I hate that we do this to children. It was bad enough when I was young, and as a male, I had it easier than females. Between the ages of five and fifteen, I went through nearly every possible size of pants from the ‘slim’ to the ‘husky,’ I would gain weight no matter what I ate for months on end without growing vertically at all. Then suddenly I would start growing vertically, staying precisely the same weight again no matter what I ate for months on end. After four to six inches, I would stop growing up, and start growing out.

If I had done this as a female, it would have been hell. It was hard enough as a male to go from the short chubby kid in September to the toothpick towering six-inches above every other student in November. Then by May being the short chubby kid again…repeat again next year.