When I was in nursing school - we were taught, very firmly, not to infantilize patients. But in the course of caregiving, it happens quite a bit. And it happens to all of us. Even the 50-year-old who called you sweetie was infantilized by her manager who referred to her as one of the girls.

Our society is a wisdom-denier. If the folks in the middle (the prime of life) place those younger and older than themselves in the sweetie category.

Great piece!