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Twice a year we measure our children to see how much they have grown. We do this the first of January and then when school starts.
This year we forgot to measure Tessa when school started. I guess it is just having one child at home that makes you forget things like that.
Jim got out “the board”.
“The Board” was my husband’s brilliant idea! Twenty years ago, when Logan was 4 and Clark was 2 we decided to measure the boys. Instead of doing it on the inside of some door jam my husband suggested “The Board”. That way, if we moved, we wouldn’t have to leave behind those memories for someone to paint over.
Here are the first marks we made on the board.
You can see that Clark grew quite a bit that first year. About 3 1/2 inches!
When we first started “The Board” we never imagined we would have to add an extension to the not quite six foot long board. Being as short as I am and having a husband that is 5′10″ we figured we were safe with that board.
But we forgot – we forgot that my husband has a 6′6″ brother and thus we were blessed with a 6′1″ son!
I love “The Board” and having that visual reminder of how small my children once were and how tall they are now. “The Board” also reminds me, as do my children, of how short I am!
For those of you who have never met me in person – I am short. I am 5′2″ short!
When I was two years old the doctor measured my bones and told my mother I would grow to be 5′7″ – he lied!
There are challenges that come with being so short! One of them is having problems reaching things off the top shelf. When I would ask one of my children (mainly Clark, since he was the tallest) to help reach something for me he would always ask, “And why do you need me to get that down for you?”
He loved to hear my answer – “Because I am short.” In fact, I think he relished in it!
Now that most of the children are gone from home I have had to resort to buying step stools which I have strategically placed throughout the house – mainly the kitchen, garage and my closet. Now I can reach the top shelf all by myself!
I am sure there are many advantages to being 5′2″. One advantage is I never had to worry about dating boys shorter than me! I am sure there are others but….
I have always wished I was that 5′7″ the doctor predicted I would be. But no matter how much Pilates I do I am still only 5′2″ tall. Guess I’ll just have to come to terms with it – because I am short!
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
I always wished that I was short. I have the opposite problem. I’m 6′0″. Finding clothes is especially hard now that I am expecting our third child.
I LOVE the board idea. We have made a few marks on a doorway downstairs, but I love the idea of having a “portable measuring stick”.
It is always a blessing to turn on the computer and have a fun message from Leigh Anne. THANKS! What a terrific idea about the board. . . .I’m sharing with all my family and friends. Wish our marks of growth weren’t covered over now by someone’s paint now. (After several moves). My oldest son is 6′6″ (got those tall Wilkes genes), so the other two sons always wanted to meet or beat him–sorry Brad and Tyler you will not beat him in height. However, you measure tall in lots of other ways. But in my eyes, all my children are amazing “giants” as they have developed into wonderful members of the human race. . . . .
I, too, am short. I am 5′ short. Here’s a tip for you, Leigh Anne…I have gone to using long kitchen tongs to get things off of the higher shelves in the laundry room and kitchen!! We have an extended family tradition of measuring all the kids at my mom and dad’s house on Christmas Eve. Mom keeps all the lines and marks, dates and names on a board that is semi permanently attached to the wall in the kitchen. The kids see their growth from year to year as a competition between all of them!
We too have a measuring area. Its on the inside of one of the pantry doors. Its amazing to see how they have grown. When my kids were little , they even measures the dog!! lol
5′2 is a wonderful size because it is the same size I am! My 11 year old son is only about 1/2 inch shorter than me. However my 26 yr. old sister is only 4′9 so she makes me feel tall. She says she is vertically challenged and that big things come in small packages.
What a great post, lovely idea to use the board! I am short too yet my daughters are both very tall like their daddy!! It is very strange to see my 15 year old towering above me!
Kimx
5′ 1 1/2″ married to a 6′ 2″ husband! I have a “flair” on Facebook that says “I’m not short, I’m fun size!” Step stools are very important part of my life because my children are all shorter than me!
Looks like I am in good company with some other wonderful short women!! My motto has always been “Good things come in small packages!”
Ann – love the tong idea, I’m off to buy more tongs – a set for every room!!
Thanks for sharing!
Ahhh, I love the board. We will have to tear out a door jam when we leave this home, as that is where we put our grow chart. On one side, we have family…. our kids only. Then, opposite is for friends, missionaries who visit… and the dog! : )
Hey my short friend… I love seeing things eye to eye with you
And… I love that the sale rack always has my size of shoe (short girls usually have small feet) AND I love that no heel is ever too high – we get to wear them all. Another advantage of being short that I’ve come to love; the ability to move through a crowd like a mole – my tall husband just always hangs on and lets me go!
Carol »
I have always had lots of wonderful shorts friends my whole life – and Carol you are one of those treasured short friends!! You are so right about the shoe thing!!