It started at her 2 year well-check. The Doc, after looking at her measurements for height and weight gave us her projected adult height… probably around 5’3- 5’4. When Doc left the room, the hubby looked at me with a pout, almost in tears, and said: “I want her to be tall.”
I looked at him for a moment, then slowly extended my hand and introduced myself: “Hi, I’m your wife; the woman you married; the woman you chose to contribute 50% of the genetic material for your children.”
This is a good place to tell you a little something about myself: I am short. I don’t just mean “not tall”—I mean, I am tiny. On a good day I measure 5 ft. even and I weigh in at just over 100 lbs. If it weren’t for the slight curve of hip and, well, my butt, from the back I would look like a child. It is not just me; I come from short stock. My whole family is short: my mom is 5’2, I my dad is something like 5’6. Most of my 6 brothers and sisters are short. I do have one brother who is 6 ft.—an aberration of a freakish nature. We really don’t trust him because of his height and if it weren’t for the close-set eyes and missing incisor teeth that run in the family we would inquire as to a mix-up at birth.
My husband is not totally non-observant and he does call me “chiquitita”… which leads me to believe that he has noticed my non-model-esque physique. So how could he think our kids were going to be tall?
Yet, it keeps coming up. He’ll suggest we feed her more, so that she maximizes whatever genetic potential she has for height. I counter that over-feeding her may maximize her genetic potential for width as well and we’ll end up with a very short, very obese daughter—you know which may have far greater ramifications than just being smallish.
There are a lot of things I want for my children: that they find something they are passionate about; that they find true love; that they are healthy and live way longer than their parents; that they are bright and compassionate; that they take care of us in our old age since we don’t have a 401K.
To be fair, hubby wants these things for our kids too; it is not that his only wish for them is to be tall. But tall isn’t even on my list… I guess because I have always been short and have totally come to terms with it.
Of course, studies have shown that tall people are more valued in the workplace and tend to earn higher salaries… which could help us solve the retirement issue.
7 comments:
I think my mother must know just how you feel! She's 5ft, too, but married my dad who is 6'3". They are quite the contrast. When my brother was young I remember him throwing a fit and actually screaming at my mom, "you're the reason I'll never break 6 ft!" With his 5'11" height, he never did. I'm 5'4", but in China this is considered average to tall, so I've finally reached my dream.
I had to come back and leave another comment because I've just been randomly reading through your blog and, wow, we do seem to have a lot in common! Are you from Texas? You had HEB green bags in one post! I'd recognize those things anywhere! And quinoa! My favorite thing that I miss desperately in China! Plus I see there are a few mutual blogs we peruse - nienie, dooce & smitten kitchen. And of course, the whole health care issue. I've added you to my Google Reader. :)
LOL! That's great. Oh men.
Tall isn't everything, tell him to think how good she'll be at that game where you have to go under the pole ;-)
Your so witty! I hope I spelled that right. If your small it's cool to be tall and if your tall it's cool to be small. I'm glad you've come to terms with it. G will be adorable no matter how tall/short she ends up being. How did you get a 6 ft tall brother??? Weird. I ended up being the shortest person in my family by a good 5 inches. They are all pretty good sized people. I'm only glad I got the short genes because Josh wouldn't have dated me if I was taller than him. We are pretty much the exact same height. I didn't know you were that tiny! Alison is a very small person, but she always wears heels and makes up for height with personality. Oh and I really like small people, I feel more comfortable around them.
I have a little mom. My dad isn't excessively tall, either, and I turned out pretty tall-- 5'7"... so you never know! Tell her to eat her vegetables!!!
Doin' some catching up...
This made me laugh, especially when my (quiet) hubby looks accusingly at me when my daughter is hollering all over the house... but what did he expect?? I am LOUD and he's known it since day one.
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