When does middle age begin and end?

Old at 60! Sod that for a game of soldiers...

I'll wait until I'm elderly at around 75 then!

Technically, if the lifespan is mid 80's, then middle age starts in the early 40's. Although somebody of 42 may not like the sound of being middle aged, they can hardly say that they are young either.Old must start at around 60, and elderly at around mid to late 70's.However, people are so different in their looks and their ways/speech/lifestyles that it hardly matters what we call ourselves.

My grandson keeps telling me I am not old.
So 65 is officially not old, kitty.

I thought I was middle aged. I feel middle aged. But people do give up seats for me on the bus and offer to help with parcels and loading the car and carrying bags. And the big one - teenagers cannot see me! I think that is the definite indicator. I am invisible to young people. I am old!

Who cares – and why?

Not sure when middle age began, but I'm hoping it won't ever end.

Middle age ends and old age begins when you look old, feel old and people give you their seats. Round about 70 I think.

Being old does not mean dementia and disability. Surely as Gransnet members we should be the last people to suggest that.

I cannot understand why people are so hung up about their age and whether they are young, middle-aged or old. Every single one of us is getting a second older every second whether they are new born or over 100. There is nothing we can do about it, so why think about it?

I have been feeling old all week, when DD's best friend rang to say that she is arranging a surprise birthday party for DD's 30th birthday at the end of January. So it's rather nice to that I can breathe a bit more easily for the next ten years! 30!!! I'm far too young to have a 30 year old daughter! And from next March I will no longer be able to say that I have a teenage son, so it's a double whammy. I think this is the first time I have felt this old, 30th, 40th and 50th birthdays passed me by without a moment of regret, but seeing a photo of DD on facebook the other week, pulling a face that gave her beautiful skin wrinkles, really made me feel old.

Sorry!

it's the one on the same key as the @

I,m pleased to be old; pension,winter fuel allowance,bus pass, no getting up in the dark to earn a living.Yes I,ll accept old.

But I,m thrilled to be young and fit enough to enjoy life.....I,ll really consider myself old when |I can't ride and have to hang up my stirrups until then I'm cantering on with the youngsters.

I wonder if anyone else has a point at which they will consider themselves old.

Sorry - 34!

Good grief! I'm old then, and DD will be thrilled to learn that she's middle-aged at 24...

Thanks FlicketyB, officially I hit old age in 16 days on my 61st!
May as well put request for Zimmer frame on Christmas wish list and get used it!
Cheers!

Being a bit of a pedant and literalist, given that life expectancy is now heading for 90, you are young until you are 30. Middle aged from 30 - 60 and old thereafter.

My post was in relation to both DDs having a virus, complaining how unwell they felt but doing nothing about going to GP although I have mentioned they possibly need an antibiotic. Grrrrr.

Spot on rockgran.

rockgran I like your thinking!

I think it is nonsense to say Middle age ends when your children reach 40!

Basically it is all a state of mind , I have met people of 40 who are OLD & people of 80 who are YOUNG, make of that what you will.

It is most certainly dependent on the right RMA and genes of course !

It depends on whether we believe what we see in the mirror (grey bits, saggy bits etc) or what we know to be the truth (fit, slim, lots of energy etc). I'm sure I'm one of the truthful ones so nowhere near being middle aged !

I`m really, really old, my eldest child is 51 today!! Yikes!!

Both DDs are in their forties so I suppose, at 71, I am old.

But surely not as old as an 85 year old?

It is moveable according to the situation. If I want to do something I am only middle aged and perfectly capable. If I don't want to do something I am old and can't be expected to. Simple!

Flip - I've been old for three years then! No wonder he gave me a funny look!!

Oooh, as a late starter I'll be 73 when DD reaches 40.
So I'll go with that Mishap