Third time this term someone at the school gate has asked if I'm her grandmother

dusk_sparrow_200127 Oct 2026

I'm 51 and my daughter is 6. I knew this would happen and it doesn't bother me much. Today it was a new mother from her class, very friendly, asking if I was 'nani'. What's different is that my daughter heard it this time. On the way home she asked why people think I'm old, and whether I'll be 'very old' when she's big. I said something about everyone's mothers being different ages. I'm not sure it was the right answer. How have other older parents talked about this with their kids?

1 comment

mellow_kettle_981427 Oct 2026
I'm 37 and was once asked if I'm the driver at my daughter's preschool, so people say all sorts at the gate ❤️ Your answer sounds fine to me. Kids at 6 often take the question very literally. If she asks again, telling her exactly how old you'll be when she's 20 might settle it better than a general answer.
- plum_sketch_746429 Oct 2026
  Older parent here too, I was 44 when our son was born. In my class the children love ages and do the arithmetic for fun. When my son asked, I turned it into a sum: how old will I be when you're 10, 15, 20. He was more interested in the maths than in the answer.
- lagoon_river_711129 Oct 2026
  Replying to @plum_sketch_7464
  56 here, daughter 12. she now introduces me as her vintage dad 😂 the questions stop. the jokes don't