China Talk Tuesday: Proportions

(The picture has nothing to do with today's post, but doesn't she look FANCY? The tutu was a gift from Aunt Myrnie, and the shoes were a find at a recent rummage sale.)

During a recent phone conversation with my mother in law, I was bemoaning my son's proportions. When he was only a few weeks old, my father predicted that he would make a great bouncer when he was older (as evidenced by his 90th percentile body and 25th percentile noggin). *Ahem*

His head has since grown quite a bit. I believe it is all the way up to 70th percentile now.

He's not particularly small for his age, but his limbs are getting him into trouble. During this particular conversation, I was recounting how earlier in the day, BBJ had decided to "play" with her brother. He was still dressed in his sleeper. (Remember that: it'll be important.) I heard her say to him, "Come on, Siu Jeun! Let's play a game! No, don't leave, Siu Jeun! Don't leave!!"

As I listened, Siu Jeun started to whine. Then to cry. Then to howl.

I came around the corner to find my very frustrated son, crawling as fast as he could, and not. Getting. Anywhere.

His sister had a hold on the limp foot of his pajamas and he had crawled his stubby little legs right up into the body of the suit. *sigh* (His legs are a good three inches shorter than the legs on the pajamas.)

As my mother in law calmed her laughing, she explained, "Oh no! That's just how Chinese people are! We have very long torsos, and very short arms and legs."

Oh, really?

Lo Gung confirmed the stereotype for me when I asked him after work.

So, there you have it: Chinese people have long bodies and short legs. MaMa said it, so it must be true!

Heh.

(*I was talking to a friend today - an accomplished seamstress- who is the mother of twin boys. One has decidedly shorter limbs than his brother. Her solution? Make their clothes, and just cut three inches off all the arms and legs for one of her sons! Genius. At least, now she can tell their coats apart!)