# Adults! Do you know how old your (living) parents are? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 7, 2011, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-do-you-know-how-old-your-living-parents-are/605326 "2011-12-07T00:42:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-do-you-know-how-old-your-living-parents-are/605326/41 "2011-12-07T17:46:54Z")
When I was a kid I used to ask my Mum how old she was and she’d always reply “Ninety Nine”. Consequently I have no idea how old she is. However, I am aware that she is 18 months younger than my Dad and, as if luck would have it I found out I was diabetic the day after my Dad’s fiftieth and I am pretty damn sure I remember that day. So I don’t have instant recall, but I can work it out. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-do-you-know-how-old-your-living-parents-are/605326/42 "2011-12-07T19:02:37Z")
Related anecdote: When I was growing up I remember it came up a couple of times that I was talking to my father’s-side grandmother about age and she couldn’t remember how old she was and had to use the year she was born and do the math to figure it out. I was stunned. How on EARTH could you not know YOUR OWN AGE?! Then I hit my 30s and it happened to me! I’m 39 now, which means I’m in “next year I’ll be 40! Holy shit!” mode, so I remember it quite easily, but over the past decade I’ve had a number of times when I’ve been like "wait, am I 36 or 37? and had to do the math. I can’t decide if it’s embarrassing or depressing. Or both. But at least my grandmother is vindicated. Too bad she died when I was 16 so I never got to tell her sorry for thinking that was weird. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-do-you-know-how-old-your-living-parents-are/605326/43 "2011-12-07T21:27:39Z")
Wow, I must be a bad son. I can only estimate my parents’ age to within a couple of years. I thought that was normal! :smack: Maybe I just have bad memory, yeah, that’s it… ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-do-you-know-how-old-your-living-parents-are/605326/44 "2011-12-07T21:33:04Z")
> [@OpalCat](#): > > Related anecdote: > When I was growing up I remember it came up a couple of times that I was talking to my father’s-side grandmother about age and she couldn’t remember how old she was and had to use the year she was born and do the math to figure it out. I was stunned. How on EARTH could you not know YOUR OWN AGE?! > > Then I hit my 30s and it happened to me! I’m 39 now, which means I’m in “next year I’ll be 40! Holy shit!” mode, so I remember it quite easily, but over the past decade I’ve had a number of times when I’ve been like "wait, am I 36 or 37? and had to do the math. I can’t decide if it’s embarrassing or depressing. Or both. > > But at least my grandmother is vindicated. Too bad she died when I was 16 so I never got to tell her sorry for thinking that was weird. This has been my experience, too. I know exactly how old mom and dad are but can definitely understand more why sometimes they don’t. Maybe they say that you should never ask a lady her age because they want to spare her the embarrassment of not remembering. ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-do-you-know-how-old-your-living-parents-are/605326/45 "2011-12-07T21:49:49Z")
I know their birth years but I don’t always remember by their age; I figure it out when asked. ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-do-you-know-how-old-your-living-parents-are/605326/46 "2011-12-07T22:13:38Z")
Both of my parents are dead now, but I always knew their ages. They were born the same year, but in different months. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Il\_Palazzo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Lord\_Il\_Palazzo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Il_Palazzo)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-do-you-know-how-old-your-living-parents-are/605326/47 "2011-12-07T22:16:10Z")
I only have one living parent to keep track of, but definitely know the ages of both parents off the top of my head. I’ll grant that my father’s is easy as he just had a big 60th birthday party last year, but even so, I would know his age without that particular reminder. ---
**Author:** ![maggenpye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@maggenpye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maggenpye)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-do-you-know-how-old-your-living-parents-are/605326/48 "2011-12-08T00:02:59Z")
Both parents are keen on celerating birthdays, so it’s easy for me to keep track - sometimes I have to work out my own age by knowing mum’s and subtracting 21. It’s been even more obvious lately because Mum keeps mentioning that no one thought the marriage between a 17 & 19 year-old would last and they’re having their golden anniversary next week. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-do-you-know-how-old-your-living-parents-are/605326/49 "2011-12-08T00:16:19Z")
I know exactly how old my mother is (my father, unfortunately, is no longer with us). But what’s with that “eel” selection? Is that joke a reference to some movie I’ve never seen? Or just a totally random silly selection? ---
