Short people problems!

[WibblyWobblyHead]

Why oh why do almost every clothes shop put short length jeans on the top shelf/hangers? Where's the sense in that?!

What other short people problems really annoy you?

This thread is great for the cracking sense of humour.

DD is approaching 14yo & 5'1". She's not going to be chuffed if she never grows taller. Any words of wisdom to help a teenager not mourn never-achieved height?

5'2" here. My main problem is petrol stations, where I have to stand on tiptoe in order to pay for anything - why on earth are petrol station tills set so high?
Not keen on being armpit-height when standing up on public transport, either.

Ragged, apart fron the practicalities (like stools, window-opening tools) she needs sharp elbows for crowds, a calm but firm persona for people who try to patronise her, and a collection of responses to the inevitable comments on her height.
This is also why twee cutesy names are Not A Good Idea. I had years of people trying to patronise me because they thought I was "cute". If I'd had a name like Lottie-Mae or Millie-Rose it would have just been one more thing fuelling that image.

Ragged tell her to get an umbrella. My mum was 5ft 1in and used to use it as a shepherds' crook to draw me in. Not the handle. I mean an open one. She'd hook it round my head and pull me to her.

When I got taller than her she couldn't do that.

At the first spot of rain she would clamp it over her head to protect her old lady perm and then say 'Get under!'. I'd refuse because I'd have to crouch.

I also learned to ignore the cries of 'Ow! Ouch!' from people she jabbed with the spokes.

Funny you should mention an umbrella, DD already has a passion for hers.

vlad. I have the same problem at petrol stations. I once took my card out the machine too early and got shouted at by the cashier who demanded to know if it had said to remove my card. No bloody idea, it beeped but I can't see the actual screen.

Guess the counters are so high to stop them being robbed?

The last time someone stupidly decided to comment on my lack of height, I pretended to look shocked, and said "oh my god, when did that happen? I swear I was 5' 10" yesterday!"

Fluffy - that made me laugh!

I've just remembered another 'problem'...

I can't use an umbrella as I get sworn at by people as I poke their eyes out! I always have a hat now. Also, in a high wind with a golfing umbrella I'd turn into Mary Poppins

Ragged I think I was 5ft 1in at 14. I am now 5ft 4ins. Your DD might yet achieve the towering height of 5ft 5ins.

I was 4'11" at 12 and am 4'11.5" now so she shouldn't necessarily bank on growing all that much more.

Hello my people

I love being small. I too have a very very tall DH, someone once looked a our wedding photos and asked if DH was "standing on a step". I do find it wierd, when I used to stand on step stools, to think this is how DH sees the world all the time, IYSWIM.

I used to manage an office full of men (and one woman) who were all over six foot. Whenever I took staff to meet clients, if it was the first time we had met, clients would always assume the tall male person was the manager Particularly on building sites.

I used to moan about not being able to see over counters, use chip and pin machines etc, until I became a wheelchair user, then realised I didn't know I was born before! Now I really can't see/reach things and I have found people don't offer to help as much, I think it's because they don't want to be seen as patronising maybe.

The advantage of the wheelchair though, if DH is pushing, we get around at his much faster walking pace!

This is a must for Classics!

I've snorted my way through this as a 5' 1.5" (it's important the .5) woman!

Ok fellow shorters - is it me or does anyone else feel a bit scared of being up on ladders. I am not scared of heights but being on the top rung of even a 5 step ladder makes me feel wobbly and I can't wait to get my feet on the ground again.

Lilmiss, I've never been in my attic for that reason!

Im 5'4 so average, but made to feel short.
Reading this i do realise i can just about reach almost everything.
Except top back shelf of fridge, top cupboard shelf. But especially above cooker hood cupboard.
But clothes are often long when standard length, think that is the trend for trousers long onto shoes.

My DH is over six feet tall, I'm less than five feet.

I was once asked by a very strange lady how we 'managed'. I pointed out we had four children, so no problem at all 'managing'...

I tried to buy trousers yesterday and every fucking shop had tons of petite sizes and no normal length ones. 4 friggin hours to buy black trousers I am 5'9" but my legs are same length as my 6' 4" brothers! I was surprised that a dress I tried on came down to mid knee-cap.

That's because the petite ones don't fit ANYBODY!

Ragged - my DD is 16 and is 5' 1 and a bit (the bit being important because it's the bit more than me). She is also quite young looking for her age so I think she's learning to be assertive and not take shit from anyone (she used to be very shy so I'm pleased about this). Getting her some black Doc Martens recently made her look significantly bigger in a way girlie heels wouldn't have done.

And everyone can see your grey roots because they're looking down at the top of your head.

DH says I look like a mushroom if I'm under an umbrella If DH or DS want to hide something from me they just have to put it on top of the kitchen cupboards because I can't reach there without climbing on steps. We had to get rid of the washing line because our yard sloped so I would start off being able to hang the clothes comfortably and then need a stool

Clothes that are mid thigh for an average height person are knee length on me and I had to give my friend a maxi dress I bought because you could have made a decent length skirt from the fabric that I would have had to cut off.

On the subject of brollies, I absolutely hate them. Everyone, whether child or adult, seems to carry them at exactly eye-extracting height for me. (5') And I spend so much time worrying about my brolly use affecting others, that I just wear a hood.

My nan is 89 & 4ft11 - she can't close her kitchen window.

But worse is the 'clothes problem' - she's a size 16 and can't find 'petite' clothes that fit. She's also very fussy with her clothes (but then why shouldn't she be?)

My mum & I are trying to find her a wide legged petite size 16 pair of summery trousers - it seems that most 'petite' ranges are aimed at women who are 'petite' all over, not round like my nan. I'm seeing a gap in the market!

My feet not reaching the floor when I'm sat on most chairs. The bus is the worst for this, I always end up with backache when I've been on the bus.

I've not rtft yet but the ones I have read I can really identify with! I'm only 4ft 11 myself. When I was younger and less wrinkly I was always having to prove my age, was a pain especially when the person asking for ID was clearly a lot younger than me. They just looked at my height first. Agree with when I was pregnant I was as wide as I was tall!

I've recently lost a bit of weight, and the best thing about it is I can stand nearer the cupboards as my belly isn't as big and it means I can reach slightly further.