I spoke to these four mums who look young enough to be their daughters' sisters for Take a Break magazine! Now if only they would tell me what their secret is! Do you and your mum / daughter look alike? #sellmystory #likemotherlikedaughter
Here they tell all...
MUM:
My daughter Kailey and I can’t seem to go anywhere without someone thinking we are sisters. I have to admit, I love it. I don’t know any mother who wouldn’t!
When we went on holiday to Cyprus, Kailey shouted me from across a gift shop. As she did, the shop assistant looked confused and came over to ask me if she had really just called me ‘Mum’. I told her she’d heard right and the rest of the staff came over to look at me in amazement - asking me my secret to looking so youthful.
When Kailey and I go clubbing together, if she shouts ‘Mum’ across the dance floor, I ignore her then jokingly say: ‘If you want to go clubbing with me, call me Natasha.’ That said, if a guy tries to chat Kailey up, I have no problem reverting back to my maternal role – then I’m the mum from hell!
Natasha Clarke, 36, Summertown, Oxford
DAUGHTER:
Mum and I have been mistaken for sisters for as long as I can remember. It’s something I’ve grown up with and I’m used to Mum always being the one given compliments.
At parents’ evenings, the teachers have always been surprised that the woman with me is my mother! And since I’ve got older and we look closer in age, it’s happening even more.
I enjoy going out with Mum and her friends because they are all quite fun to be around. But there also places I would never let Mum join me!
Despite her being able to joke with us, Mum can also be strict at times. So even if we look like sisters, I would never be able to forget that I’m the daughter in our relationship. I’m sure we’ll be getting the same surprised looks and comments for years to come.
Kailey Clarke, 19, Summertown, Oxford
MUM:
As soon as my daughter Harlie grew into a beautiful teenager, we began to get comments on how alike we were. We have similar mannerisms, we’re both tall, and now we have the same long blonde hair. I am certainly flattered when people mistake me for her sister.
Harlie likes the comment we get, but it was a different story when she was a teenager. When people used to ask if I was her sister, she would roll her eyes and act all stroppy. Thankfully that’s changed now, because we get it all the time!
I might look like Harlie’s sister, but I can’t always keep up with her. One night we went out together and after a few hours she begged me to stay out with her, her boyfriend and their mates. I had to tell her that I couldn’t keep partying through the night – I was exhausted and all I wanted was to be tucked up in bed!
Neither me or Harlie has a sister, so perhaps that’s what makes out relationship so special. I just hope people still think we’re sisters in years to come!
Stacie Levison, 47, Shenley, Hertfordshire
DAUGHTER:
I used to get embarrassed when people thought Mum was my sister, but not anymore.
We go to the same nail salon and for months, the women that worked there assumed we were sisters. Every time I called her ‘Mum’, they laughed, thinking I was joking.
Another time, we were on a night out when a group of guys approached us. We were chatting for ages when it came up that we were mum and daughter. The men refused to believe it until I showed them some family and baby photos. Then one of them had the cheek to ask Mum for her number, so I said: ‘I’ll pass that onto my dad.’
The look on his face was priceless!’
Mum says being called my sister is a compliment for her but an insult for me, but she’s wrong. I’m honoured because she looks incredible.
Harlie Levison, 23, Shenley, Hertfordshire
MUM:
On nights out, at hair appointments, even out shopping; my daughter Kristal and I are constantly mistaken for sisters. And not just sisters, but twins.
When I took Olivia to a university careers talk, a spokesperson asked us both which courses we were thinking of applying for. Through my laughing, I explained that I wasn’t Olivia’s sister, but her mum! Unbelievably, the spokesperson thought we were twins.
Another time, I went wedding dress shopping and Olivia - my maid of honour – came with me. The owner of the shop assumed we were sisters and when I told her that Olivia was her daughter, she was gobsmacked. At the end of my appointment I was torn between two dresses, so Olivia put one on alongside the one I was wearing so I could compare them and picture how I'd look in them both. So our likeness has proved useful at times!
Kristal Napodano, 37, Wootton, Northampton
DAUGHTER:
If my relationship to Mum ever comes up in conversation, we are met with confused faces. It’s quite funny watching them try to accept that she isn’t my sister or twin.
One time, Mum had to prove she wasn’t underage when buying a bottle of wine. But when I bought some vodka, I wasn’t even questioned! Mum didn’t let that one go for a long time, and I let her enjoy the glory!
Mum thinks I hate being called her sister because I’m always rolling my eyes, but I actually don’t mind. She’s such good fun that I really like going out with her. She can keep up with me and my mates drinking – just about! And they all think she’s very cool.
When we’re out clubbing I would much rather people assume she’s my sister than my Mum anyway!
Olivia Nelson, 19, Wootton, Northampton
MUM:
My daughter Ally and I are both outgoing and sociable, and it’s not just our personalities that are similar, but our looks too.
A waiter once handed Ally the bill instead of me, thinking she was the eldest of us both - even though I’m more than double her age!
And when we’ve gone for dinner with my husband James, people have asked him where his wife is, thinking he is dining with a couple of young sisters!
Ally and I are very close. She borrows my clothes, make-up and jewellery, and she tells me her friends enjoy spending time with me too. We even have a joint blog together - being a matrimonial consultant and relationship expert, we teamed up to offer contrasting relationship advice. Now we are the go-to people when our friends of all ages have issues with their life and relationships. We may look alike, but we often have quite different opinions!
Sheela Mackintosh-Stewart, 48, Buckinghamshire
DAUGHTER:
Mum and I have such a laugh together about being mistaken for sisters. It’s something we are quite used to in the family - my grandma looks fantastic, and she and my mum are often thought to be sisters too!
I like to tease Mum about it and jokingly introduce her to people as ‘grandma’, just to see the looks on their faces! They don’t believe she’s my grandmother, but they can’t believe she’s my mother either!
Although we look like sisters, I definitely still her as my mum and I would never do anything to cross that boundary. I respect her enormously for her views and advice and for more or less single-handedly raising my me and my sister Elisabeth.
Mum is also excellent at listening, and all of my friends tell her things they don’t even tell their own mums!
I am delighted to have such a youthful looking mum, and I am hoping to have the same ‘problem’ with my own kids when I reach her age. The only downside is, if we are being mistaken for sisters does that mean I look old?
Alexandra Mackintosh, 21, Buckinghamshire