The tall or short of it

I am tall. My husband is short. And that's just how it is.

According to my daughter, who drew my husband taller than me yesterday, "it's not how it's supposed to be." 

Funny. My in-laws actually said the same thing, in so many ways.

"Haven't you ever dated men your own size?," she asked me. In front of him.

No joke.

I certainly don't discriminate based on height. I've dated my fair share of tall guys, and I've enjoyed the company of shorter guys too, one of whom I ended up marrying.

Our height difference, which is about three inches, isn't really that obvious, though is a bit more emphasized when I'm pregnant and about 60lbs heavier than him.

And I've worn heels, like I've always done, without it bothering him one bit.

I admit that dancing can be a little complicated, but hey, you don't need a partner to do a kickass Roger Rabbit.

I am pretty handy to have around, particularly for hard to reach shelves that would generally require the use of a step stool.

And I'm very easy to spot in a crowd.

But it's funny how much of a stigma there still is about short guys and tall girls. It doesn't come as a surprise, well with our male dominated society that emphasizes the ideal of "big strong men" and "small petite women."

And of course, it's my husband who gets all the short guy jokes. And puns. Oh the puns.

But as I like to tell all the smartasses, good things come in small packages. Not with small packages.

Ahem.

Comments

[Erica]

My boyfriend is 5'4 and I'm 5'9. The other night our height difference came up and I told him that I rarely even notice that he's short. Then I corrected myself, "It's not really that I don't notice that you're short. It's more than you don't make me feel like I'm tall."

I think Women of Height will understand the difference.

[{The Art of Making a Baby}]

I'm 5'11", my husband is 6'3", so sometimes it's tough wearing heels around him ( i usually wear 5 inches, plus i carry myself taller than him). I used to have a problem with that, but after spending a few years working as a model in NYC, hanging out with girls who are just as tall and wear 5" heels everywhere, somehow I just don't care anymore.
I feel that as long as I am thin, height is an advantage.

[Hapa M]

Your blog is hilarious. Out of curiosity - how tall are the two of you? Keep writin'.

[Simona]

I love your post! I personally dont understand why anyone has the right to comment on other people's choices in their partners. Some prefer short men, others want tall men, gay men, straight men! Who cares! Whatever makes people happy.

[Jaelithe]

Next time your MIL says anything about it, I would straight up say to her face, "He's tall where it counts."

[Mom101]

Just imagine how it feels to be the short chick who has to stand next to you on TV all the time.

[Libby]

I am 6'1" and my husband is 5'9". At our wedding, the photographer kept putting my husband on a step above me which was kind of offensive. But we don't care. I love all of him and he loves all of me. And I wear 4" heal regularly.

[Amanda]

Kristen,

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love you.

this time, mostly for telling the world you husband may be short but he's hung.

So take that, naysayers.

[Amanda]

There's always something. My husband takes a lot of crap for being bald.

[Jodi]

I always feel like a big amazon around my petite friends. Shoes do look cuter in size 6. Little people can get away with just about any style. They can't eat as much though. Having said all that models are tall so not everyone thinks like me 0; My sister (4 11) gains weight just looking at chocolate.

[melissa valentine]

my husband is 4 inches shorter than me and i used to be bothered by it (before we started dating) someone once told me "get over it" so i agreed to go out with someone shorter and four years and baby #1 on the way we are just as happy as can be! he said he always wanted to marry someone taller since he's shorter for a guy and would have gone further in sports had he been taller, he wants our kids to hopefully get my height and his athletic ability! if they get the opposite they're screwed! :)

[Barefoot Liz]

I had a shorter boyfriend before (not easy when I'm quite short myself). I actually had a couple people ask me if:
1. He was my younger brother.
2. He was my son!

[Gertie]

People who make negative comments on other people's physical appearances (whatever it is) are rude and shallow.

[Suebob]

I hope I never meet your inlaws, because I would seriously consider popping them in the mouth. I mean making fun of you and your husband for your heights - which are innate, not something you can control - to your faces! Their son and his wife and the mother of his children...gah. They are Pieces of Work.

[Heather]

I grew up realizing that people do find tall women and short men odd. My mother is 6 feet tall and my dad is 5 feet 1 inch. Really. Short Italian (really Sicilian) dad and tall Ukranian/German mom. I'm 5 feet 7 inches. My dad still wanted to pull my veil back for me when he presented me at my wedding. I bent down. He's so cool about it. He doesn't care about how tall he is not. He's proud of his tall daughter and loves my tall mom, even though they finally got divorced after 30 years of marriage. They still date each other. I don't want to hear that.

[Mama Bub]

My college roommate was 6'4". She married a man who was 5'8". He LOVES that she's tall, so who else matters? Their parents just care that they're both Jewish.

[Amy]

My husband is only 3 inches taller than me, so wearing heels can be tricky, especially when planning our wedding and I couldn't find any shoes that didn't make me look like an Amazon next to him in my giant "Big Fat Italian Wedding" dress and veil.

[Jo]

My husband is technically half an inch shorter than me. But he makes up for this lack of height in personality and... other... areas... hehe. I'm serious, there must be an inverse relationship. Has anyone done a study on this? ;)

[JustMom420zaks]

My best friend is 6 ft tall. She's always liked shorter men, chubby too. So what if they look like the odd couple?
I tease her about it (I've called her hub an ewok) But she teases me about my hubby looking like he's escaped from prison.
So it works out.
We like what we like.

[nursery equipment Mary]

Hiya,

Nice post, so altitude so far ;)

Mary

[Dana]

I'm sending this to my tall friend who refuses to date short guys. Maybe she'll listen to you... She's the Jerry Seinfeld of dating (remember man hands?)

[Karen]

Ah, who cares! I had a friend once who wouldn't even look at guy who was shorter than her. She's since learned her lesson...

[Julie @ The Mom Slant]

Gorgeous is gorgeous, no matter how tall or short. But your MIL will never get that foot of hers out of her mouth.

[The Muskrat]

My Dad is 6'3'', and it was a pain in the ass for him to get in and out of the cockpit. I'll bet Mr Uncensored has an easier time of it.

[Alison]

My husband is shorter than I am and while dancing is somewhat interesting, everything else seems to flow perfectly ok!

[Tia]

That was really nice of you to throw that last part in. Ahem. :)

[KMayer]

I'm just a tad shorter than hsb, but wear heels and own my space. Which hsb finds sexy so win-win there. Older than him too; and in-laws and grandmother always oyed about that constantly. Granny's dead and been married for 21 yrs so in laws are dealing. Or maybe I am... dunno.