Anxiety over looking so young...,

I know people will think it is not an issue and that I should be happy I look so young but it is ruining my life. I am 29 soon and people still put me as 16-18, never more then 20 years old. I have a young face, flatchested, quite small in height and very slim so I guess that doesn't help. I work in childcare supervising my own daycare and most of the parents still assume I am a teenager which I find weird given my role but I guess people don't think.
My first question is, should I go and see a doctor? I worry that I am underdeveloped and that it isn't right to still look so young at nearly 30.
My second question would be, what would you think of a woman who was almost 30 but looked 16? Would you assume there was a problem?
I guess I feel people only like me as they think I am a very young girl. People mother me and speak to me like I am a child. The absolute shouts of amazement when people find out my age is so humilating so is being asked if my 16 year old sister is my twin. I am worried now my 29th birthday is approaching as if people find out wt work they will go on about it for ages and each year that passes makes me feel even more of a freak for looking so young.

I'm in a profession where it is definitely better to look older and more seasoned and it was a challenge when I was starting out. I compensated by dressing very professionally. Not a perfect fix, but it helped.

EJ

My problem is I have to wear a uniform and wear hair up which really doesn't help.

My long lost twin.......I found you

Im five foot and young looking too. When I was on my way to Germany to be with my husband the agent asked me why I was going. I told her because that was where my husband was. She said, "Oh I thought you were 12, how old are you" At the time....23. I thought nothing of it and thought it was funny.

Im getting a few more grey hair every year, but I earned those - battles scars from a wonderful life. I have laugh lines around my eyes starting to turn up, if things weren't so funny I wouldn't have them at all. But I still look younger then I am.

Eat it up girl! Enjoy every moment. I know at times its a pain. Just remember some day it will catch up to everyone else and you will look great. Enjoy.

I feel your pain. I'm 26 but most people would place me at 15; despite being very busty, I just have a young face. It hasn't effected me professionally yet, I only work in retail right now, haven't gone out for the big jobs yet, but traveling is a pain when they triple check your documents and at the gate ask if you're old enough to fly alone. *sigh*

I just worry it isn't normal? I have never known a nearly 30 something to look 16. It does worry me.
Thanks for the replies. X

If you're truly worried then by all means get checked out. Get some blood work and make sure everything is functioning right. But I really don't think it's anything to worry about. I know lots of people that look young for their age.

Apparently it runs in our family. My mom just turned 60 but gets hit on by guys MY age all the time. Man you ought to see some of them bolt when they find out how old she really is. I'm 38 but I can't walk in a bar without being carded. And I understand that it can be kinda embarrassing. I've had bartenders yell "HOLY crap you're XX?? Man Hey how old would you guess her? Hey how about you how old do you think she is??" And they end up interrogating everyone standing near me having them guess how old I am. I just laugh it off. Age is nothing but a number.

The important thing though is that if this really does worry you then get checked out to put your mind at ease but you're probably just "blessed" with good genes.

Thank you. It helps to hear stories of people who look 20 years or so younger as it makes me feel less alone in this.

I'm 22 but I look like a teenager. Waitresses in restaurants gave me kids menus up until I was 17. I understand your pain; it's really annoying to have people think we're so much younger!

Jenni, are you physically similar to other women you are related to? If not, it might be a good idea to get checked like Raindrop said above. As for you face looking young...one of these days you will absolutely LOVE it! I was carded for alcohol until I was in my mid 30s.
When I was 29 I got a job at a place which was mostly teenagers working, and they thought I was one of them. It's not a curse, tho it may seem like it now. As someone above said, you might want to dress more professionally, and maybe an older hairstyle?

Well, my mother and auntie look a few years younger then their age, my auntie in particular is 45 but looks more like 36-37. My father as well looks about 46 when he is late fifties so perhaps it is just a family thing. I think my main worry is not so much my crazy young face (although that does concern me) but the fact I am flat chested and very boyish bodied which again makes me look a lot younger. I used to do gymnastics at elite level and so am worried it stunted my development somehow.
I am only 29 so don't want to dress like a middled aged woman or have a conservative haircut but unless I do, this will continue.

I know its a pain right now. Believe me I know. Everyone told me I will love it when Im older. Im 43 and I look in the late 30s. Its when they see my kids and look at me. That is when the questions start coming.

Omw do I know how you feeeel!

My bf as well as random strangers in bars and whatnot also like to play "guess her age".
He thinks its hilarious simply because I'm a year older than him. But its not so hilarious when I'm not wearing heels in public, because he's scared people will mistake him for a paedophile...

I eventually decided to be clever instead of annoyed at bars and clubs... started cashing in on it, easy free drinks. Haha!

I was never actually worried about being stunted though, just thought I got all the leftover genes or all the recessive ones? Idk

What I do know, is that my looks had me feeling odd and unnatural. Because everyone whom I grew up with, looks older and wider except me. I still fit into the same size clothing I did when I was 15.
I don't have a large chest nor am I any kind of voluptuous, like my family members. I'm tiiiny. Just over 5 feet tall, my small chest is even smaller after breastfeeding, and I wear the smallest size adult clothing on the market. Not only that but yes, I have an extremely young face too. I used to "joke" that I look like a prepubescant boy...

Not only do I still get funny looks and get asked for my ID all the time, (I'll be 30 this Friday) I get scathing looks when introducing my 10y.o daughter!

That's thee worst! People immediately assuming that I was pregnant at age 10.

Oh and what else is a nightmare?
Every initial Parent-Teacher meeting!

Anyway... enough about that.

I didn't resort to dressing more conservatively, or like an old lady by any means, but I did manage to find some chic dresses to add to my wardrobe (loving jeans and denim shorts doesn't help my plight) which helps me look a bit more mature.

Then last year April I did the ultimate thing to help me and for the very first time, chopped off all my lonnng girly locks and got this chic, sexy haircut, that's in no way babyish or old lady like!

I'm never growing my hair again! The difference it made is astounding, everyone (who knows I struggled with looking too young) has commented on how more mature I look, even though I still don't look my age.
At any rate, I figure its an improvement to pass for 20 instead of being mistaken for 15.

Oh joy my self-esteem has been found, and I'm loving it all the way.

FTR, I don't think you stunted your growth, yes maybe you could've had a bigger chest (many female athletes never become boobylicious) but I doubt you stunted and damaged anything.

My unsolicited advice?
Find a happy medium, a look that accentuates your femininity and sensuality without being frumpy. At the same time, try enjoying the fact that you have awesome genes and celebrate the fact that you're aging like a fine wine instead of milk!

I'm whispering this: They do make padded bras you know, and inserts too.

My life long friend is less than 5 ft tall and despite being in her mid 30's looks about 18 at a push. She carries ID every where she works hard and is successful in her career as a Reletter.

A few more business outfits and self esteem go a long way to ensure that you are taken serious by others.

hey all , i used to be bugged by this problem , but now that i am approaching 50 and look 30 i dont mind anywhere near as much !!

That's what I say! I don't hate it!

I am turning 45 in a couple of weeks and constantly people think I am 25 or younger so I know how you feel. I have just learned to live with having young looking genetics. I don't think it is a physical problem but if you are concerned then talk to your doctor.

Thanks all. I feel better knowing that some of us know others who are 30 but still look 18. I have never come across anyone else who looks as young as I do so it makes me feel a bit less alone. I can't help but feel like a freak when I look at my face and body and yes, all my bras are padded but I still look flat chested. I am barely an A.