Are you open about your age?

[joflier]

This is a little bit of a vent.....
So, today is my birthday. I''m at work, and somone else saw that it was my bday on their facebook calendar. So there were a few people down in my office to wish me a happy birthday. It was very nice. Now let me explain - no one here knows my age. Most people assume I''m several years older than I am. And I''d just assume it stay that way. No one is able to find my birthdate anywhere. It''s my big secret - and if anyone asks, I always joke and say that I''m 21, which is obviously not true. So "how old is joflier?" That''s the workplace mystery. I''m probably more protective about my age, due to the big age difference between me and So. But it''s also a protective thing for my work reputation. I''m very respected in what I do, and my opinions are highly valued. I feel that people knowing my age would undermine my expertise. That, and I just don''t like people knowing much about me. I prefer to remain a mystery.

So then, my SO comes over - while these folks are standing around chatting and giving me birthday wishes....And he BLURTS out how old I am!!!

Of course the reaction was basically shock. Everyone was in disbelief at my age. (yes, I know, in 10 years, I will be grateful if I still get that kind of reaction) Then it kind of dawned on him that he really just said something he shouldn''t have. Ugh. He knows how private I am about myself. We''re both VERY private, and never reveal too many personal details. I really have no idea why he just randomly blabbed that. Oh well - I guess that secret is out.

Anyone else protective about their age? I feel like it''s a petty thing, but yet, my mysterious persona is important to me. It''s only lunch time, so I''m hoping the day only gets better from here.

 

[Haven]

I'm pretty open about my age. People often think I'm younger than I am, so I sometimes prefer that my college students know my real age. For whatever reason, it seems to make me more credible in their minds when they learn I'm 29 and not 24 or whatever younger age they believed me to be.

When I first started teaching college in my early twenties, I never shared my age. Most of my students were older than I was, and I know it would have made them uncomfortable.

Now I'm older or about the same age as the majority of my students.

ETA: And I LOVE sharing DH's age with people. He's 39 but he looks like he's younger than I am, so it's always fun to see the shock register on people's faces.

One of my former colleague's husband was sort of talking down to DH one night about how his outlook on some issue will change once he gets a bit older and experiences more of life. I said "Wait, how old are you?" He was 26. DH was 38 at the time, which I shared, of course. It was funny.

 

[jewelz617]

In my opinion, a person's age and a person's weight should be for them to know only. Unless they are the ones divulging that info, it's no one else's business.

ETA: Unless of course someone is lying about their age for less than honorable or predatory purposes, but I don't think that's what you meant.

 

[LadyBlue]

Happy B-day!!!

I''m not secretive about my age at all, but I''m only 27

 

[elrohwen]

I really don't care if people know my age. When I first started out, at 22, it was a little embarrassing because I got made fun of at work a bit. Now that I'm 26 I don't care who knows my age. Plus, I more or less look my age - I don't think people are fooled one way or the other.

eta: Happy birthday to a fellow late February birthday

 

[Haven]

And,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JO!!!!

 

[kama_s]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

I''m not protective about my age, but my husband was when he started working at his recent job. It was his first job after school and he was at a relatively higher position. People initially didn''t take well to his age, and most just couldn''t believe it. He was incredibly self-conscious about it. Within a year, however, people realized how much of an asset he was to the team and age just never came up again. He now manages the entire team and he isn''t even 27. I don''t think people would care much about your age - you''re already well respected in your field!

Enjoy your day today! Hope the SO makes it special!

 

[iheartscience]

I'm open about it-I just don't really care. I'm 28 but most people think I'm younger than I am. For some reason people always think I'm 23. Not sure why that's the magic number!

If you hadn't make such a big deal about your age I bet no one would care. Since you did they probably knew you had to be either really young or really old. At least that's what I would assume if I knew someone who made sure to keep their age a secret.

ETA happy birthday!

 

[purselover]

Happy Birthday!!!

I'm not secretive about my age at all, people think I look much younger than I really am so I love making them guess my age and then surprising them. When one of my coworkers found out I was getting married he gasped and said something along the lines of "but you're only 17!"

ETA: In my line of work though I feel my youth is an asset

 

[kama_s]

Date: 2/25/2010 12:44:26 PM
Author: Haven


When I first started teaching college in my early twenties, I never shared my age. Most of my students were older than I was, and I know it would have made them uncomfortable.

