My Tall Daughter, Interviewing A Tall Tween
Hey Tall Adventurista!
Today's post is a bit different from usual, but when I asked my 12 year old daughter what I should write about, she said, "me." So here it is. I am sure some of you can understand this experience and I hope you all appreciate, even enjoy the perspective.
Cheerfully,
Suzi
My 12 year-old daughter, PEZ, has finally matched my height.
I sat down with her to see what her experience is, and here is a brief run-down on what it's like to be a tween who's 5'11"
What do you think about being tall?
It's weird, then you get used to it. You look down at people always. If you look in a mirror with someone, you realize you're so tall.
I don't like going to places where you rent shoes, or when you forget your shoes. People ask 'what size are you?' and it feels so embarrassing.
My friends' parents are always talking about how I have to play basketball... it gets a little annoying when people always comment on my height.
Friends who are boys often say how they wish they were my height, but it's so much different for a tall girl than a tall boy... Boys can stand out being tall and it's just different, it is a positive if boys are tall. As a girl, I feel like there is more pressure to be good at athletics, even when I'm pretty new at some sports. Riding horses is hard because I have to ride a bigger horse, and finding gear and clothes is harder. Sometimes I just want to blend in more.
What is something you like about being tall?
One positive about being tall is that I get to hang out with older people and the conversations I get to have with people are different than for my friends who are short. I like being tall when I'm in situations with kids who are older, until they find out how old I actually am, they get weird about it. I have friends who are as short as I am tall, and they get talked to like a six year-old, even though they're my age.
What is it like shopping?
Shopping is annoying. The shoes don't fit. If I compare going to thrift stores to going to a box store, in some ways thrifting is easier to find clothes. I get frustrated when I go into stores where the brand has something tall online, but not in the store.
"How does that make you feel? When they have tall online, but not in the store?"
[The feeling is] Not that deep. I just accept it.
A Mother's Take-Away
Parenting tall kids is hard. Parenting tall daughters is haaard. You feel for their struggle, and also realize that things have changed a lot since my stirrup pants in 1991, but also a lot has NOT changed. Most clothes are still too short, people say stupid things, and brands still don't value the tall customer.
Lucky for her, both her parents are tall and have gone through a very similar journey, and her mom can sew. She has a different type of tall support network than I did, it's empowering, resourceful and all about giving her power, but she still has to find her own way through the world in her tall body.
I absolutely respect her and the way she navigates with confidence even when she struggles. How she accepts things as they are, and also questions the judgement of those who make decisions. She gets way more attention than she wants. While I try to back her up when she asks for less attention, she manages it with respect and honesty. She also find those who appreciate and respect her for her funny, kind and animal-loving personality.
I hope for a world where we are all kinder to people who have to navigate life with more attention and thoughtfulness.
Thanks for sharing this adventure and thanks to PEZ for sharing her experience.
