7 Things We Need to Stop Saying to Women Over 40

The best part about getting older is all the skills and confidence you’ve picked up along the way. Think about it—you’ve gotyour personal styledown pat, you knowhow to calculate your net worthand your home is filled with items thatspark joy. And hey, you’re just getting started. Because haven’t you heard? Forty is the new 20. Except—groan—please don’t say that. This, and six other phrases that people really, truly need to stop saying to women over 40.

The sentiment behind this phrase is a good one (i.e., you still have a lot of living left to do!), but who the hell would want to go back to their 20s? Sure, there were some fun times but for the most part, your 20s were a blur of insecurity, comparisons to everyone around you, paying your dues, late nights and drinking too much. No, thank you. Forty is the new 40 and thank god for that. If you need us, we’ll be sitting onthe sofa(Pottery Barn, of course) with a glass of Pinot and in bed by 10 p.m.

Equally annoying: “You’re so strong/fast/energetic…for your age.” Come on, hasJ.Lotaught us nothing? Beauty, power and drive have nothing to do with age. If anything, now that you finally knowhow to compliment your coloringandpick the right foundation,你从来没有更好看。南瓜nar吧rative that youth equates with beauty and embrace the fact that getting older is pretty damn sexy.

This one is so offensive and cringe-worthy that we almost don’t even want to bring it up. Do we call men who date younger people the name of a ferocious feline species? No, we do not. Besides, whywouldn’ta younger person want to date an older woman? She’s confident, she’s authentic and—importantly—she knows her way around the bedroom.

Trust us, any woman over the age of 40 who is considering pregnancy knows this already. Oh, and she has a doctor. So unless you have an M.D. after your name, you can just zip it.

If your 20s were all about making mistakes and your 30s were all about finding your groove, your 40s are about not giving a f*ck about what anyone else thinks. Meaning, you should absolutely rock that mini skirt, sequin top or ripped denim if you want to

SheknowswhatTikTokis, OK? Sure, you may have to explain whatBeRealis or what “drip” means, but remember that you too will one day be over 40 and have to ask someone to demystify the latest social media trend or slang term. So cut the patronizing and be nice.

Excuse you?Have you ever had someone chalk up your behavior to PMS? Did you like it? We think not.