Somehow, tonight, the kids and I ended up discussing plastic surgery…
No, I don’t condone it on young people, but I will discuss various topics with the Little Monsters, in simplistic terms, if questions arise… as they did today!
The kids were talking about sight, and contact lenses, and Lil Man mentioned that I had already had Laser eye surgery. “Why can’t kids have it?”. While explaining why, I touched on nose jobs and things, talking about how your body needs to grow first, before being altered, or surgery could be pointless. I also mentioned boob jobs as I know at the age of 9 he likes a good snigger at the words ‘boobies’ and ‘breasts’! (The meat aisle is a constant source of amusement to him at the moment, what with chicken breasts and turkey breasts!)
Lil Man asked ” Can you get an operation to make you taller too then?”
I hesitated before answering… He continued “because I think I’d like to have that, if it makes you taller.”
I hadn’t anticipated that question, but as soon as he asked it, I kinda knew that statement would follow. I’ve made no secret of that fact that my Lil Man is small in stature, for his age, but I didn’t realise it bugged him that much! We’ve had the conversations in the past, I’ve even researched famous vertically challenged people with him, so he doesn’t feel like being small is a bad thing, and at the end of the day, he’s 9, there is plenty of time for him to grow. But obviously it does bug him. “People at school don’t believe I can’t be good at anything in sports because I am so small. They think I’m rubbish…”
Now, far be it for me to big up my son, but this is so far from the truth, its unreal. In fact he has surprised his teachers and sports coaches with his strength, and skills in football (soccer), basketball and badminton.
Aside from telling him to ignore these people, I was at a loss… what should I tell my Lil Man?
Great things come in small packages. We’ve all heard that old chestnut countless times, I’m sure, but how do I make him believe it?
But I Smile Anyway... 