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Do you ever live up to the stereotype?

(51 Posts)
granoffour Fri 23-Dec-16 08:36:15

There was a slightly patronising advert on the radio yesterday about 'grans' and I tutted and then realised by tutting I was probably living up to the stereotype grin. So I got out my sherry and my knitting and basked in other people's expectations.

rosesarered Fri 23-Dec-16 12:05:49

No perm, rocking chair (although I like the sound of it) no stick needed, not a sherry drinker or a knittter, hate shreddies, rarely tut, but have been known to say disparaging things to the tv.tchgrin
My main older 'fault' is asking DH and older grandson if they wouldn't be happier if they put a jumper on( they both get very irritated by it, so must stop.)

goldengirl Fri 23-Dec-16 12:17:08

I'm fast becoming a tutter I fear. I don't have a perm but I have a stick - which proves useful from time to time. I don't think I look old - until I see a photo of myself but my excuse is that I have 7 GC - and am forever telling them to 'wrap up warm' at which the older ones smile wryly. I enjoy a Baileys [it used to be a Dubonnet when I was younger - much younger] and I knit. I'm a campaigner which keeps my brain active and have learned to say my piece in a polite way. So I suppose I'm a bit of a Heinz 57 really - and enjoying it!!!

Pinkshoes26 Fri 23-Dec-16 12:20:55

I have been told we are the old style grand parents wile the Nan is more for parties/going out.

I am happy to home cook, craft and give out my asked for advice. Our garden is a delight to see in spring, summer and autumn. We spend many happy hours in it.

ninathenana Fri 23-Dec-16 12:21:45

I occasionally use a stick if I have a lot of walking to do it is a pink flowery fold up one though.
I used to knit but fingers can't cope now, I can't remember the last time I baked something and I've always hated sherry. I do moan and tut at the TV, talk to myself and indulge in a bit of road rage.

grandMattie Fri 23-Dec-16 12:49:36

Blue rinse?
Bun and "apple cheeks"?
Pretty apron, with frills round the edges.

Have none of those; but - I do knit, bake, sew and all the other grandma things. I drink as well! tchgrin
Where I think I am granny stereotype is my intolerance of bad manners, of bad grammar, hate badly proofread books, grump and huff about things. I hate it but can't stop myself. Permanently stuck with one foot or the other in my mouth! tchblush

Teddy123 Fri 23-Dec-16 14:19:21

I don't have a walking stick but I do have GHD hair straighteners. If my hips hurt I take paracetomol!

I only drink G&T or Prosecco

I now shove my slippers in my handbag when visiting friends at home. Not because my feet hurt in the very high heels I persist in wearing .... But because I don't want to scuff their lovely wooden floors

'Grans' nowadays are nothing like they were! Perms - no thanks!

Stansgran Fri 23-Dec-16 14:51:24

I do have a walking stick for steep river banks in the Far East. Always long to poke my mil in the back with it like she did to me. It was soooo rude of her. Purple hair rinse yes. Bake and sew yes. Correct people's grammar on tv yes. Red sports car yes. Perm and frilly apron no.

Kim19 Fri 23-Dec-16 14:56:25

Recently I had occasion to join in on the trampoline somewhat vigorously with three tots. My son's partner passed by, stopped and said '77?' She kind of shrugged and carried on walking. Now WHO was doing imagery stereotyping!

Jalima Fri 23-Dec-16 15:15:28

when does it stop
tchhmm should I upset you at Christmas vq?
I'm 71 and still seem to get hot flushes

Anya Fri 23-Dec-16 15:38:46

I thought that you were a fella Teddy ......I suppose you still could be, we're all of us most of us, very broadminded on GN so I've not problem with you wearing heels and carrying a handbag tchwink

Greyduster Fri 23-Dec-16 16:49:37

I don't like to think I'm stereotypical (though I think I was born 'tutting'). The only sticks I use are my walking poles and my wading staff. I do knit occasionally but never actually finish anything! I bake to raise funds for GS's football team. I wear an apron but it is not frilly (at the moment it is filthy! Well they both begin with F!). My grandson told me I was bonkers - I regard that as a badge of honour! I am more stereotypical than his other younger, trendier gran who is frequently to be seen breaking the speed limit in her Mercedes sports coupe'. The main difference between us is that I love GS to distraction, and she seems to have forgotten he exists.

Grannyknot Fri 23-Dec-16 16:58:11

No perm. I don't tut but my West Indian colleague taught me to kiss my top lip in a "tsk" grin

I knit, but my young colleagues were crazy about my "freestyle" knitting which was making it up as I went along (scarfs). I taught them all to knit and when the CE caught us for the millionth time, he came striding towards us as knitting projects went flying or was stuffed into drawers, or sat upon, but all he wanted to do was congratulate me for "getting them off the internet".

I find that I say "Right" when I am about to get up and do something, so I guess that counts.

