Yes, My Child Is Small for Her Age — And, No, It’s None of Your Business

"Yes, she's petite." I smiled and looked down at my girl, who was looking back up at me with a half-worried expression on her tiny sweet face.

"We love being petite," I compensated with a big, hopefully reassuring grin.

Then the inevitable question came, when we were in the car, just as expected: "Mommy, why am I so small? I"m the littlest one in my class. Some of my friends ask why I'm tinier than them and it makes me sad."

My heart temporarily broke once again, as it always does whenever this topic comes up.

"I'm sorry that made you feel bad," I started and then continued, positively launching into my go-to responses. "But every person is different and that's how God makes us. Some kids are taller than everyone else. I don't have hair like most of my friends. It would be so boring if we were all the same. Your friends — and all of us family — love you just the way you are because you are YOU!"

It usually takes about five minutes to undo the self-doubt ignited by the frequent "she's really small" comment from strangers.

Yes, she could still pass for a (big) kindergartner. Yes, she's a bit behind on losing her baby teeth compared to her peers. Trust me, we're aware and watching. It's just how she grows.

And we are fine with it. What we're not fine with is when people start asking questions when it's really none of their business.

In this age of hypersensitivity, why do so many folks feel the need to comment on my daughter's lack of height? Why do so many feel it's normal to do so right in front of her, while she's listening and absorbing their judgment?

I'm raising my kids to be tough, to firmly believe, and behave in an admittedly old-school way that urges them to assertively cope with whatever conflict, hardship, disappointment, or nonsense they might encounter, but this awkward commentary has happened frequently enough that it now seriously irks me. And, it's spawned all sorts of Mama Bear protective instincts. If I even so much as sense a question related to her size, I'll overtake and divert the conversation immediately.

Our kids have enough trials against developing their inner confidence — from challenges in school, bullying peers, social media, and their own young minds trying to find their own niche in life. Nosy adults shouldn't be comfortable enough to make certain insecurities worse with unnecessary questions about their physical appearance.

It's none of any of our business how small, large, tall, or wide any of our children are. Or anyone else, for that matter. Everyone is their own person, even the little ones among us. We look differently, we grow differently. No questions necessary.

But, for those of you who sometimes remark how damn cute she is, as a bouncing, pint-sized package of joy … keep it comin' — big time.