Woman Starts Morphing Into Her Mum By Chiming Into Strangers’ Conversation

TRACEY BENDINGER | Society | Contact

They say death and taxes are the only things certain in life, but there is a third inevitability and it’s something Mary Whittaker has just started experiencing: turning into your parents.

While waiting in line at Betoota Domestic Airport, Whittaker overheard a couple next to her discussing the plot of a TV show, one that she too was a fan of. Then, before she knew what was happening, Whittaker had turned and chimed into the conversation between these two complete strangers.

It’s believed Whittaker caught herself mid sentence, but it was already too late. She’d inserted herself into their conversation and unwittingly signed herself up for a rapport with this couple for the remainder of their journey together.

35-year-old Whittaker has started what experts are calling ‘Parentescents’, the slow transition all children make where they turn into their parents. What starts as chiming in on a conversation turns into packing for a holiday a month early, and even telling a waiter what you really think when they ask “how was the meal?” The Advocate understands it can happen as early as 25, however mid-late 30s is more common.

With 4-hours left in their journey together, Whittaker and her new friends The Kellys have a lot of ground to cover, which might not be too hard considering they’ve just discovered they share a second cousin.

More to come.