Brags about dc height/weight etc

[ProustianMadeleine]

I've never been able to understand. Why do people try to brag about their child's weight, height, shoe size?

I can maybe understand a newborn baby, "wow what a chunk, 10lb 6oz, well done you!"

But for example, BIL speaks about DNeice's height like its some sort of achievement for him! "Oh she's soooo tall for her age" "the tallest in the class" "dwarfs the other kids, even the boys!"
She's not freakishly tall as he seems to claim. She's 11 and a similar height to my 12 year old DD.
And who cares anyway? It's likely she'll average out and become one of the smaller children as she gets older because most boys will takeover in height with puberty.

We're also not a tall family in the slightest. DH, BIL and FIL are all under 5"11.

I also know someone who would brag about her 10 year old DD being in ladies size 12 clothes and having size 6 feet like she was so developed and mature.
She's now a very normal sized 15 year old.

I know we all think our children are great but I'll never understand this kind of crowing oneupmanship.

She calls herself that 🤷🏻‍♀️ she’s a beautiful, confident 17 year old. Not everyone hears things how you hear them.

I think sometimes it's just the shock, like my DD being taller than me at 11 was commented on a lot and I commented on it too. It wasn't a brag it was just a conversation maker I suppose 🤷

I was just thinking this, my husband is 5 foot 6 (and a half!) and he's definitely short for a man 5 ft 9 is not short at all.

It’s such a strange thing to brag about, so boring! Definitely know a few people that go on about the height of their sons in particular. Not sure what they expect me to say in response? Well done? It’s quite odd.

I have to say that it does get on my nerves but I suppose it is reflective of society viewing people who are taller as more succesful/intelligent/capable. Perhaps I am sensitive about it as I am very, very short and the amount of grief I've dealt with throughout my life about it is horrendous. But being tall or short is not an achievement. And I'm not convinced MM is entirely reflective of real life seeing as everyone's DH or DS here is over six feet tall- most men I see in real life are probably around 5'6 or 5'7. Totally average.

My best friend growing up was over six feet tall and she did get some grief as a kid for it. But not as an adult. My experiences as someone much shorter than average has been that the comments and 'jokes' from people have persisted into adulthood unfortunately.

I have a family member who, along with her husband, constantly brags about her son’s height. He’s now a young adult and is 6ft, maybe 6ft 1, but the way they talk about him, anyone would be forgiven for thinking he was 6ft 6. They literally introduce him as “our very tall son John”, whilst beaming proudly as if his height is a wonderful achievement that required hard work, commitment and dedication over many years. They shoehorn his height into the conversation as often as possible, it’s quite bizarre.

I was thinking this!

My DH is 5'7 and I am 5'4. DS (7) is currently 50th-75th centile for height and has a predicted adult height of between 5'9 and 5'10. Obviously it's only a prediction but I thought that was pretty good-going and have to say I'm slightly relieved as I know DH has been a bit self-conscious about his height.

I pretty much just said the same thing!

I know, it's odd, and being tall for age can be because parents are over feeding their dc, excess calories not only makes kids larger around the waist, plus some dc, especially girls stop growing at very different ages

My kids are both fairly tall for the their age, but like PP it's not always great when people assume they're older than they are. Our DS isn't 12 yet but is already taller than me and in age 15-16 clothes. People assume he's older than he is, until they see his face/hear his voice. He's still a little kid really, just not physically!
I do talk about it, but not bragging!

Well, my dc is shorter than average and it's a worry! If he suddenly had a growth spurt I would probably be relieved so much that may sound as if I'm bragging...

I'm as short as they come. My dh is tall. Three of the four grandparents are short.
There's not much we can do about it and I wish more parents taught their children to accept physical differences and not pick on smaller/ bigger children.

It’s just chat though I wouldn’t think of it as bragging. Except for the baby thing, as a fairly tiny person I have given birth to 3 massive babies. People were genuinely impressed by me and I do like to clap myself on the back about it from time to time. They are all smaller than average now though.

Talking or bragging?

Why are you so keen to look at this negatively?

I've honestly never experienced anyone doing this. Quite a strange thing to brag about. My daughters 5 foot ten and absolutely hates it, as does my other daughter at 5 foot 9, same height as me but I couldn't care less about my height or anyone else's.

I really dont think its bragging or crowing. Its just making conversation/ taking pride in their DC. I think the issue is with you if you are taking it as some kind of criticism.

Just have a quiet laugh at him when he's gone.

His daughter will soon start telling him he's embarrassing her.

Girls that age get called names regardless of shape or size. Girls with figures to die for and all the rest.

First reply nailed it! Without being able to explain why I'm proud my 2 year old is extremely sturdy and strong looking which is probably some primeval throwback. She'd definitely survive in the wild 😂 although I was a little shocked when I bought her some age 5-6 pants the other day for her to grow into and they fit her lovely but I think that's more about girls underwear being ridiculously skimpy than her being big. Goes off to grumble and start a thread about that...

YANBU, everyone’s child on here is ‘over the 99th centile’. What are the odds of that 😂 I’m tall and wish I wasn’t, it has few benefits as a woman. I would prefer to be 5’5/5’6.

5-6?! Have you done her BMI?

@Wildflowers99 no I'm not going to do my 2 year old's BMI. And yeah I was amazed they fit her but aged 2-3 or even 3-4 underwear is just so small and uncomfortable looking. And yes she was over 99th centile and even went off the chart completely just before she started walking about! But as the HV predicted she's run it all off now she's zooming about 🙂

I would give it a check as that sounds very extreme. my sister’s best friend grew very quickly from a toddler and it turned out she had a rare condition which caused her to produce too much growth hormone, she’s 6’3 as an adult. It probably isn’t that but if she’s in 5-6 clothes it might be worth a check x

It does seem like a lot of kids are high centiles these days!

My 3 year old boy is 2nd-9th centile for height though, definitely won't be the tallest in his class 😆 I quite like him being so small though, and we've never had the problem of people thinking he's older than he is

Thank you for the concern @Wildflowers99 but me and her dad are tall so it's no surprise she is too. This is her today and she's perfect! It's never been flagged up by the HV as they look at me and her dad and say well she's not going to be small is she 😆 she's just a lot taller than an average 2 year old so by default is going to be heavier too but there's no fat on her at all.

Overweight small children don’t tend to have fat/rolls like adults, they look stocky instead and often get described as sturdy. If you’re both very tall then that makes sense re the height, I take after my dad who is really tall but my mum is average. My sisters are both 5’6 and I think that’s perfect and used to wish I was too. My bro is 6’4 and has to stoop through doorways.