Tell me what you think of this thread.

ReturnOfKuus · April 2011

And read the whole thing before answering.

http://community.thenest.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/51492351.aspx

HYDROPHILE · April 2011

Read the whole thing - what are you seeking comments on?

Butter Cookie · April 2011

Eh - I think this is one of those parental call deals. I'm not sure how I would feel giving my child HGH to help them grow, because I'm not a parent.

I also don't believe that doctors accurately predict every possibility based off someone's current height and age.

If I thought I could save my child the humiliation and anguish of always being smaller than everybody else (especially at such a delicate age) I might very well move forward.

On the other hand there isn't anything wrong with being short, and whatever he experiences as this person might shape him into a totally different person than he would otherwise be.

GBCK · April 2011

THis is something we've already discussed because of the odds of it being an issue w/ the genetic lottery we're in. (not absurdly high but...I"m more likely than most people to have to make this choice for my kiddos) and I do end up with pretty firmly mixed opinions.

PERSONALLY, I find myself pretty firmly in disagreement w/ :

i never had growth hormones, but telling your kid "this will help you be taller, do you want to try it?" isn't the same thing as offering your 11 year old daughter a nose job for her birthday.
It's a little different, but being short is a social handicap (the same as an ugly nose), not a disability.

But I also think involving a kid at age 4, or 8, or 10 in that decision isn't wise.

(and I wrote the above before reading what you wrote)

MinM · April 2011

1) That kid is TINY!

2) I don't think I would give my kid hormones if there wasn't a MEDICAL need. Being short isn't a disease.

nicoleg1982 · April 2011

We had family friends whose son wasn't going to make it to 4' by the time he hit 14. At adulthood, it was going to be a true disability. They discussed it, as a family, and decided to give him HGH. He is now 5'8" and no one regrets their decision.

*Barbie* · April 2011

I aliked DarlingMiss' post - recommending a second or third opinion - they need to determine the underlying "problem."

what is causing the kid's HGH levels to be abnormally low? Is there another condition that they may need to treat?

If it were Wolverine, I'd have to consider the medical necessity (which there doesn't seem to be here) and impact (other than being taller, what are side effects?) and the outcomes of therapy vs. non-therapy paths.

is this akin to hormone therapy for menopause, or giving your 16yo daughter a boob job?

I can't see the pics of her little boy, but i can see how being very short could result in a lot of bullying etc., and as a mom she wants to protect him from that.

ReturnOfKuus · April 2011

I'm asking about all of it, whether you think being short is a terrible thing that must be avoided if possible, whether you think parents should make their kids as close to average as possible so that they don't draw the attention of bullies, and what you think the implications are if all parents of small kids give their kids hormones so that they're no longer small.

MinM · April 2011

Barbie - while her kid is tiny, she said his levels are normal - just the lowest end of normal.

Cant_wait! · April 2011

I would want my child to be and feel as normal as possible. If this means giving him a growth hormone so he doesn't have to be in a booster seat in highschool, I'd do it. No questions there. I don't equate it to a nose job...but I would compare it more to a vaccine. It's to prevent damage.

hmonkey · April 2011

maybe because i've grown up around asians, but 5'2" isn't that short.

ReturnOfKuus · April 2011

I admit, I'm somewhat biased, having been the tiny kid in the class.

MinM · April 2011

I'm asking about all of it, whether you think being short is a terrible thing that must be avoided if possible,

Duh, Kuus. Don't you know we should all look the same!!!!

whether you think parents should make their kids as close to average as possible so that they don't draw the attention of bullies,

Being of average height isn't going to guarantee a life free of bullying. You know, so there is that.

and what you think the implications are if all parents of small kids give their kids hormones so that they're no longer small.

That wouldn't eliminate shortness from the gene pool. What are those kids going to do when they have their own short babies?

NOLABridesmaid · April 2011

I think this is always a hard call for parents. Choices sometimes makes things harder for parents.

I don't think you know what you would do until you are faced with this situation.

TheDuckis · April 2011

I think it's mildly weird that so many people are saying "aww he's adorable." I can't put my finger on why, though.

Cant_wait! · April 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_wedding-woes_tell-think-of-this-thread?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:47Discussion:2c593892-228a-4bbd-978d-c8691c0be2eaPost:6da60fae-9014-468d-aabc-271c15e3d334">Re: Tell me what you think of this thread.</a>:
[QUOTE]I think it's mildly weird that so many people are saying "aww he's adorable." I can't put my finger on why, though.
Posted by TheDuckis[/QUOTE]

this was bugging me too. It's because he's tiny.

*Barbie* · April 2011

must have skimmed over that.

eiher way, don't think kid should be involved in the decision - he's not old enough to understand what's really going on - and i'm sure if you asked most 4-5yo kids if they want to take something that will make them "big and strong," they'll say yes.

MinM · April 2011

I agree that is stupid to involve a 4 year old in this. My stupid sister and her ex-BF were letting their kid decide who he wanted to be with and it was a clusterfvck. Especially when her ex-BF would be all, "Do you want to go with Mommy and have to go to the dentist, or stay with me and go to Disneyland." People are stupid.

HYDROPHILE · April 2011

Just like our beef steers and dairy cows, I am against pumping a kid full of friggin' growth hormones, and to ask a 4 year old to help make the decision? I'd say the parents' mental development is that of a 4 year old for even considering it.

hmonkey · April 2011

i agree that just making him tall isn't going to prevent bullying. he could also end up with marfan like symptoms, with the elongated face and arsenio-like hands and fingers.

i'm waiting for baconsmom to come in with some rant about how her job as a mom is not to protect him from bullying but to give the tools to the kid to stand up for himself. in 5 ... 4... 3 ...

