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I always felt like a toddler playing dress up! | Source: Shutterstock
At first, we were both super confused, but then we understood: This nutso woman actually thought my sister was my mother! Yes, my sister did look older than she really was–at that point, she was one of the tallest in her class, and she had developed early, too–but I also looked way younger than nine. In fact, with my insanely short stature, round cheeks, and a lingering cushion of baby fat, I seriously looked like a baby.
Growing up looking younger than I really was wasn’t very fun. I’d go out to eat with friends and they’d offer me–only me–the kids’ menu. It was even worse when I’d go on a date with a guy and get offered the kiddie options. Oy! Or my friends would want to sneak into a rated-R movie, and know they couldn’t invite me along, because I’d blow their already precarious cover just by looking as young as I did. I hated it and wanted desperately to look older.
I teetered in platform shoes. I got “sophisticated” wire-rim glasses. I started painting on dark lipstick–and yet, nothing ever worked. The more I tried and tried to look older, the stupider and littler I felt.
My mom would tell me that “one day” I’d be thrilled to look younger than my real age–so I waited and waited for “one day,” but it never seemed to come. During college, cute guys would ask my friends if I was their little sister visiting for the day. Talk about sucksville.
That said, I’ve come to embrace some of the awesome things that come along with looking young. Not only can I fit into some of the cutest outfits in the kids’ section–but I can pull them off, too, since I don’t look too old for them. And, once I got over the embarrassment of being offered the kids’ menu, I realized that all the GOOD stuff is on that menu! Mac and cheese? For half the price? Oh HELL yes!
I was worried about being taken seriously when applying for jobs and stuff after college, but honestly? If you’re smart and can show that you know what you’re talking about in your field, it doesn’t matter how young you look. Yes, a few people have mistaken me for a college intern, but once they realize what I’m capable of and get to know me, they realize that these baby cheeks can be deceptive. And my mom was right. I think I’ll look AWESOME when I’m 80.
Do you look younger than your friends? Has anyone ever thought you were the little sister in the group? Tell me in the comments!
Ever Feel Like Your Sister Got All The Good Genes?!
I’m 21, and I’ll be 22 in February. Everyone always thinks I’m 16. At my college, everyone asks me if I’m a freshman if they’ve never met me before. Even the freshmen themselves. I get IDed at R movies, I get IDed when buying R movies at the store, and of course I get IDed at bars (which is fine since that’s what they’re supposed to do). But when I went to an Applebee’s one time with my little cousin (she’s 11), the waitress said, “I’m supposed to tell you about the perfect margarita or you get a free appetizer, but it doesn’t look like that’ll be happening here.” I was irritated that she was so presumptuous. It doesn’t help that people continue to act rude after you tell them your real age. “Oh, you definitely look way younger than that!” Yeah, shut up. I don’t tell you how old you look, haha.
I am 17 and i look like i am 10 only because i am 4’8.5 .My mother is 5’0 and my father is 5’6.I have a 15 year old brother who is 5’7 which he laughs about because he is taller than my mother and father and me.I also have a 13 year old sister who is 5’4 and i would love it if she grew taller than our brother.I used to always be shorter than my grandmother and i have noticed that she is my height so i think it is true that we shrink has we get older.Most of my cousins are taller than me except Jade who is 16 and 5’0 and Lucy who is 18 and 4’11.I think that it is okay looking younger IF we were older than we are.But i dont think so at this time.
I love older guys, and I can never find one who wants to date me without asking me over and over if im really 12! I just turned 20, but I just found a date who is 48 and loves my baby face!
My best friend and I are both relatively short and just in general very petite. However, we both have pretty mature looking faces and are just generally very mature for our age. I’m 18 and she’s 17. We were at a beach the other day and got asked by a lifeguard if we were in high school yet. Talk about embarrassing.
I’m 13, but look like I’m ten. I’m 5’2, relatively small, and flat everywhere. All through 7th grade people mistaked me as a 6th grader, until I told them. It really sucks when I’m at the mall and I’m eyeing up guys who are around my age and I realize I look like a fourth grader.
