A 20-year-old guy erupted at his family after enduring endless jabs about his shortness for a reason his affluent parents created when he was just 12, by betting on his unpredictable hormones instead of following medical advice.
They brushed off the doctor’s push for stabilizing shots that would have locked in average growth, chasing the slim hope he’d shoot up extra tall. He ended up stuck at 5’3″, while the rest of the clan teases him relentlessly about staying single. During their latest college visit, the mockery flared again, prompting him to blast them outright for causing his struggles, leaving his mom in tears and his dad fuming with accusations of ingratitude.
Guy blasts wealthy parents for refusing growth treatment, leaving him 5’3” mocked and without a girlfriend.
![I [20m] am 5’3 tall. The rest of my family is average to tall: my dad is 5’10, my mom is 5’6, my brothers are 5’11 and 6’1.](https://dailyhighlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/wp-editor-1765961736325-1.webp "Young Man Blames Wealthy Parents For Rejecting Treatment That Could Have Ensured His Normal Height")
Family visits are supposed to come with homemade food and awkward hugs, not a side of lifelong resentment, yet here we are. This Redditor’s situation is heartbreaking on multiple levels: a treatable medical condition was left to chance, and the fallout is now a punchline at family gatherings.
On one hand, the parents’ decision looks like reckless optimism dressed up as “giving him a shot at being tall.” Doctors recommended hormone stabilization for a reason. Pituitary unpredictability isn’t a coin flip you let ride when a safe middle ground exists.
A 2022 study published in Hormone Research in Paediatrics followed children with idiopathic short stature who received growth hormone therapy; 89% reached adult height within the normal range when treatment started early. Ignoring that advice feels less like parenting and more like buying a lottery ticket with your kid’s future.
On the other side, some commenters argue the young man is now using height as a permanent excuse for dating struggles. That’s worth examining too.
Height bias in dating is real and measurable. A 2023 survey on dating app trends, as reported by Evie Magazine, found that while over 60% of women express interest in dating men over 6 feet tall, only 15% are willing to date men who are 5’8″ or shorter.
But relationship therapist Esther Perel emphasizes the role of personal vitality in attraction: “It’s hard to feel attracted to someone who has abandoned her sense of autonomy.” In this case, the resentment is completely earned, yet carrying it into every future date won’t help.
The cruelest part? The family still mocks him for the exact outcome they chose. The family’s relentless teasing turns every gathering into a minefield, forcing the young man to defend himself against barbs aimed at a vulnerability they helped create.
Their laughter masks guilt, but it only deepens his isolation and anger, making genuine connection feel impossible. Healing might start with an honest family conversation acknowledging the past mistake.
So what’s the path forward? Therapy (ideally with someone who understands medical trauma), boundaries that include “height jokes = visit over,” and focusing on the parts of life he can control. Height can’t be changed, but self-worth isn’t measured in inches.
Here’s what the community had to contribute:
Some people say NTA and acknowledge that height significantly impacts dating success for men, making it harder for shorter guys.
Some people believe NTA because height isn’t a universal dealbreaker and OP should focus on self-improvement instead of bitterness.
![[Reddit User] − NTA. It’s really fucked up that they joke about this. You may not want to hear it or you may have heard it before, but your height...](https://dailyhighlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/wp-editor-1765962517909-1.webp "Young Man Blames Wealthy Parents For Rejecting Treatment That Could Have Ensured His Normal Height")
Some people say ESH or criticize OP for blaming height entirely and using it as an excuse for dating struggles.
Some people agree OP is right to blame his family for preventable height issues and the bullying.
This whole saga is a masterclass in how one parental gamble can echo for decades. Was the Redditor harsh for yelling the truth in the middle of a family visit, or was it the only language his parents finally heard? Would you be able to stay polite if your own family mocked you for a medical choice they made? Drop your verdict, is he justified forever, or does he need to let go at some point? The floor is yours.
