If your son is shorter than average, how did you help him build confidence?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP -- my son was shorter than average too at 14, he was one of the shortest kids in his 9th grade class. For him it was later than average puberty so he did later go through a growth spurt and has now, at 17 years old, reached average male height. But I completely understand where you're coming from. And it was tiring for my son to be called "short stack" in school, and his height to be commented on regularly by his peers.

But as some PPs have mentioned, try not to project your concerns onto him. Your son has realized he's shorter and he's trying to grow taller, and if that means healthier habits, that's great. But being projected to be about 5'7", this is something he's going to have to accept and deal with and he'll figure it out. It is hard because height is a thing for men, absolutely. My average size son is surrounded at home by the men in the family who are all over 6' tall and I see how they enjoy the benefits of that height. But I've also seen some of them not reach their potential in education and in careers, which I discussed with my son back when he was 14 and he'd tell me his life's goal was to be 6'3". Now my son's goal is to have a bigger paycheck than these tall guys. But at 14, it's hard for boys to see beyond tomorrow. But he'll get there. Keep supporting him, you're doing a great job, Mom!

So he's still insecure?

No, just quite competitive.

[Anonymous]

My 15 yr ols DS is also projected to be around 5"8" tall. He has always been the shortest boy in his class and starting in 5th grade, he was the shortest kid since the girls started growing. He has never said he is bothered by it. I've asked if anyone has ever teased him and he told me that once a new student made fun of him. He said something he shouldn't have ("I won't always be short but you'll always be stupid.") But the kid never teased him again.

[Anonymous]

My 14-year old was 5’1-5’2”” most of last year. He is now 5’9” turns 15 next week. He still has a lot of growing- no facial hair. He was one of the shorter kids on his team last year and in school.

His younger brother is even shorter for his age.

My brother and I both grew in college. We are definitely late growers.

5’7” is not too short. He will be fine! The average American woman is now 5’3”-5’4”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 15 yr ols DS is also projected to be around 5"8" tall. He has always been the shortest boy in his class and starting in 5th grade, he was the shortest kid since the girls started growing. He has never said he is bothered by it. I've asked if anyone has ever teased him and he told me that once a new student made fun of him. He said something he shouldn't have ("I won't always be short but you'll always be stupid.") But the kid never teased him again.

I love your son

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 14-year-old son is shorter than most boys his age. His doctor said that he is projected to be about 5'7''.

He has never had any social issues at school and plays sports, but my concern is that being shorter than his classmates in high school may affect him negatively in terms of self-confidence.

He has mentioned to me that all of his friends are taller than him and is now trying to increase his height by working out, going to bed early, and drinking milk. I'm supportive of all of these things for health reasons, but I told him that they might not necessarily help him to get taller and that he doesn't need to be tall to be successful (it doesn't seem like he believes me).

Napoleon biography should fix that.

Napoleon was average height for his time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 14-year old was 5’1-5’2”” most of last year. He is now 5’9” turns 15 next week. He still has a lot of growing- no facial hair. He was one of the shorter kids on his team last year and in school.

His younger brother is even shorter for his age.

My brother and I both grew in college. We are definitely late growers.

5’7” is not too short. He will be fine! The average American woman is now 5’3”-5’4”.

Thanks. My son turns 15 in three weeks and he is 5”4

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 14-year old was 5’1-5’2”” most of last year. He is now 5’9” turns 15 next week. He still has a lot of growing- no facial hair. He was one of the shorter kids on his team last year and in school.

His younger brother is even shorter for his age.

My brother and I both grew in college. We are definitely late growers.

5’7” is not too short. He will be fine! The average American woman is now 5’3”-5’4”.

Thanks. My son turns 15 in three weeks and he is 5”4

He will be fine. This is in the range of normal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, he has not suffered in any way and has no self confidence issues but you want to project your fears onto him and then get tips for easing those projected fears? WTF?

OP. Did you read this sentence?

He has mentioned to me that all of his friends are taller than him and is now trying to increase his height by working out, going to bed early, and drinking milk.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your helpful posts!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 14-year-old son is shorter than most boys his age. His doctor said that he is projected to be about 5'7''.

He has never had any social issues at school and plays sports, but my concern is that being shorter than his classmates in high school may affect him negatively in terms of self-confidence.

He has mentioned to me that all of his friends are taller than him and is now trying to increase his height by working out, going to bed early, and drinking milk. I'm supportive of all of these things for health reasons, but I told him that they might not necessarily help him to get taller and that he doesn't need to be tall to be successful (it doesn't seem like he believes me).

How tall is he?

5'3''

[Anonymous]

OP, how about high heels?

Curious you build confidence if your son has large ears, big head, bushy eyebrows, small penis, or bags under his eyes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 14-year old was 5’1-5’2”” most of last year. He is now 5’9” turns 15 next week. He still has a lot of growing- no facial hair. He was one of the shorter kids on his team last year and in school.

His younger brother is even shorter for his age.

My brother and I both grew in college. We are definitely late growers.

5’7” is not too short. He will be fine! The average American woman is now 5’3”-5’4”.

Thanks. My son turns 15 in three weeks and he is 5”4

My son just turned 15. He has been taking growth hormones for three years and just passed 5'2. But at least he is growing. He has learned to embrace his underdog status, but I do think it gets him down at times, especially when it comes to sports. We just tell him to focus on what he can do and to embrace his body as it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, how about high heels?

Curious you build confidence if your son has large ears, big head, bushy eyebrows, small penis, or bags under his eyes.

I'm not the OP, but why do you ask? One of my sons, who is short, has bushy eyebrows and bags under his eyes.

[Anonymous]

How about we as a society stop measuring men’s worth based on their height, penis size and earning power???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How about we as a society stop measuring men’s worth based on their height, penis size and earning power???

+1 look the middle school son thread. Life isn’t a dick measuring contest. Parent the kid you have.