29-year-old berates her 35-year-old sister-in-law because she looks young for her age, sulks when waiter assumes she's 18-years-old: 'She told me I should wear a bib since I'm such a baby'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Senior Editor
Jun 14, 2025 8:00 PM EDT

Everyone is extremely weird about age. I'll never forget the time I was at a bar with my friends when two 21-year-olds approached us. One of them turned 21 that very day, and this was the first bar she ever went to legally. She asked me and my friends how old we were. I said, "I'm going to be 25 in 3 weeks," and she said, "You look really good for your age." This girl and I could've literally gone to high school at the same time, and she's acting like I should look like Bette Davis circa 1962. But then again, maybe I'm the one who's being weird about age because I was offended by that comment. 

The best thing to do is not to comment on someone's appearance, especially regarding aging. Even if you're saying someone looks 20 years younger than they are, it can still hurt their feelings. 

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  • Who am I kidding? Nothing will ever stop the public from commenting on your appearance, especially if you're a woman. The woman in this story is 35, but can pass for 18. This enrages her sister-in-law, who is 29 and looks 29: a perfectly acceptable way to look, but not to her.

  • 01

    AITA for distancing myself from my SIL because of her jealousy whenever people think I'm younger?

    I (35f) look very young to some people. Think junior or senior in high school or maybe like just started college young. It depends on the person. A lot of people don't bring it up unless they find out my actual age. Some will ask
    via u/Pretty_Piece_9258
  • 02
    Cheezburger Image 10517068288
    via christian ferrer

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 03
    if I have plans for college like they think I'm at that age. If I'm with my family or my ILs it can be worse because it makes people assume I'm just the youngest when I'm the oldest in my family and married into my ILs family lol.
    via u/Pretty_Piece_9258
  • 04
    My husband's middle sister Leah (29f) has become jealous when this happens in front of her and she was called out for trying to treat me like a child in response. Like when she'll say no to me using the restroom on my own if I
    via u/Pretty_Piece_9258
  • 05
    start to excuse myself or if we're out eating she'll try to cut up my food for me. When she's done this her parents and my husband have come to my defense and told her to grow up and stop acting like a jealous child.
    via u/Pretty_Piece_9258
  • 06
    The most recent incident made me distance myself from her. One of my husband's cousins graduated and we all drove out of state to attend. My ILs explained we were out for an early breakfast before graduation and the person they were talking to assumed it was my graduation. It was quickly explained it was a cousin's and not mine.
    via u/Pretty_Piece_9258
  • 07
    Cheezburger Image 10517069056
    via Steven Abraham

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 08
    Leah started sulking at the table and she was told to quit it. She said I was such an arrogant b*tch and I was taunting her. My husband told her she was being ridiculous. Then she told me I should wear a bib since I'm such a baby. My husband and I
    via u/Pretty_Piece_9258
  • 09
    BUNG
    via Lance Reis

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 10
    left the table with our kids and told the rest of his family we'd see them at the graduation ceremony. Leah got nastier later in the day and she told me I was stealing the spotlight from her cousin. Apart from the comment that morning nobody else mentioned my age or implied I was the graduate. Leah was the
    via u/Pretty_Piece_9258
  • 11
    only person talking about it. She ranted about the hundreds of dollars she spends on skincare to look better and she said I spend nothing and look like I do and it's not fair and she hates me. I had to walk away from her several times and afterward my husband and I agreed distance was for the best.
    via u/Pretty_Piece_9258
  • 12
    Leah has noticed because I didn't answer when she called me a couple of times and because I did not make her birthday shopping trip with the family. The rest of my ILs understand. She's saying I can't avoid her and it's not good for mine and my husband's kids. I
    via u/Pretty_Piece_9258
  • 13
    told her she should be glad since being around me is so awful and I hog all the spotlight. She said I'm trying to ice her out of her family by distancing myself. AITA?
    via u/Pretty_Piece_9258
  • 14
    Perimentalpause NTA. Genetics are weird things. I'm 45 and on my good days, I still get ID'd for LOTTERY tickets. I live in Canada. Legal age here is 19. They're obligated to ID up to who they think is 25. Any time I get asked, I laugh and hand my ID over and they're either embarrassed or find it funny. I have pink chubby cheeks and a youthful smile. I always look like the baby. I am usually also the oldest.
    via u/Perimentalpause
  • 15
    It's like stretchmarks. Some people will get huge, very visible stretchmarks in pregnancy, some will not. It's genes. People that think their magic potion rubbed on their face is going to trick anyone but themselves that time is indeed marching on is a moron. She's fallen into the beauty industry lies. Moisturizing is fine, but it's not an magic eraser tool. She's 29 and she's being really weird about you, someone six years her senior, looking younger.
    via u/Perimentalpause
  • 16
    Keep cutting off contact, because you know what's really bad for your kids? Listening to their aunt call their mom a big baby and insulting her every time they're out. That kind of disrespect and anger isn't something you want them around. "You're calling me a baby, but you're the one that needs to grow the f up. And until you do, we're choosing not to be around you FOR the good of ourselves and our children. Bye, Felicia."
    via u/Perimentalpause
  • 17
    Pretty_Piece_9258 OP Genetics are weird! I get it from my maternal grandma and she still deals with people going omg how do you have grown children and grandchildren and how are you a great grandma. I, too, need ID for purchases that require you to be a certain age and I've had people believe it was
    via u/Pretty_Piece_9258
  • 18
    fake because they were so sure I was younger than it showed. My kids listening to and seeing her treat me this way would be bad for them. I don't want to encourage that kind of treatment of anyone either.
    via u/Pretty_Piece_9258
  • 19
    bored_time-traveler How come people don't think she's younger? She surely does act like a baby! NTA. You're not the problem, she is! At the very least, she should just shut up about her crazy jealousy, act like an adult and be civil, for once.
    via u/bored_time-traveler
  • 20
    Pretty_Piece_9258 OP Being civil is all it would take. I get we won't be besties or even friends. But she goes straight to trying to embarrass me or lash out when all I'm doing is living my life. The fact she wouldn't drop the subject at her own cousins graduation speaks volumes.
    via u/Pretty_Piece_9258
  • 21
    Strain_Pure NTA Tell her straight that you're avoiding her because of the stress her jealousy has brought into your life, and if you want to be petty, say it's causing wrinkles and if you aren't careful in a few years you might end up looking as old as her. Jokes aside, you can't help your genetics, some people are just born very lucky when it comes to ageing.
    via u/Strain_Pure
  • 22
    backupbitches NTA. Leah is wasting her youth with this nonsense. One day she'll actually be middle aged and old and will have squandered her life being and acting miserable.
    via u/backupbitches
  • 23
    WTH_JFG NTA. There is an AH in this scenario. It is not you. But it also sounds like Leah might have more going on than just your young appearance.
    via u/WTH_JFG
  • 24
    dncrmom NTA she needs therapy
    via u/dncrmom
  • 25
    Lurker_the_Pip She's mentally ill and... Deeply spoiled by the family. I can't imagine being so shallow and cruel. You ought to block her. Your kids should never see you put up with anyone being mean to you. NTA
    via u/Lurker_the_Pip

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age teens family drama teenagers skin reddit story sister in law skincare aging in laws young people family young reddit thread Reddit cousins cousin
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