A childhood belief about getting older

when i was four years old, i asked my mum how old she was. she said '21', as lying about one's age was common among women in those days (and, of course, still is!). When, two years later, her birthday arrived, I sent her a card saying 'happy 23rd birthday, mummy!'. She was 44. i guess when you are a small child one adult looks very much like another - whether they are 16 or 61!