I just realized that I posted without putting forth a clear question.

I'm wondering if others pretend (mislead) to be older.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.
There is no problem. I just wonder if there are others who feel compelled to pretend to be older.

That's pretty immature.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here.
There is no problem. I just wonder if there are others who feel compelled to pretend to be older.

That's pretty immature.

Never said I was mature. Just wondering if others have done the same.

[Anonymous]

I got a short haircut that was supposed to make me look older because I was 24 and looked even younger than that. I was just starting at Biglaw and wanted to not be taken dismissively due to my age, I wanted to look older and lawyerly. I laugh at it now. I wish I had kept my long feminine haircut.

[Anonymous]

You are an overachiever. Mazel tov!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got a short haircut that was supposed to make me look older because I was 24 and looked even younger than that. I was just starting at Biglaw and wanted to not be taken dismissively due to my age, I wanted to look older and lawyerly. I laugh at it now. I wish I had kept my long feminine haircut.

There was definitely a look I tried to cultivate when I started teaching. I felt that cutting my hair short made me look less of a sorority girl and more like a school marm to students. Didn't work.

[Anonymous]

I tried to pass as older when I was a young Director and a young mom. I graduated high school super-early and left college without finishing, but due to some lucky breaks and hard work, ended up building a pretty great career quickly. I also married at 22 and had my first child at 23. I purposely dressed older to try and pass as closer to thirty because people became really nasty and judgmental when they knew how young I was. (Now, of course, I'm in my thirties feeling old and trying to look like I'm in my twenties. Things change.)

[Anonymous]

People don't know how young I am. They assume I'm in my late 40s because I have two children. I just turned 30. I'm an attorney. I don't go out of my way to discuss my age...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.
There is no problem. I just wonder if there are others who feel compelled to pretend to be older.

Yes, I pretended to be older when I bought a pack of Marlboro. I was 17.