r/OlderThanYouThinkIAm

Hi, I’m about to be 26 but regularly get told I look about 19 and I wanted to know how you guys go about dating looking younger than your age. Most of the girls into me are 18-21 and the maturity gap is real.
A date asking to play Roblox with her and her friends was not something I would’ve ever expected happen to me.
Anyways, I’ve decided to accept what comes my way instead of fighting for the attention of girls my age who don’t want me. But how do the rest of you go about it.

I'm almost 25 and I went to a movie alone the other night and the girl checking my ticket asked to see my ID since it was R rated... it was so awkward when she was like "woah you're so much older than me" and continued to guilt-complement me still using a tone of voice meant for a young child. Bothered me.

Also as a side note, I find it kind of quaint they actually still check IDs at the movies when you think about how much access to mature content minors have on the internet and stuff.

Where I live there is a 33 year old guy thats the owner of a small business and he's worked there for 7 years. However, he looks around 12-14 years old and is 5'3. kind of like an adult trapped in a kids body. You wouldn't think he would be the owner of the store. However, when you hear him talk his voice throws things completely off. He has a deep adult sounding voice. It throws you off and you're like "is it a kid or an adult?" According to him, this is why. He said that when he was 16 he got into a bad car accident and he had several brain injuries and it damaged his pituitary gland. He never reached his full height, or fully developed.

But the reason he was able to have the deep sounding voice is because his voice was one of the first things that developed during puberty. He said he's able to grow a slight bit of facial hair but its very patchy and most of the time he chooses to just shave it.

He said he of course gets mistaken for being younger all the time. He said the youngest answer he's ever gotten from someone was 11 years old.

I feel like since i started growing into my body, and my face started to mature i just look older I cant help it, I don’t know how to make myself look younger. I always catch my mom staring at me with disgust. Whenever I wear makeup she asks if im going to a strip club or to school. She always says I should go to school to study, not to tempt men. Im not even allowed to wear shorts or she will call me a prostitue. The prostitue comment really hurt me and when I told her to stop calling me that she told me thats what im gonna be if I keep dressing like that. I am 15 years old and I have always been told I give older vibes. I am very tall (5’11) for my age and my height doesn’t help.

A couple of days ago, I was walking home from the gas station when a guy in his car cat called me and told me to get in. I started shaking my head no and kept walking. He then drove off but he then he reversed his car a couple of seconds later and kept calling me over and he was about to get out of his car and I kept shaking my head no I didn’t want to go in his car and then he drove off. There is a Pizza Hut right beside me so I went inside and called my mom to pick me up. I told her what happened on the first thing she asked was what was I wearing? I got so angry in that moment I just hung up. I waited it out for 30 minutes then got home on my own. I was wearing a black sweat set with a hat and my hoodie up, no makeup on.

I am just really sad I feel like my school life is hard already because it’s hard for me to make friends due to people being intimidated by me. All my current friends say they were intimidated by me when they first saw me. I always try to smile at people but I guess they find it scary? Lol idk but I miss my mom sometimes. I have other sisters but im the only one she treats like this. I just need to find a way to bring this up to my mom and tell her I don’t like it and it makes me sad.

I started driving at 16, and got my license at 17. I was short, and at those two ages I often got people thinking a lot of times that I was 11 or 12. When I would be on the road, I did get looks frequently from other drivers. Sometimes I would be scared to drive by myself because of it, especially if I was to go through a fast food drive through. When I would get out the car in the parking lot, sometimes I’d see a stranger looking extra hard.

would honestly be kind of a

I had an office job that started off as temporarily remote due to covid. I did the interview on Zoom and worked remotely for a year. After that, we had to start going to the office. I feel like since then, people's perceptions of me have changed and the way they treat me has changed when they saw me in person. I know I still look young even over Zoom, but my height and size really add to my 'childlike' look. I'm 5ft and 90lbs. I met one of my coworkers for the first time who was 5ft 10 and she seemed to have a problem with me that she never had previously. I've had this happen a few times before with taller women who claim I 'make them look big', so they start treating me like shit. I also got a lot of "Oh I didn't realise how small you were!" You're so cute!" Then the patronising talk begins, like I'm a baby.

For this reason, I'm searching exclusively for remote jobs. Have any of you experienced better treatment from coworkers when working remotely?