**Author:** ![missinformation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d07c76/32.png) [@missinformation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missinformation)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-do-you-know-how-old-your-living-parents-are/605326/50 "2011-12-08T00:44:26Z")
Biological father (now worm fodder) 83 Stepmother (also deceased) 80 Stepfather (living) 74 Mother (living) 68) Half sister (living) 61 Half brother (living) 62 Myself 41 Eldest niece 42 Second oldest niece 31 Third niece 30 Nephew 25 Oldest great niece 14 (born 6 years after the day I was supposed to die) Second great niece 13 (just turned yesterday) Great nephew 3 Not sure about the other great niece and great nephew, don’t keep in touch with third niece. Ex husband just turned 40 his mother is 61 his father is 63 ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-do-you-know-how-old-your-living-parents-are/605326/51 "2011-12-08T01:42:07Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Who doesn’t know this right off the bat? People who are bad at math. I know both of their exact birthdates, but this doesn’t translate into knowing instantly how many years it’s been since they were born. Does it seem less shocking if I mention I have time-duration calculators favorited at work to figure out when, say 25 days prior to an event is so I send out invites on time? That sort of math escapes me entirely. ---
**Author:** ![Hilary\_Algar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilary_algar/32/4282_2.png) [@Hilary\_Algar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilary_Algar)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-do-you-know-how-old-your-living-parents-are/605326/52 "2011-12-08T01:54:28Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > I voted yes. I’m assuming it counts if I know their birthdates and birthyears and can calculate? Same here–I have their birthdates memorised and subtract. So much easier than having to increment their ages every year. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-do-you-know-how-old-your-living-parents-are/605326/53 "2011-12-08T01:54:56Z")
I voted Yes, because I know their birth years, and I know what year it is, and I can do the subtraction in my head. I have to calculate it, though, I don’t have it at the top of my head. But I’ve been in that position for my _own_ age (mid 40s) for many years now. ---
**Author:** ![Hilary\_Algar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilary_algar/32/4282_2.png) [@Hilary\_Algar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilary_Algar)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-do-you-know-how-old-your-living-parents-are/605326/54 "2011-12-08T02:05:48Z")
We made a very big deal of my parents 65th and 70th birthdays–flying folks around the world, paying for hotel rooms, catered affairs, the whole nine yards. At my dad’s 70th, my nephew even made a DVD slide show of my parents, us kids and their 14 grandchildren using photographs from when my parents were born until current with period-correct background music and family member’s stories about my mom and dad. The “short” version runs about 30 minutes. The full version is two and a half hours. I scanned most of those 900 photos myself (breaks arm patting self on the back.) :smack: We also made a big deal of their 50th wedding anniversary. ---
**Author:** ![Mewl\_Dear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Mewl\_Dear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mewl_Dear)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-do-you-know-how-old-your-living-parents-are/605326/55 "2011-12-08T02:18:33Z")
You forgot option z. I am an idiot who likes responding to poles. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-do-you-know-how-old-your-living-parents-are/605326/56 "2011-12-08T02:49:41Z")
My mom turned 61 on November 7. My father turned 55 on March 6 (be impressed - I dislike my father, had nothing to do with him while growing up and haven’t seen him in about 10 years but I always remember when his birthday is - that’s more than I can say for him about MY birthday). ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-do-you-know-how-old-your-living-parents-are/605326/57 "2011-12-08T03:00:55Z")
My mother is 63, and my dad turns 65 tomorrow. I also know the birthdate of my sister, but I only have a general idea of how old my grandparents would be; I know the birthdays of three of my grandparents. I also know the birthdates of some of my favorite famous people: Bob Barker 12/12/23; Dan Rather 10/31/31 (Halloween); Erik Estrada 3/16/49; and Kesha 3/1/87. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-do-you-know-how-old-your-living-parents-are/605326/58 "2011-12-08T03:39:20Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > I know exactly how old my mother is (my father, unfortunately, is no longer with us). > > But what’s with that “eel” selection? Is that joke a reference to some movie I’ve never seen? Or just a totally random silly selection? Just random! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-do-you-know-how-old-your-living-parents-are/605326/59 "2011-12-08T04:01:29Z")
61 and 53 for my father and mother respectively. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-do-you-know-how-old-your-living-parents-are/605326/60 "2011-12-08T04:14:08Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > 61 and 53 for my father and mother respectively. Wow, your parents are almost the same ages as mine. My mom’s a year older, though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-do-you-know-how-old-your-living-parents-are/605326.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-do-you-know-how-old-your-living-parents-are/605326.md?page=4)