Best response to 5 year old calling me an old lady?

My daughter has always teased me about being ‘haggard’ as I am quite small and slim. My elder granddaughter, 13, has her own version now, as in ‘old and haggard’. It has become an amusement and I don’t mind. My other AC and GC don’t say it though, so it’s our joke!

I'm all for using the "old lady" to your advantage. My grandmothers used to do it with "Just pop upstairs and get me.... Your legs are younger than mine." or "Run to the corner and post this, you're quicker than me."
I'm doing the "I'm an old lady, can't do that" routine.
My GCs know it's a bit of a joke. They do sometimes ask me "What was it like in the stone age?" and I have a range of replies one being "Quieter, children knew how to behave>"
I'm sure your GD didn't mean to hurt you.

My Gd told me "this is how old nannas walk upstairs. My DD told her that's not nice to call Nanna old" I said sshh I'll use that to my advantage. The next week she wanted me to get in the floor and play a game. I said I couldn't cos I'm old and have trouble getting up. Got out of that and many other things I didn't feel like doing since.

To a five year old anyone over about 25 is old. We frequently tell our granddaughters we’re old because we are compared to them. Can’t see the problem. Being old in years doesn’t have to mean you’re old in other ways but that’s a bit subtle for a five year old.

My 12 year old GD often asks me what life was like when I was young, her favourite question being; which dinosaurs did I meet? It's all done in jest and I play up to it. We live in a family where sarcasm and insults are our love language, it doesn't bother me in the slightest. I'm known to be ancient and a witch (my broomstick is constantly in for repair because I'm such a bad flier!) and to be honest, neither description seems unfair...

Laugh it off, you're old. I'm old and I know it!

I don’t see the problem, you are old! I’m old! Everybody can see that, it’s nothing to be ashamed of or looked on as an insult, I’m proud of it!

Lol to a 5yr old you are and just because you don’t feel it doesn’t mean you don’t look it. I’d say nothing I’d just laugh it off. One of mine said one day school said we have to help old ladies like you nanna i said I’m not old and he said yes you are you daddy mum. It did give me a good laugh lol

I am early sixties, but was only fifty when first dgc was born. I didn't feel old, and still don't, but when I picked up dgs (and all the following dgc) to look in the mirror, I looked ancient next to him, far older than I do when I look at myself in the mirror alone.

As for being old, when anything like that is said to me by the dgc ( never meant nastily), I just say that yes, I look old, but inside I still feel and think pretty much the same way as they do, and still like to do 'fun' things just like they do.

My daughter told me that I’m not a LOL until I’m 80 ….. oh dear that’s the milestone I reach next year!

I was living abroad when a little Mexican girl came up to me (around 4/5 yrs old) and started chatting to me calling me grandma. I think in her world every elderly woman was a grandma. I thought it was sweet.

Children often have no filter when it comes to "say what you see". A favourite story in our family is of my brother-in-law aged about 7 talking to a great aunt. She asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up. He said, "a pilot." She said, "How exciting and will you take me up in your plane?" He shook his head and said no. She said, "Oh dear, why not?" He said "because you will be dead by then...". Family history records that great aunt was able to laugh about it.

Why should that bother you? I'm 70 so I'm an an old lady it's just the truth.

I think it’s wonderful they can be so honest. I asked my eldest granddaughter how old she thought I was and she thought a while and said ‘very very old!’. Well in comparison to a 3 and a half year old I certainly am 😊

Luckygirl, similarly to yours, one of my granddaughters aged about eight or so looked at me very earnestly and told me that she would marry as soon as she was old enough. I asked why and she replied "I want you to be at my wedding and if I don't hurry up you won't be there" and looking a little sheepish, added "because you are old"!

Probably very true (but I hope it's not!).

The OP doesn't say the grandchild called her "old lady" - she actually said they will often refer to me as an old lady - this is quite different.

Lots of posters seem to think the child is using "old lady" as though that is a name (and not very polite!).

V3ra

^I was told by a six year old DGD that I'd be able to skip round the garden like her when I'm older.^

Two three year old boys, in the changing room after swimming, once told me, "Don't worry, you'll have a willy like us when you're older" 😳

😂😂😂

When I get my new knees I'll be able to skip (🤔) but I'm not sure about you growing a willy!!

I was told by a six year old DGD that I'd be able to skip round the garden like her when I'm older.

Two three year old boys, in the changing room after swimming, once told me, "Don't worry, you'll have a willy like us when you're older" 😳

Chestnut

There is a game called Greedy Granny which I refuse to play!

Granny loves biscuits! So much so that she's fallen asleep with a whole tray of them on her lap – what a Greedy Granny! Your mission is to take a biscuit of each type from Granny's tray as carefully and quietly as you can. One wrong move will wake her and send her teeth flying!

Anyone played this and not been annoyed? I think it's horrible.

Quite agree and get very cross with age stereotypes.
I am in my 50’s and a grandmother! however I do not sit in a chair all day, have grey hair nor false teeth!
My eldest DGS was quite confused when younger that grannies were always portrayed as ancient, yet I wasnt 😁

None of my GC has ever referred to me as 'old' - at least, not to my face! If I speak of myself as 'old' I get the response: 'You're not old, Granny!'The are not small children any more - 15 - 31, and I am nearly 83 and, yes, I am undeniably old!

My granddaughter told me my face was cracked!

My late husband called my dad OB( old boy) from when we started going out and my dad loved it.

My mom always said older never old. So I go with that.

My GD said to me a few weeks ago that I was a bit crinkly which I laughed at.

A child of 5 would think someone of 20 is old. Best to ignore it or agree with her, but remind her that your name is Gran/Grandma, or whatever you usually go by.

Ignore it

She just stated a fact