Anonymous wrote:Not at my office. They are dried-up, bitter, nasty hags.

Likes attract likes.

Anonymous wrote:Those single women in their 40's might look great, but MANY of them live with the daily agony of "what might have been".

I would take my pot belly and wrinkles over having never wed and bred any day!

I disagree. The women I know who are single for the most part seem pleased with their choices and happy. Most are highly successful in the careers and have an active social life. The only single friend I have who is really unhappy regrets not getting a graduate degree and being stuck in a low paying field.

You have to take care of yourself mentally and physically in any situation, that's the bottom line.

I'm 33 with 2 children and was told I looked like a teenager.
However, there was a time during my husband's stressful unemployment when we both looked like death warmed up - because of all the stress.

So make an effort to think happy thoughts. Tune into yourself and your needs. Stay healthy. Find clothes that flatter, not clothes in fashion. Pretty soon you'll glow (with a little retinol ).

Those single women in their 40's might look great, but MANY of them live with the daily agony of "what might have been".

I would take my pot belly and wrinkles over having never wed and bred any day!

Shoot, I'm 41 with 3 kids that range from 2-8 and I work as a senior executive for the government in a highly stressful, visible, and demanding job. Let me tell you what, I have never looked - and felt - as awesome as I do right now. I think it's half mind-set, half genes, with a sprinkle of an awesome hairstylist who gave me a totally new look which, in all honesty, gave me a total mind makeover. Very different person than three years ago, for sure.

That's not always the case, I'm 40 and got mistaken for 27 two nights ago, two kids.

I've had kids and look younger than my husband. I'm even older than him. Splain that !

I have 2 kids under 2. One of my dear friends is 47 (I'm 35). I look at pictures of us from 3 years ago and damn, I was a hot piece. She looked good but I looked GREAT. Now, not so much and she looks EXACTLY the same. I look like I've been ridden hard and put away wet.

Anonymous wrote:I look great and I'm 33 with a toddler. I regularly get mistaken for mid twenties.

My friend who is 37 and childless actually looks amazing, like she is 30.

I think this is generally true. I feel like I'm an exception here but I definitely have stretch marks and loose skin on my tummy. My tits are still hot, even after 2 years of nursing.

You go girl!

I look great and I'm 33 with a toddler. I regularly get mistaken for mid twenties.

My friend who is 37 and childless actually looks amazing, like she is 30.

I think this is generally true. I feel like I'm an exception here but I definitely have stretch marks and loose skin on my tummy. My tits are still hot, even after 2 years of nursing.

Anonymous wrote:I think single women just have more time and money for hair, clothes, makeup and working out. Nothing mysterious.

That is definitely part of it, but I venture to say they have fewer wrinkles. In fact one of my friends informed me she has no wrinkles and she has noticed the women with kids in her office are not aging as well as she is! Now she spent more time in the sun than I did and she wore sunscreen much less than I did. Sure it may be good genes, but add her to the list of people who look much younger.

Anonymous wrote:Not at my office. They are dried-up, bitter, nasty hags.

They would probably be dried-up, bitter, nasty hags even if they had children.

OP here. Really not trying to be divisive. I just have been paying more attention to the aging process. I also posted way back when about the fact my African American or actually in some cases not American, friends age much better too-actually regardless of whether they are single/married/with or without kids and we have discussed this and they agree . In that case there is a specific reason. I think someone said melanin in the skin. Now I'm sounding even more divisive because I guess this thread is more about white women aging.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, having kids and raising kids really does age you.

Yes, I've noticed this. My childfree siblings look at least 10 years younger than their real ages. The same goes for my child free co-workers.

I think single women just have more time and money for hair, clothes, makeup and working out. Nothing mysterious.