What do you say to people who comment on short your sons are?

Question

I can't believe the rudeness of people who feel it is there duty to indirectly making fun of the tallness of your child. Afterall they can't help it. They boost how tall there child is. Some people say guess they are 2 years younger than they are. Right to their face to make them feel bad.

I would love a good come back. One person is my sister in law so it needs to be tactful.

I'd love to say something like, at least my son has personality, but I can't say something that obviously mean.

What do you do when your sister in law brags about how tall her kids are and her friend's kids when she can obviously see your son's are short?

Answer 1

It's not really mean just kinda cheesy. You could say good things come in small packages.

Answer 2

You could say something about how glad you are that your sons are healthy, when there are so many risks involved in having children in the first place and so much danger in the world. Make it sound perfectly relaxed and happy.
You could make something up, like that you read in Science Journal about how men with less height live on average three years longer, or have been found to make up to thirty percent higher wages than their taller counterparts, but I don't think those are accurate.

You could look that person straight in the eye, smile cheerfully, and say, " Are you always so rude as to comment on other people's personal aspects? It's quite discourteous." Smile again, as if you feel a little bit sorry for that person. This is very effective if you sound completely friendly.

Or, you could point out that short men generally have larger packages. Sorry, I know they're your sons. But we all want our kids to have satisfying lives, don't we? And there really is a lot to be said for men that are not quite so tall. I say this as an adult.

Anyway, those people are just rude. If you fed your kids well, and their height is genetic, who cares what those people say! Everyone in the world has problems that they were born with and problems that they acquire as they grow up. A slight lack of height is just a different variety of problems. The thing is they're healthy and loved, right?

Answer 3

I'm 21 years old (woman) and I'm 5'1". How do you think I feel every time I try to buy alcohol and they think I have a fake ID? Or when they hand me the childrens' menu (for kids under 12)? I'm clearly not younger than 16 (no 16-year-old my height has my bra size). It sucks. Something you might look into is growth hormones. I wish it had been an option for me when I was growing up. I'll always feel inferior to taller people, and guys don't even look at me because they think I'm too young, and they consider me their "little sister." Your sons might benefit from growth hormones if they really are very short and the growth spurts just aren't working out. Some children legitimately need it, and some insurance plans cover it. Just a suggestion. They're always going to get crap from people as long as they're short. I've learned to ignore it, even though I despise it. Society's standards can be brutal.

Answer 4

I wouldn't trouble yourself too much. Small minds talk about other people. Both of my nephews were vert short for a long time, Then one day they grew up to be quite tall. One of them is almost my heaight (6ft), the other only slightly less. We all grow in stages. Sometimes up, sometimes out. I wouldn't be at all surpiresed if you children suddenly shoot up. Until then, take no notice and teach your children that there isn't any reason to worry. They will be as tall as they will be. Quite a few members of my family are shorter then me. I know some people that are taller. We are what we are. What really matters is the type of people they are becoming, not how tall they are.
I am sure they will grow to be wonderful men. After all, look at how loving their mother is. With that much love for them in evidence, how can they not grow up with good hearts?
God bless you.

Answer 5

Instead of considering how you can get a good "come back" for your sister in law's ignorance, consider what you would be teaching your children about interacting with people who have so little self-worth that they have to put someone else down. You're teaching your kids the wrong thing. But if you insist on taking the moral low road, then just give her the personality come back. Sounds good to me.

Answer 6

Just smile and say that they are short in stature but tall in self esteem, and soon their height will catch up to their self esteem. You can also say that you know your sons are short, but that just means they will be giants once they go through their growth spurt. No matter what, just smile and try to laugh it off. Tell your sons that its actually more fun to be short, since you can still get into things that they are suppossedly too old for. Also, they can get into smaller spaces, which is good for them. Take it from me, a shorty :)

Answer 7

As one who always has the perfect comeback, tactful and "otherwise," to the strangers I would loudly "whisper," "Why do you think it's appropriate to to ridicule my children in front of them?" I have never shied away from publicly dressing down people I will never likely see again.

The SIL is another story. At that point I might defer to my husband and have his deal with his sister however he sees fit. I would tell him, "You sister has ridiculed the kids about their size right in front of them. I don't want them growing up with a complex. Do you? Can you say something to her about it?" Then leave it in his hands.

Answer 8

"They may be small, but they're skillful." Then you can talk about things that are great about them and things they're good at, to emphasize that their size doesn't matter. After all, it is quite ridiculous to act like it matters how tall one is.

Whatever your comeback will be, make sure it won't be anything mean about her kids. Don't put them down, then you'd be lowering yourself to her level and hurting her kids. You can emphasize how great your sons are despite being small without belittling her kids.

Answer 9

My mum is fairly short. She's always said that because her body is small, it uses less energy, which leaves more energy for the brain.

Scientifically it's nonsense, but it's a good comeback - especially if they have very tall/large children...

Answer 10

You could say something like, "I teach my kids that it's what's inside a person that counts. People come in all shapes and sizes."