An assumption.
So I was telling my mom about how a person thought I was an eighth grader for fun, as a little funny story. So rather than just a small laugh, she starts lecturing me about being short again. "I TOLD YOU TO EXERCISE WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER, BUT NO YOU DIDN'T LISTEN TO ME." "IT'S YOUR FAULT YOU'RE SHORT." etc. etc., you know, the norm. But then she added something new, a little tiny comment that just really stuck out. "Don't think I don't know it. You LIKE being short." She said it so fast, but I caught it, every. single. word. Me, LIKE being short? Do I really LIKE it when guys say "I like girls with long legs."? Do I really LIKE it when you always tell me no one will hire me in the future because I will still look like a kid and no one will take me seriously? Do I really LIKE not being able to look nice in dresses or clothes in general? Do I really LIKE feeling ugly all the time? Do I really LIKE it when people say "Wow, your younger sister is taller than you!" Do I really LIKE it when people ask me if I still need in a car seat according to the law? Do I really LIKE it when they think I can be considered a legal midget and get a handicap sign? That one offends me the most because why should I get a handicap sign when my arms and legs function normally like every other person. I DON'T HAVE A DISABILITY. I'M JUST SHORT.
IF I WAS ABLE TO CHOOSE, DO YOU REALLY THINK I'D CHOOSE TO BE SHORT BECAUSE I SIMPLY LIKE IT? NO, LIKE EVERY OTHER PERSON IN THIS SOCIETY, I WANT TO BE TALL TOO. I WAS BORN TO BE SHORT OK. I HAVE NO SAY IN HOW TALL I GET TO BE. GROWING IS A NATURAL PROCESS. I AM PRETTY SURE EVEN IF I DID THE THINGS YOU TOLD ME TO DO, I WOULD STILL BE THE HEIGHT I AM TODAY. At least now, I half-embrace it and think about all the good things being short. I'll never have the short guy, taller girl problem. I look younger than others, which will be a perk when my peers start looking super old. etc. etc.
I've been short my whole life so of course, I'm USED TO it. BEING USED TO IT DOES NOT MEAN I LIKE IT. GET IT STRAIGHT, MOTHER. GET IT STRAIGHT.