Apparently I'm a Fourth Grader

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I have a funny story I thought I would share with you.

Today was my last day of my pre internship with my fourth graders. I took them out to recess, and the third graders were still out there due to a late start because of an assembly. I look over and a bunch of third graders were in the middle of a snowball fight- a huge nono.

I go over there to tell them to stop. I kept yelling, "Drop the snow, NOW!" but they did not. I finally got right in the middle of them and told them to "Put the snow down, now." They looked at eachother and asked, "Is she a fourth grader?!" I informed them I was a teacher and they were done playing in the grass. They didn't look like they fully believed me, but at least they complied.

The whole time I'm thinking, "Fourth grade? Come on! Give me a little more credit than that!" I know I'm short (4'10"), but I'm also 24. Sadly, this is not the first time I have been confused for an elementary school student (and in the past it's been the staff or teachers!) And for the record, I don't dress like the kids. I dress professionally, typically khakis or nice pants and a sweater.

 

[mickeymedic]

I have many young-looking teacher friends who, while student teaching or substitute teaching, have been stopped by hall monitors and asked for hall passes. They are usually teaching in Jr. High or High School, though.

 

[Becky2005]

Awww...I'm sorry they thought you were a 4th grader, although I would think 4' 10" would be tall for a 4th grader. Although, what do I know. I'm glad the kids complied though.

It was a funny story but only because I can somewhat relate, my DD gets all sorts of interesting situations due to being short for her age. Some of the stories I get to her from her are definitely amusing.

I don't think she has been mistaken for a 4th grader at this point...but *EVERY* year at the bus stop, the new kids assumed she was a
6th grader even when she was in 8th. She's the only one at her bus stop this year & luckily -- no one questioned her being at the High School this year probably because they all assumed she was a Freshman, so it works. I don't look forward to when my son gets to be a Freshman and she's a Senior. He will end up taller than her & well....I can already see it now, people assuming SHE'S the younger of the 2. That will NOT go over really well with her.

I will admit that her Language Arts teacher in 8th grade could have *easily* passed as a student vs. teacher -- especially when she was in her casual Friday wear (i.e. jeans & school spirit wear).

 

[daughtersrus]

My DD starts her practicum in Special Education in Jan at a local high school. She'll be the same age as some of the students that she will be teaching.

I'm sure that some will think that she's a student, especially on casual dress days.

 

[Justanopinion]

OP, I know exactly what you mean, I'm the same height as you. I can tell you though nothing will change over time. At 40, I still get carded and often. I consider it a compliment.

When I was 18 and just graduated high shcool, I went to the post office with my mother. The woman at the counter wanted to know why I wasn't in school, I told her I graduated. She gave her apologies, said she thought I was in the 6th grade.

Get used to it.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Awww...I'm sorry they thought you were a 4th grader, although I would think 4' 10" would be tall for a 4th grader. Although, what do I know. I'm glad the kids complied though.

Almost all of my students are just an inch or two shorter than me. There are a couple I teach who are actually taller. During the first quarter I was in a seventh grade classroom and it was even worse.

My father thinks it's hilarious every time somebody thinks I'm an elementary schooler. We like to go to the movies when I visit, and it's not uncommon for them to give me a child's ticket. He makes me stand in line with him just to see if they do it. I'm glad he finds me entertaining.

The worst was when we took the Disney cruise after I got my bachelor's. I was 21 and spent quite a lot of time in the Quiet Cove. I was constantly being asked by other guests if I was old enough to be there. Then on the Pirates IN the Caribbean night I tried to purchase a strawberry daquiri they were coming around. Even after I showed her my license she refused to sell it to me! She told me they only accepted Florida licenses, I'm sure she thought it was fake. She finally agreed to sell me the drink, but I think that was because my birthdate on my Key to the World card matched my license.

It does come in handy sometimes. Every year we treat my cousin and her children to a day at Worlds of Fun. They have a weight/height/age guesser there. I am always able to win something for the kids!

 

[bumbershoot]

Sorry Eeyore...

I don't look forward to when my son gets to be a Freshman and she's a Senior. He will end up taller than her & well....I can already see it now, people assuming SHE'S the younger of the 2. That will NOT go over really well with her.

But that's normal. Boys get tall fast. My brother was definitely as tall as me when I was a Sr and he was a Freshman. Totally normal, and never bothered me. So you might want to start talking about the differences in how boys and girls grow NOW, so she doesn't see it as yet another "thing I have to deal with b/c I'm short". it's just biology.

