To be surprised at height difference between us ?

[ChickenDried]

Last night I showed our DC a pic of me and their dad when we were both 13 - we've known each other a long time - and back then - we both look the same height - I'd say we're both around 5ft 1 - 5 ft 2.

Since then the height differential between us has been massive - at 14 my DP was around 5ft 9 I would say - his final adult height is 5 ft 11. Me? I'm still 5ft 1! So I've not changed since we were 13 - but he's gone - well massive !! AIBU to be surprised at how we were once similar, now massively different ?

You can't control these things but puberty and growth happening so quickly, starting periods all in a year when DD2 was 11 was much harder for her than DD1 growing gradually and starting periods at 13. DD1 had more time to grow into herself, whereas DD2 went from a child to looking like a young woman overnight and was not ready for that at all.

Yes I suspected the ‘interesting genetic fact’ was incorrect.

i imagine it’s rare, but not impossible as the op said.

My DD was the same, at 15 she was wearing bralets rather than a bra as she was so flat chested. Trying to find a prom dress wasn’t great as lots of the dresses had built in cups that she in no way could fill. Periods were 14/15 but I just used to tell her not to complain or worry about it because once you start that’s it for the next 40+ years and they’re not great so make the most of not having them.

Is this about your H’s distinctly average height or how itty bitty you are?

I wouldn't be surprised. I have a 17yo dd and a nearly 15yo ds. Both were always similarly really pretty small for their age as younger children. Dd stopped at about 14/15 at 5 foot 4.5. Ds is now growing really fast since last year, is already 5ft 5 and I think he's going to tower over all of us (I'm 5'6" and dh is 5'8"). A lot of his peers have been much taller than him for ages, but he's catching up.

I hope you are feeling suitably patronised, OP

Lol it's just about the fact that we were both 13 in a school pic and exactly the same height - maybe he's an inch taller at most - now there is a big differential but I'd say both our heights are within the distinctly average range actually- both under 6ft - both under 5ft. When my DH was 12 though he looked about 6 - small and scrawny and very cute. Now neither of us are 'very cute'

Sorry meant to say both over 5ft but under 6ft so we're both distinctly average really !!

Very patronised - all that's missing now is the tinkly laugh and head tilts

Can I do both?

Though I am not great a the tinkly laugh. To a deep a voice. But I will give it a go, just for you 😉

Not true!!

my fil is 5’8. My sil is 6’1

@Donnashair - thank you - both of these are an MN special !!

Why is everyone being so mean to the OP? It's obviously a light-hearted observation.

This place sometimes is ridiculous.

OP, my DS is now taller than me and he is 13, I think my DD will be too, my Mum is shrinking.

Women stop growing in early teens

Men keep going until they are about 20

What's your point?

He was so cute at 13 !!

Here it goes

Oh bless you Op didn’t you know this. [said with a mid-range tinkly laugh and a spaniel head tilt]

I know there will be exceptions but it's fairly easy to look at a child you know well and have a fairly accurate guess at their eventual height.

It was pretty obvious at quite a young age that our youngest would be shorter than our eldest (same sex). She is by about 2 to 3 inches.

The same with grandchildren. They are in junior school now and I can say with reasonable confidence that they will be on the short side. Both their parents are relatively tall, (6ft and 5ft 6). Both grandfather's are fairly short (about 5ft 8). They definitely take after one of the grandfather's .

Girls can indeed grow taller than their Dads. Two of my nieces are taller than my BIL. BIL is about 5ft 9, the girls are both nearly 6ft. Their mother is very tall.

Women stop growing in early teens

not according to the marks on my door frame

Wow, reading this in 2025 feels like a little time capsule! It’s funny how growth spurts can completely change height dynamics in just a year or two. A lot of guys shoot up around 14–16, while many girls have already reached near-adult height by then.

Here is side by side difference