Four years ago, I posted a picture of my daughter Bea on Facebook, doing yoga on a beach. The comments flowed in telling me how marvellous I looked.
‘You don’t look a day over 18,’ said one kind friend, who’d mistaken her for me – which was ironic, as Bea was only 17 at the time. I was 52.
I was half-tempted to let them think I had, in fact, got younger-looking since most of them last saw me at university in 1989. But my embarrassment that anyone would think I was vain enough to post a picture of myself in a bathing costume was enough to make me confess.
It did get me thinking, though, about the similarities nowadays between mothers and daughters, how different it was in my day and how we really are living through an era of age-defying mums.
When I was growing up, our mothers were a different country. We would no sooner borrow their clothes or copy their haircut than we would our grandmothers’. We moved along parallel lines, always a respectful and large generational gap away.
Now I can’t buy a pair of jeans without having them seconded by one or both daughters, aged 21 and 22 respectively. All three of us have long, straight hair, and people often comment that we could be sisters. We walk at the same pace; we talk at the same pace, and we all listen to Justin Bieber (I know, I know).
A couple of months ago, I visited an old school friend of my husband’s with my 22-year-old daughter. He kept looking from one of us to the other in disbelief. ‘It’s like I’m seeing double,’ he said.
Denne historien er fra May 16, 2022-utgaven av WOMAN - UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra May 16, 2022-utgaven av WOMAN - UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
The benefits of waking up early
I can almost feel my daughters rolling their eyes at the thought of me writing about the joys of waking up early.
'Rylan makes me MILLIONS!
The presenter talks about his love life, professional success and his alter ego
GATSBY
He needed a home, but was Maria barking to even consider taking him in?
My mindset MAKEOVER
After losing 4st, the future is bright for Hazel James
Eat more WEIGH LESS
Feel fuller while losing weight with our exclusive plan from Slimming World
Autumn tricks YOU NEED TO KNOW
Stop cold, dark nights disturbing your sleep with these expert cheats
'HARRY WILL NOT BE BACK'
Reports of Prince Harry wanting to return to the UK and royal duties are, I’m told, ‘completely wrong’.
'I'M HONOURED to still be part of Strictly'
Strictly Come Dancing judge Anton Du Beke on the hit show and why he'll never retire
Would you keep CANCER A SECRET?
Model Elle Macpherson revealed she kept her battle with the disease hidden - we find out why many others choose to do the same
'Ruth has handled the split WITH DIGNITY'
Coleen Nolan on grief, supporting Ruth Langsford through divorce and moving in with boyfriend Michael Jones