Over the past probably 10-15 years, I often was told "You look so young" or "You look younger than that". Some particular situations stick out in my mind.
The first was soon after Chad and I were married. We were in Erie PA, where we lived for the first 3 weeks after we were married. We were going to the movie theater with some other med students. We were the last ones of our group in line to give our ticket stubs to the guy taking tickets. He actually stopped us and asked to see our IDs! Chad was 23 & I was 22 at the time, so he must have thought we were younger than 18. Now this guy was a boy, he was definitely much younger than us. I remember Chad saying something like "You have got to be kidding me!" We were a little annoyed but it was something we all could laugh about that night.
Another situation I remember and probably my favorite was during my first nursing job in Athens, OH. I again was probably 22 or 23 at the time. I worked in the evening from 3-11. I was caring for an elderly woman. I introduced myself to her and said I would be her nurse for the evening. I began doing my assessment on her and she said "That is so nice of you girls to come here after school to help out." I chuckled a little and just told her that I wasn't helping out, that I wasn't in school but that I actually worked there and was her nurse.
Other similar things have happened. Often with patients I was caring for in the hospital. They would be surprised that I was married or then that I had children. My response was always something like, I am probably older than what I actually look.
These comments often made me a little upset. I didn't want to "look young". I always felt like a little kid when they would say things like this. And when it happened with patients I cared for, it made me feel like they thought I might not be competent since I "looked so young". My mom always told me that someday I would appreciate these comments.
Well yesterday I had my yearly routine exam at the doctor. The nurse was looking at my chart and mentioned that I had a birthday last month. She asked how old I was. I told her I was 32. And she said "You look younger than that." This time I was actually able to smile and say "Thank you." I didn't mind her saying that at all! Does this mean that I am getting old???
2 comments:
Oh, Kristi - I had to chuckle at this post because I can sooo relate!! I still get told I look young and for the most part, it doesn't bother me as much. When it hints at me not being an adult, though, I take offense.
When I was in college, someone tried to charge me the kid rate for the pancake breakfast at the relief sale. You had to be 12 or younger for that rate.
I have many other stories to tell but my favorite was when I was working with teen moms as a young married woman. I was probably 23/24ish. The 15 year-old looked at my ring and said "you're old enough to be married?!" And I thought, "you're old enough to have a baby?!"
I am quite sure we will love it 30 years from now. :)
Enjoy it while it lasts. I used to be annoyed by those comments too. Now I would absolutely love anyone who says something like that to me. Maybe I should work in a nursing home...
Mom
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