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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder why so many parents describe their children as....

124 replies

ILoatheMickeyMouseClubhouse · 09/09/2011 14:16

Being "tall and skinny" and "very bright". This seems to be commonplace on any internet forum threads about either childrens' clothing or childrens' abilities. Everyone will claim to have tall skinny children or very bright children.

Surely there must be some children that aren't those things? Hmm

OP posts:
AMumInScotland · 09/09/2011 14:36

IME the posts about "tall and skinny" DC are usually on threads about trying desperately to find any clothes to fit. Specially school uniforms, and jeans.

People with average sized DC don't have a problem buying clothes for them. DC who are wider than average for their height can wear their skirts a bit long or have trousers taken up with a quick bit of WundaWeb.

Similarly, parents raraely post about their DC being average at school - they post because there seems to be an issue, either because they are "bright", or because they are having problems and wonder whether to pursue some kind of diagnosis.

givemushypeasachance · 09/09/2011 14:37

Bright can mean "quick witted and intelligent" or "clever and witty" - but I prefer to imagine that posters are referring to the more literal "radiating or reflecting light", and that they all have children that glow in the dark...

Laquitar · 09/09/2011 14:38

I' ve noticed that many with girls say 'my dd is VERY active, tomboy, bossy, doesn't like pink'. Mind you my dd1 is a bit like this but my dd2 is not.

Ormirian · 09/09/2011 14:38

My children were tall and skinny. DS2 still is. DS1 and DD are tall and a little more rounded now. And only DD could remotely be called 'very bright'.

i think you are looking in the wrong places Wink

LeQueen · 09/09/2011 14:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Peachy · 09/09/2011 14:39

Mine are short and skinny (ds3 is less skinny to be honest and less short- average!)

They're bright.

Not true.

ds1 is academically bright. But no common or empathy at all. DS2 isn;t very bright really but he's lovely. ds3 is bright about DS's and computers and yugi-oh and zero else, ds4 we will see.

See?

far easier to type they are X and Y and be done, no? Wink

Pagwatch · 09/09/2011 14:39

Grin at day glo children

Peachy · 09/09/2011 14:40

Orm your DD is bright and beautiful.

Well she was when I last saw her 7 years ago anyway LOL.

Inertia · 09/09/2011 14:41

Maybe it's because it's a struggle to get clothes to fit children who are not the "standard" size and shape, and people are sharing / seeking information about well fitting clothes? One of my DCs is quite tall and slim, so it can be handy to know which waistbands can be adequately adjusted. I don't ever need to ask about clothes to fit my other DD as she is more evenly proportioned, so well-fitting clothes are easier to get. For the record, she's not really skinny - more sturdy.

Ormirian · 09/09/2011 14:41

Thanks peachy!

She is totally wonderful in every way but she is a little on the chubby side now. I blame puberty!

Peachy · 09/09/2011 14:41

'Bright can mean "quick witted and intelligent" or "clever and witty" - but I prefer to imagine that posters are referring to the more literal "radiating or reflecting light", and that they all have children that glow in the dark...

Well in thatc ase mine have a LIghting Designer for a father so are bound to be bright arne't they? Especially what with carnival season approaching when I will get to chain them up every Saturday for several hours to a float emitting I am told 800 KVA (KVA? MW? can't remember) of power.

Peachy · 09/09/2011 14:43

Ah puberty does that to many girls, if she's active it will come off, usually the key and you're active.

wordfactory · 09/09/2011 14:45

Mine are small and skinny. DD in particular gets very upset because she still has to wear children's clothes because any size sixes etc drown her.
Fortunately DS doesn't give a stuff what shit he wears.

As for being bright...well they both are, or so it seems. I suppose it would be more accurate to describe DS as way above average intelligence, and DD as above avergae. But that seems a little pedantic.

Original poster
ILoatheMickeyMouseClubhouse · 09/09/2011 14:45

I am laughing about the amount of posters indignantly protesting "but my child really is tall and thin/bright". It's refreshing however to read honesty/obectivety from some of you on here regarding your children

OP posts:
stripeywoollenhat · 09/09/2011 14:45

dd is on the 3rd centile for height - i'd say that makes her short. she seems perfectly bright to me, but she's only 2.8, so who knows how that'll go.

she is the best kid i've ever met though Grin

LaWeasel · 09/09/2011 14:45

DD has a long body with short legs and arms. Given by the expected leg size of boots she has unusually small feet for the rotoundness of her calf. Wink

Obviously at 2.5 I am well positioned to tell you she is a genius. She's watching Gnomeo Romeo and Juliet right now, getting a head start on her GCSE texts.

bigTillyMint · 09/09/2011 14:45

I totally agree - especially the "gifted" description - sure, some kids are gifted, but it seems like nearly everyone on MN has gifted DC.

So if you had to describe your DC in three words, what would you say?

DD is bright, bubbly and fit
DS is competitive, sporty and assertive

Grin
misdee · 09/09/2011 14:46

One of mine is short, broad and can't spell to save her life.

But she is an amazing artist and an excellant gymmnast.

One of my others is tall and skinny. 9yrs old,n wearing stuff for 12+, has the grace of an elephant. But is def smarter than a 10yr old ;)

Goodynuff · 09/09/2011 14:47

DD (14) is 6 foot tall, and 120 lbs, so she is tall and skinny.
She is very empathetic and well behaved, but an average student who will always find the way to do the least amount of work Grin

DS (12) is 5' 9" and 104 lbs, so he is tall and skinny.
He has AS, is brilliant, and wants to be a neurologist. He can also drive a person crazy very quickly, because he will monologue about super heros for hours and hours, and talks about them like they are real. Grin

They are my darlings, I am proud of them, but they (like every other child I have met) have their foibles

wordfactory · 09/09/2011 14:47

I think when folk on MN describe their DC as giften they often mean they're on the G&T reg. Which isn't gifted in the sense of the word that most of us recognise.

Ormirian · 09/09/2011 14:47

DS1 is exceptionally gifted at clearing the room with his farts. He and the dog are a lethal combination.

TheControversialJessie · 09/09/2011 14:48

Mine are short and slight, I think. Like little elves.

How's that?

Peachy · 09/09/2011 14:50

DS1 competitive, assured, unforgiving

DS2 loving, funny, stresshead

DS3 loving, generous, bouncy (literally, getting him a trampet for his bedrrom, he's been through 2 beds this week!)

DS4 panicky, quiet, angelic

Peachy · 09/09/2011 14:51

Goody LOL at superheroes

3 of mine are on the spectrum, and ds2 possibly ADHD. Currently it's yugi-oh. I hate yugi-oh. We refer to them as yugi-no but still they go on and on.... like a bloody assault weapon!

Goodynuff · 09/09/2011 14:54

Peachy....at least the Thomas stage finally ended!
I swear, for 6 years that was all I heard Grin
Yugi-oh can't be much better, poor you Grin