That reminds me, I went through something similar as well. When I was in grad school, I was T.A.-ing for two pharmacy courses (3rd and 4th year). My entire class was older than me by several years. I had a few not-so-nice incidents when students would come to me to talk about the grade I gave them in their exam and would talk down to me because I was much younger than them. Obviously I had none of that - I can be ridiculously firm when needed. I think I might have scarred them for life

 

[monarch64]

Nah, I''m not protective of my age at all. To me, being guarded about it is giving others control.

 

[treefrog]

I am 100% open about my age. I''m 27... been 27 for years now.

Happy birthday Jo!

Treefrog

 

[PumpkinPie]

As a recently licensed psychologist I tend to avoid answering the age question when posed by clients - I do get a lot of comments about how young I look when meeting new clients for the first time. I try to just kind of joke or shrug it off - like "oh, I''m not quite as young as I look"

In other areas of my life, including with work colleagues, my age is no secret - it''s a non-issue for me. Perhaps that will change as the number gets bigger

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

I could care less about my age or the fact that I''m turning 30 in one month and seven days...not that I''m counting or anything....

 

[PumpkinPie]

(Happy Birthday!)

 

[TravelingGal]

Happy Birthday.

I''m not at a point that I care about my age, and I don''t think I really ever will be.

When people ask, I say I''m 45. They gasp and say ''WOW, you look amazing!" It''s one way to always get such a compliment.

 

[Smurfysmiles]

I look and sound much much younger than I really am. Some people think I''m still a teenager but I''m almost 26. I figure once I am 40 and still look in my late 20''s I will keep it to myself

 

[charbie]

Date: 2/25/2010 12:57:10 PM
Author: Maevie
As a recently licensed psychologist I tend to avoid answering the age question when posed by clients - I do get a lot of comments about how young I look when meeting new clients for the first time. I try to just kind of joke or shrug it off - like ''oh, I''m not quite as young as I look''


In other areas of my life, including with work colleagues, my age is no secret - it''s a non-issue for me. Perhaps that will change as the number gets bigger

I feel the same way. I tell people my age if they ask (26 next Tuesday!) And don''t find that people are usually less respectful bc of my age. I started working at my current job right out of college, but would often tell people I took time off between college and high school (which I did to spend a year abroad) and that was so people would associate me as being older and more mature. When working with old people, being younger than their grandchilrden sometimes doesn''t sit well.

 

[LilyKat]

I'm totally open about my age. And about my weight, and height, and - well, just about anything that someone can tell just by looking at me

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Happy Birthday Jo!

 

[vespergirl]

Happy birthday!

I''ve always been open about my age. However, I''m one of those people who looks younger than their age (so do my parents - it''s just in our genes) so I don''t mind saying that I''m 33, since people usually guess younger (usually around 5 years younger). But, I imagine that even when I''m 65, and look it, I''ll be proud of what I look like, because of the experience that goes with being older.

 

[movie zombie]

yes. i''m so open about my age that i start to claim the next birthday age about 3 months before my birthday.

happy birthday!

mz

ps weight is a no-no.

 

[Lilac]

I''m 21 now so as of now I''m pretty open about my age. We''ll see when I get older if it changes...

Happy birthday, joflier! I hope the day gets better for you!

 

[lilyfoot]

I''m 21, and open about it. People always think I''m older (because I''m mature, not because of my looks!)

 

[JSM]

I''m open about it, but I''m 27 and people usually think I''m a teenager. We joke that DH, who is 31 and graying severely, looks like my sugar daddy. I''ll probably be less open about it when I get older.

Have a good birthday!

 

[Indylady]

I am!

 

[stone-cold11]

not on my age but my birthday.

Back home our birthday bash is really a ''bash'', for the guys...

 

[oobiecoo]

I try to guard my age as much as possible also. I am young but much more mature than most people my age.

I changed my facebook profile a while back to only show the month and date of my birthday and not the year. Obviously my family and DH''s close family know but I''d rather classmates, future work colleagues, or church friends just get to know me based on my maturity level and where I am in life and not my age. If someone asks my age I''ll sheepishly tell them but I''d rather not advertise it.

 

[Dancing Fire]

let me put it this way...i do feel like a spring chicken compared to some of the members here.

btw; HAPPY BIRTHDAY my RH gf!!

 

[rhbgirl24]

Happy birthday....!!!

I am not very secretive about my age. I don''t come out and tell people I''m 29, but I will tell them if they ask. People tend to think I''m younger and I''m OK with that.