TheDuckis · April 2011

I don't know what I'd do in this situation, but I'm leaning toward signing him up for riding lessons.

Seriously, though, if I did put my kid on grown hormones I probably would just tell him they were vitamins. Because I wouldn't want my kid to think I thought they needed to change, but I also because tall people are statistically more successful, and I wouldn't want my kid getting passed over for jobs because of his height. Yes I'm (semi) serious.

DG1 · April 2011

I think they're trying to make the mom feel better. odd choice of words, though.

IDK. I *do* think 5'2" is crazy short, for a woman or for a man, but especially for a man.

I remember some study they did where they asked women whether certain men were "dateable" (or something like that). Height was the biggest determining factor. A short man (I want to say 5'2", but maybe closer to 5') needed some crazy amount of brains and money and charm just to get one woman out of a group of 3 to consider dating him. Granted, he could be the greatest guy around, and it would be her loss, but there are just fewer opportunities for short men.

It's not good, just reality. Just like obese people make less money and have fewer opportunities. It doesn't make them bad people, but if I could give my kid a risk-free dose of anti-obesity meds, I sure as heck would.

I was kindof stuck on the height addition. His current projected height is 5'2 - 5'6", and if they start the HGH now they can add TEN INCHES to his height. That makes him 6' to 6'4", which really is not necessary. Or if they start in a few years, they can add 6", which would make him 5'8" - 6'0", which seems like a more reasonable thing - gives you plenty of time to see if he outgrows the low HGH levels or what.

Maybe it's easy for me to say, since we're both tall and have tall kids already, but I think I would definitely do this. If I didn't, it would be medical risks holding me back, not the whole idea of "I don't want him to think even his mom thinks he's not OK the way he is." My kids will know I love them, whether they need HGH or braces or whatever. (And yeah, I think I would compare it to something like braces instead of to a nose job or to a vaccine, though I do think being a 5'2" male would have a greater psychological impact than having crooked teeth.)

tawillers · April 2011

I didn't read the entire thing and I'm not sure what I'd do if it were my kid.

DH has a kid on his baseball team who survived brain cancer. He's 9 and hasn't grown since he was diagnosed at 5. He's super small. His parents have decided to put him on growth hormones this summer, when his treatments will be completely over and his body will be ready.

ReturnOfKuus · April 2011

"I *do* think 5'2" is crazy short, for a woman or for a man, but especially for a man."

That pain in your back is me biting your kidneys.

pegasuskat · April 2011

I am short (5"3", my H is only about an inch taller. My oldest DD is 4'9", youngest is 4'11" and my son managed to get to about 5'7. They were all on the lowest and below the growth curve when they were growing up. We are just small, their Dr. never had a problem with it, a few of their teachers in school did but we didn't take their advice and hold our kids back "til they grew some". We did consider the hormones for my son, but his Dr. advised us to hold off and if by 10 or 12 he was still really short we'd start them. I'm glad we held off, he's short but not too bad.

My DIL and her brother and sister are also very short. Her parents did the hormones on her little brother and he had terrible growing pains and cramps and still does at 19.

My DD's really don't mind at all, but we did get the awww they are so cute, and still do sometimes.

InksWell · April 2011

I'm not a parent, but I doubt I'd do this unless my child had lower than normal HGH. I didn't hit 5' till HS, and It didn't hurt me any. Tall kids have issues/get bullied too, yo. How's about you put down your insurance card and teach your kid to have confidence and a positive attitude about their appearance.

hmonkey · April 2011

kuus, i cannot wait for our gtg. nola, you and i will form the lollipop guild and the first order of business is to drop a hosue on dg.

MinM · April 2011

I need to hang out with DG and Taw, so I can feel wee for a change.

ReturnOfKuus · April 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_wedding-woes_tell-think-of-this-thread?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:47Discussion:2c593892-228a-4bbd-978d-c8691c0be2eaPost:50e1d0b7-74e2-4811-89c4-351f736eb9da">Re: Tell me what you think of this thread.</a>:
[QUOTE]kuus, i cannot wait for our gtg. nola, you and i will form the lollipop guild and the first order of business is to drop a hosue on dg.
Posted by hmonkey[/QUOTE]

I'll bring out my old toe shoes so I can double as a Lullaby League member.

loveshine1 · April 2011

My BIL had to have the hormone injections as a kid. He was also extremely small. He's now probably about the same height as me. He has a small bone structure and is far less broad than DH, but he's normal sized, if on the skinnier side. They made the decision for a few reasons, probably because he was getting picked on. MIL is 4'10". They are a tiny people.

Luckily, I don't think we'll have that problem. Baby A is a beast of a kid, especially in length, which isn't a surprise. However, if he was on the petite side as an older kid like the one in the thread, I wouldn't hesitate to go forward with the injections to make his life more normal. Being small like that probably sucks for a kid, especially a boy.

In elementary school I knew teeny tiny little boy named Bobby. He was the tiniest kid by far, smaller than every single girl. He had a MAJOR attitude problem and was a total douche. He finally ended up growing to about 5'3-4", but I'm pretty sure he got the hormones as wel.

NOLABridesmaid · April 2011

Ha. We need to start a gang like the Crips.

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