Our four year old son, Daniel, is tall for his age–and strong. He works out on his daddy’s treadmill when daddy Vincent goes to work. Already I see muscles developing in his soft calves. Dr. Sanford has told me to stop worrying, let Daniel be himself. What he is doing isn’t going to hurt him. I have no comeback and just hope he is right and I am wrong.
When I come into the kitchen the following morning, I am shocked to see the refrigerator door wide open, the butter soft. I didn’t leave it open and Vincent had gone up to bed when I did. He didn’t leave it open. Only one other person, the culprit, could have done it. Daniel.
I call him down for questioning. ‘Vincent, Darling, did you drink all of the milk I bought yesterday, the whole quart? ‘ ’Yea.’ ‘And you didn’t bother closing the door? Shame on you.’ ‘Ma, I had my banana and jelly sandwich in my hands.’
Our son, from what I can see when he brings his playmates into our basement clubroom, is close to two inches taller than any of them. He and his friends just play, don’t notice that he is taller than they are, but Vincent and I do. Every four months or so I have to take him shopping. His play pants are short and tight. Recently he wears his bedroom slippers not only in the house but in the yard. My insisting he wear his shoes makes him cry. ‘No. They hurt, Mommie.’ ‘Put them on so I can check the toes.’ Sure enough, the shoes are outgrown.
This calls for another visit to Dr. Sanford. He seems a bit annoyed at my questions, my overbearing concern for Daniel and tells me again not to worry. ‘Mrs. Karlin, you know that kids don’t all grow the same way. He is either going to slow down or be taller than your husband. Here, let me show you this ‘average’ chart.’ I pull my chair close to his desk, put on my bifocals and read aloud with him, Average for‘Caucasian males, age four is 37", weight 35 to 37 lbs. Daniel is 38 ½” and weighs 40 lbs. Does this mean your son is a freak? Absolutely not. Take him for new shoes and be back in 6 months. I’ll check him again. I suggest you not let Daniel see you are worried. Good day, Mrs. Karlin.’
Days, weeks, months go by. The little black lines I make on the kitchen door frame get wider and wider apart. Vincent gets upset with me and spray paints over them. ‘Cut it out, Woman. Nothing you say or do is going to change anything–except-you may become a divorcee.’
The sixth month wait is almost over but I can’t wait. I make the appointment with Dr. Sanford for 5 ½ months. Daniel doesn’t want to go there anymore. I have to bribe my own son. ‘We can go to the mall later, get you new school clothes and we can stop at Dad’s gym so you can shoot some low baskets.’ Reluctantly, he answers, ‘Ok, but this is the last time.’ All vital signs are excellent. ‘Mrs. Karlin, Daniel measures 42 ½ inches and the average is 40. His weight is 43 lbs., average is 41 ½. Do you have any problem with this?’ He makes a copy of the chart and gives it to me. ‘As long as Daniel is well, we will notify you for his yearly check up.’ He gives Daniel 2 new comic books of Spider Man and a disc of an old Mickey Mouse cartoon. ‘Have fun, Son. You probably don’t even know anything about Mickey Mouse. He was one of the first cartoon characters when movies started to talk, way before you were born. So long.’
My comparison paper is getting shabby. I use it again when Daniel is 10.
The average male Caucasian is 51" tall and Daniel is already 55" tall. For the last three years, I’ve been making lines on the door frame again. Our bathroom scale shows he weighs 20 lbs. more than other boys his age. He is not the norm. So far he has had his tonsils, adenoids and appendix removed, had some pretty bad colds but is remarkably healthy. I count our blessings and stop making lines. At 18 he graduates high school on the honor list. He’s almost finished growing and stands 6 ‘ 6'. He’s the tallest senior to walk down the aisle. We see his head high above all others. Daniel has been accepted to MA State College, has never had an interest in playing basketball, doesn’t even watch it on t.v.
The average male Caucasian is 51" tall and Daniel is already 55" tall. For the last three years, I’ve been making lines on the door frame again. Our bathroom scale shows he weighs 20 lbs. more than other boys his age. He is not the norm. So far he has had his tonsils, adenoids and appendix removed, had some pretty bad colds but is remarkably healthy. I count our blessings and stop making lines. At 18 he graduates high school on the honor list. He’s almost finished growing and stands 6 ‘ 6'. He’s the tallest senior to walk down the aisle. We see his head high above all others. Daniel has been accepted to MA State College, has never had an interest in playing basketball, doesn’t even watch it on t.v.
Our son has his heart on becoming a surgeon and we assure him he can because he IS ABOVE AVERAGE.
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