 

[Becky2005]

It does come in handy sometimes. Every year we treat my cousin and her children to a day at Worlds of Fun. They have a weight/height/age guesser there. I am always able to win something for the kids!

There you go!! The shortness can be used to your advantage.
You need the shirt my DD got that she saw on a friend. She absolutely loves the shirt it says "I'm not short, I'm fun sized"

We had to look everywhere for the shirt though, she saw it on a friend and then we searched & searched. Finally found one & they didn't have one small enough for her (which I actually found even more funny!) but finally found one at a different store.

I probably do have a skewed view of height though due to my kids and relatives (my niece is taller than my DD but 2 years younger). I never *really* see my DD as that much shorter than everyone else her age. I see her as in the average height range and then my son is tall for his age and I never really see him as "TALL" -- figure since he's a boy, of course, he will be taller than me (he's not there yet but neither is DD). They estimate DD will be 5' 0" or 5' 1" by the time she is done growing. She was very excited at the last appointment she was 5' 0" and 3/4" -- I told her to round it up...that's what I did for my driver's license to get 5' 4" and have been using that number ever since even though my last official measurement was 5' 3" and 3/4" inches. I never really consider myself all that short either but around here, it tends to be. My son is estimated to be about 6' 2" or 6' 4" by the time he's done growing.

 

[Becky2005]

But that's normal. Boys get tall fast. My brother was definitely as tall as me when I was a Sr and he was a Freshman. Totally normal, and never bothered me. So you might want to start talking about the differences in how boys and girls grow NOW, so she doesn't see it as yet another "thing I have to deal with b/c I'm short". it's just biology.

Oh, she knows that. Let's just say those 2 don't get along the best and well...it's been an on-going thing in our house since she has been in Kindergarten. She already *knows* he's going to be taller but so far there is about a 2" difference and she is STILL taller.... She is getting quite efficient at using her shortness to her advantage when she can.

Of course, she has already informed him that he is to act like they don't have a clue who each other are also when he gets there... they don't look alike so she can get away with that.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Becky, I like that shirt. I actually had a friend once tell me if I was any taller I'd be scary. She says I'm "concentrated".

All my friends think it's hilarious because my boyfriend is 6'4". Not quite sure how that happened, but we get the "how cute" comment all the time. We joke that if we ever get married it will work out. He'll put all his stuff on the top shelf, and I'll take the bottom shelf. As it is, the top shelves in my kitchen almost never get used.

 

[Becky2005]

Becky, I like that shirt. I actually had a friend once tell me if I was any taller I'd be scary. She says I'm "concentrated".

All my friends think it's hilarious because my boyfriend is 6'4". Not quite sure how that happened, but we get the "how cute" comment all the time. We joke that if we ever get married it will work out. He'll put all his stuff on the top shelf, and I'll take the bottom shelf. As it is, the top shelves in my kitchen almost never get used.

My hubby isn't quite that tall but let me tell you the times I can't reach the top shelves (which is OFTEN) and I ask for help....I just get a look with a goofy comment usually.

One of my BEST wedding presents was a step-stool! Seriously, we had to exchange some duplicate gifts we got and I exchanged it for this folding 2 step-ladder that I absoluetly love!! Although, it tends to travel around the house, so sometimes I'm not sure where my kids put it at.

We found the shirt at Kohl's but the one that worked for us was at Meijers (that's not a national chain though).

 

[SueM in MN]

I have 2 age stories.
One involves me and a job I had a few years after I graduated from college. I worked in an inpatient mental health setting with children and adolescents. Every time we went on an outing and any of 'our' kids saw any of their friends, there was a conversation something like this.
Our kid (OK): I have to stay with her because she's a staff.
Friend (F): No. She can't be. She looks like a kid to me.
OK: No lie. She's a STAFF.
F: I think you're just saying that.
OK: Tell them you're a staff (pointing at me).
F: What good does that do. She could just say she's a staff.
OK: No. Look at her rings. Do kids wear wedding rings and engagement rings?

The other story is about me oldest DD and her DH.
On their honeymoon, they went to Italy. Most of the people on their tour were older, either older couples or a set of older friends. After a few days, at one of their dinners, the tour guide asked everyone to tell a little about themselves. It was then that DD found out that most of the other tourists thought her DH was really her brother. Some had decided that her DH was probably about 19, and that DD was about 18. Some had decided they were probably twins and were on a high school graduation trip.
(And they don't look anything alike; my DD is very pale skinned, with blonde hair and blue eyes. Her DH is more olive skinned with black hair and brown eyes.)
The other tourists were really surprised to hear that both were 25, college graduates and were on their honeymoon!