I’m over 30 and I think for a few years as I can remember, I would be hit on by girls who were like still in high school or just starting college mainly they would be like between the ages of like 16 to 20. Has anyone dealt with a similar thing like this before? It just feels really awkward.

New girlfriend I'm dating is 32 and I'm 34, we both look quite young for our age but she is very petite, Asian and literally looks 18-23 depending how she dresses. She has exceptionally thin arms? Wrists and legs, no chest at all and flat stomach, straight up and down no curves.

She also dresses very young for her age which makes me feel quite uncomfortable but I dont hage the heart to tell her this. When she wears a dress she looks more like early 20s but a bit maturer.

I feel like someone is going to physically attack me when im seen with her in the street. It's not her fault or mine but she is tiny, frail looking and very young cutesy facial and bodily aesthetics.

I am also very thin and small, i'm 5'8 shes...tiny! And much frailer looking than me.

I definitely don't look nearly as out of place next to her as a big built 6'3 without a baby face, but i still get lots of looks.

Despite myselr looking baby faced, we get LOTS of people giving us sideeye! I have gotten looks from other males that tell me exactly what they think of me! The look says "shes a teen or barely, you creep!"

Shes 32! I'm 34!

Shes also suffered a huge amount of childhood SA from her brother and regresses to a childlike state during dissociative episodes but comes back to her 32yr old self when reassociated.

Due to her trauma and autism she dresses young and her mannerisms are "clingy giggly girl" young.

I'm attracted to her not because of her petiteness but her personality, charming smile, resilience, kindness etc BUT people give us mean looks that say "you're fetishising her" when im not!!

I'm seriously worried that someone or a group is going to violently attack me through misinterpretation.

Do i ask her to dress older? Or is the relationship unlikely to work?

I'm living in fear of others branding me a "borderline pedo" ans its eating me up.

Please help!

I just turned 33 four days ago and when I was out celebrating my birthday, I told someone that I’m finally 33 and they looked at me gob smacked and they said “ holy fuck there’s absolutely no way you’re 33 you look like you’re 22” and I said to her thank you. I know it’s a compliment when people tell you that you look very young for your age but in my book assume that I’m younger than 25 it doesn’t really make me feel like mature and then I’m like a grown man and sometimes that could be bothersome to me in a way and also I don’t want anyone to think that I’m older than I am either. Who else out there who my age or somewhere in my a range deal with a similar thing like this too. Ex You’re 30 but everyone thinks you’re 18

I mean any research would be cool me to read why we maybe looking so young???

Can you guys tell any theory you have in mind?

I I know that people can read posting history and everyone says that they would mostly be me saying that I look younger than my actual age everyone I talk to and hang out with in person says that I look very young for my age and I will just be really confused when I would post those pictures, some people would comment and say that I look older it would probably because they would see. I have some sort of receding hairline and the people hang out with in person. Don’t really pay attention to that so that’s why they might say that I look young.. and when I would talk about a post when I would see that it felt awkward when I would be getting hit on by like high school girls I was just trying to ask for some sort of advice on what I can do and that kind of situation I never meant to put anything in jeopardy I don’t mean to like manipulate anyone I just really need some support here what I should do when I’m dealing with those who say that I look older than I am or I if it feels like that someone is like criticizing me, and making me feel ashamed for my posting history on Reddit

So as a 27M, I have young face mostly genetical reasons. Currently people estimate my age around 21. Once someone confused me as younger brother of my younger brother while I was his older brother (He’s 19 currently). My dentist thought I was uni student. I’m often asked ID by alcohol shops. Examples go on and on. But I’m curious, isn’t that bad thing ? I feel like people wouldn’t take me serious. And in dating, would put me in disadvantage?

This happened yesterday—I was boarding a cruise ship and making small talk with one of the staff.

He asked if we (my younger brother and I) live in this state or are visiting. I told him I moved here for work and said where I work/for how long.

Then he went, "First job after highschool?"

I went blank, genuinely confused hearing the word highschool in use in reference to me at all. I went, "what??"

He goes, "Were you in highschool before this?"

I blink again and go, "No, im 28. Highschool was over a decade ago."

He laughed and said i must be joking and I said Im not and then he said "well you have a youthful look".

I cant believe someone thought I could be 18. I know its a larger gap for some people on here, but im not short for a woman (5'8") and not super skinny, so its literally just my face and vibe. And I cant change my face. if I was any smaller im sure the guesses would be much lower.