I’m 13 but it looks like I’m 9! I don’t have friends because they don’t take me seriously, and that sucks
Me too. I always get ID checked for everything. I’m 18 and regularly get checked when buying 15 rated DVDs, people always look really embarassed when they realise, one lady turned round to me after and said, I’m really sorry dear but you just have such a baby face. Although I still get away with child priced things such as bus tickets and entrance fees on days out, which is a perk I guess.
i javelin always looked younger my whole life. one time that sticks out in my mind was when i was going into 4th grade and my teacher told me “im sorry sweety but this is 4th grade not 1st grade” plus another time i was going to a pg13 movie for my 13th birthday with one of my friends ( no parents) and the ticket lady wouldn’t let me buy my ticket until my mom should up and told her i was 13 it sucked!
Man, is this the story of my life! I’m 17 but people mistaken me for 14! Even my own family members who I’ve known all my life think I’m younger than I am…
I’ll be sixteen in two months and I still get told often that I look twelve. One person laughed when I told them that. Most people just stare at me like “what.” or they just don’t believe me.
My cousin is 24 and shes a doctor and every time a new patient comes in they ask her how old she is because she look like a 12 year old. But she also has a really small foot siza and shes really short but i tell her thats good because then you can fit in the kids shoes sizes which look good still but are like half the price of adults sizes
I just turned 22 but people still ask me if I’m 15-16, i don’t know why but I’ve alway looked younger -even tough I’m taller than my friends, even when they wear heels and I wear flats I’m taller- I didn’t like it al first but now that I have an id to prove my age I think it’s pretty cool
and in my job everyone takes me really seriously! how? I just showed my worth I guess. The only time I tried looking older was when I was about 13 and my cousins got me into a night club but I didn’t feel confortable at all with the make up and everything – even stuffed my bra :/
I know exactly how it feels, though my case isnt really THAT serious.
I’m 15, but most people, friends or relatives always think that I’m only 12. I’m shorter than most people at my age and I just don’t spend as much time looking at myself in the mirrors applying different make ups and stuff. But that doesnt really mean that I’m only twelve right?
Anyways I don’t really mind after all cus seriously, looking older doesnt mean you get more than girls that look younger right?
It’s not that great the other way around. I’m 13 and people are constantly asking me if I’m in high school and even college. When I was ten and my mom would tell people I was a child and I needed a child price they would give her this incredulous look and sometimes even asked for proof. First one to have boobs sucked. And while being hit on by older guys while I’m around my friends may be funny at first, but then it starts to get creepy when they offer drinks. As in alchoholic drinks. Just be happy u look ur age.
yeah i know what you guys mean. i’m 17 and peope also mistakely for a 12 year old. sure being told that you’re cute is kinda nice i guess but after a while it gets old and you wanna be seen as older, you know, your actual age. but this has been happening to me since forever so i guess im kinda used to it now.
I’m 15 and going into Sophomore year. I hangout with alot of Freshmen and 8th graders and I often get mistaken for being 12-13 and being in their grade, which annoys me because most of the guys in my grade think i look too little . When I tell people I’m 15, no one believers me which tends to irk me quite often. I just wish I looked my age for once?
Yeah, people are always telling me I look younger than I actually am. I’m 17, but people tell me I look 12-13 years old, and it really annoys me. For example, I just graduated and naturally I went to prom. When I went to get my nails done the day before, the lady there said I looked like I was 12. I get really offended by it, honestly. And, what annoys me more is the fact that people say my 15-year old sister looks like she’s 18. I don’t know if it’s ’cause she wears makeup and I don’t, or because she’s taller, or what. But it’s just super annoying ’cause I feel like people don’t really realize that I’m the older one. :/
I’ve always got mistaken for being older. I’m 18 but this boy at work thought I was 28. Boys are bad with age anyway….
I think we all need to see a picture of you to see if you’re telling the truth
I have always had this problem and it still drives me nuts – although less so than when I was say in high school. The worst was when I had just turned 21 and bought my first beer (legally anyway) I was at a baseball game and walked down to my seat proudly with beer in hand. The security guard leans over to my mom and goes, “Is she even old enough to drive?!” – Really dude? i get i look young, but at 21 being mistaken for 15 was harsh. But such is life for the round-faced, fresh-skinned types LOL!