Antonia Fri 23-Dec-16 16:59:47

I don't have a stick (yet) but I do have varifocals and cataracts. I still have my own teeth, the ones that are left that is. I remember when I was young, I thought I would have to have all my teeth out when I was 21. (No, I have no idea why I was fixated on 21). I have stopped knitting but love having time for my current hobby of leatherwork. The thing I find difficult about being a granny is refraining from butting in where the DGC are concerned. Learning to keep my mouth shut is hard!

grannyteddy Fri 23-Dec-16 17:46:42

I'm not a fella either Anya. Very glad the other Teddy is like me and persists in wearing her heels. I can still break into a trot in my 4"heels, a feat I feel justifiably proud of.

BRedhead59 Fri 23-Dec-16 18:48:00

A few years ago I climbed Mount Kosciuszko the highest mountain in Australia. It was an easy climb, more like a stroll. I remarked to my husband "you could bring your granny up here....Oh yeah I am a granny"

sluttygran Fri 23-Dec-16 18:50:37

I like sherry and I bake a lot, I have a walking stick, and I love lavender soap. Eeeeek! I'm a nanna!

SparklyGrandma Fri 23-Dec-16 20:07:25

Sometimes being the doddery short sighted grandma works....in a well known Foods section last week, buying muffins for 2 weeks, approached staff member and asked her if she could read the instructions as to whether they were freezable. Writing WAS tiny and glasses deep in handbag.
Yes, she said, lovely. They are in the freezer!

Is that naughty?

Indinana Fri 23-Dec-16 20:24:22

No walking stick (well, I do have one from when I had a knee arthroscopy, but haven't used it since!); no perm; no shawl or cat. No white cardi. No frilly pinny tchgrin.
But I do have to wear flatties now because of problem feet. I do knit when my hands allow, but then I've done that since I was a child, so I don't actually get why that is a 'granny' thing tchhmm. I do wear varifocals. And I've been know to harrumph at things that I don't agree with/approve of. I really must nip that one in the bud tchgrin Oh, and I bake and quite like the odd glass of sherry now and again (but definitely not the sweet stuff!)
Oh dear, now I see it all spelt out, I do seem to be coming down on the side of the stereotype. Hmm, a list of New Year resolutions will have to be drawn up tchwink

Theoddbird Fri 23-Dec-16 20:42:41

I am rebelling the 'stereotype'... At 66 I will be retiring next year and buying a narrow boat to live on. I am an ancient hippy...my boat will be the one with bunting and fairy lights on smile

Grandma2213 Sat 24-Dec-16 00:56:17

At almost 70 I don't knit, crochet or do dressmaking any more though I did when I was young. It's cheaper and easier to buy now!! I tend to dress in jeans, trackies, T shirts and trainers but manage longish floaty dresses for best.

I used to have a nice tidy house when I had my own children. Now having DGC for up to half of the week, the house is full of toys, clothes, drawings, homework models etc etc. Most furniture, walls, beds, doors are damaged. I have much less patience with them than my own in the past, probably because they have not been properly trained (by me)!!

When I don't have them I go to the gym, swim, walk, sing in choirs and generally find any excuse to stay out of the house! I'm doing an indoor sky dive in February and really want to do a real (tandem) one.

I have almost demolished a bottle of sherry tonight after they went to sleep though. Well Daddy went out to works do and I had the monsters DGC tonight. Bubble baths, popcorn and watching Monsters University!! I did fall asleep so they were up late! Stereotypical Gran, head back, snoring on the settee (cuddling the youngest), so I do meet some criteria then. tchwink

MaryXYX Thu 29-Dec-16 11:36:44

I went to a combat training afternoon with the Viking re-enactment group I've joined. I think a couple of the young people went easy on me in hand-to-hand combat games. They didn't make that mistake twice! Don't believe the stereotypes, I'm old but not slow.

Jalima Thu 29-Dec-16 12:57:42

A few years ago I climbed Mount Kosciuszko the highest mountain in Australia.
Ooh, must look that one up (any snakes? that would put me off)

FarNorth Thu 29-Dec-16 13:33:25

"Didn't make that mistake twice" MaryXYX. tchgrintchgrin

rubylady Thu 29-Dec-16 18:19:20

Exactly Mary, I'm disabled, not ancient. I will continue with Live hair colour of raspberry or purple, paint my house in strange ways, dress my doggie and my old dolls, go to antique centres (to buy stuff not to be bought!).

No knitting or tutting.

My DS would argue with me though, saying that I am turning into my Mother! grin

MaryXYX Mon 02-Jan-17 10:32:35

I went through a major re-invention five years ago. I haven't worn brightly coloured hair (yet) but I was rather visible at Gay Pride this year. www.dropbox.com/s/wvsflv907pkoz99/Batgirl%20on%20the%20Parade.jpg?dl=0