I have a full silver streak from premature graying but I was wearing a hat. I think im gonna stop wearing hats and let the silver hair show in situations I want people to guess closer to my age. I would be fine with being thought of as early to mid 20s, but its just too weird being near 30, and being thought of as someone who just finished highschool by strangers.

I’m just wandering if anyone else suffers with seriously low self esteem from looking younger. I suppose I just need to rant but I would like to pretend to believe I look normal and that people are just thrown off about my age because I am 4’10 and for some reason that must mean I’m a child?
It gets increasingly difficult it’s my biggest insecurity, I just can’t stand the unwarranted comments about age anymore, I did not once ask you what you think I look like so why feel the need to inform me you think I look 12.
I am also constantly getting asked for ID in places with my boyfriend or friends and I understand that’s the rules but you’re clearly not actually following them in my country if you’re only asking me and not a single person that I am with?
It’s just really really humiliating being singled out all the time and I even understand that the people who do this and make these comments about how young they think I look aren’t trying to be malicious or purposely offend me but I cant not take it very personally. Makes me feel like a ridiculous child in makeup with a stupid dress on.

The venue is 18+ or 21+ to enter and be in there. But because you have a baby face and don’t look older than those age limits, you probably look like an early teenager or like you’re 12, or whatever age people think you are. Do other strangers ever react? Look at you weird? How exactly does it play out when being in an age restricted place while having a baby face?

Growing up with young features you get told a lot that “it’ll be a good thing when you’re older”. And I never found that particularly comforting, since it didn’t help my current situation.

Well folks, I’m pleased to say that I am officially on the other side!

Now that I’m 28, any time I get mistaken for younger or asked for an ID, it’s usually followed by a “Wow, you’re so lucky!”. And they mean it too. So maybe it really is a good thing when you’re older - you just have to wait a few years to get there.

Chins up, my fellow luckies!

(Also, the girls who are rudest to you about looking young will also be the first to get Botox so HAH)

I’m working in a high position but because of my look some old men are getting pretty argumentative with me and plus verbal abuse sometimes. I have great communication skills this is another reason why I’m at this position but sometimes people show it too much that the reason is my appearance. Im also living in a country that is not my home country so people in here look more mature than me that’s probably the reason why they try to treat me like a 13yo brat.

So id appreciate it if you can give some advice. What should I do to look a bit more mature?

note: I don’t have any problems about beauty it’s more like looking too young for my age

Yeah so... I'm 17, about to be 18 soon? Idk, everyone, especially my mom tell me, that my birthday is nowhere close. And that I'm definitely not turning 18 yet in a looooong time.

So yeah, I know. Very damn well it's a little under 6 months till it. But I'm constantly so contradicted about life.

Sometimes I'm obviously too young to do anything, and then sometimes already old enough to carry some sort of responsibility over things. But STILL I'm constantly being treated like a child. And so I of course feel like a goddamn child most of the time. It's messing with my brain constantly, I don't know how should I see myself?

Obviously there's no help in also not looking anything like my age. Being short, having young features, that stupid stuff. And I constantly talk about it, it's a massive insecurity of mine. And I'm genuinely scared, that whenever I actually will be considered an adult, I won't be able to treat myself like one.

People that look similar age to me, or are taller and more mature looking than me, they're often years younger than me. I HATE IT. I try constantly looking more mature. But then I end up feeling like a kid in big girl clothes... Like I constantly have to put on an act, just so I could seem somewhat my age.it genuinely sucks so much, like sometimes I'm allowed to drink alcohol normally, nothing more than a cider, but it's helpful, makes me feel more grown. Sometimes I get so damn ashamed when my mom has to remind me, that I'm still very much underage and have no business touching their 18+ drinks... Anyone see why I feel contradicted constantly?

Well, yeah, this was some venting, huh? If you read this, thank you, and honestly, I don't mind words of advise, or just reassurance in general.

Edit: Sooo, seemingly I didn't reach the correct audience, which I mean. I did predict it. But I wasn't talking about anxiously waiting to be 18, this is NOT what my feelings were about. I'm more scared because it's not far from here and I can't even really embrace childhood anymore. More like I don't even want to, because I'm not a child anymore. Sure I'm under the age of eighteen which "technically still totally qualifies as a child" but frick that. I'll have so much trouble adjusting into adulthood the longer I see myself as a child.