Living with a tall man is no picnic - here's why
The research by the Australian Catholic University and published in the academic journal Evolutionary Behavioural Sciences found that there really is such a thing as 'short man syndrome' and shorter men were more likely to display envy, jealousy and competitiveness.
I must admit I like tall men. While my teenage girlfriends were swooning over some boy's thick dark hair, piercing eyes or bulging biceps, I'd be checking how lofty they were.
But after a succession of tall men - when I say succession that's three - as partners, including my 6ft 4in husband, I'd say height isn't all it's cracked up to be and small men don't need to fret.
For a start, tall men are always banging their heads. Rarely a week goes by without my husband ranting after bashing his forehead into something. This week it was the up-and-over garage door, after which he berated me for not raising it high enough. As I'd opened it for my own 5ft 4in frame, there was no need to raise it further.
Tall men disrupt sleep and it's not because they are amazing lovers, they are just too big for double beds and hog the space. We can't fit a queen or king-size bed in our bedroom, so, most nights I've got to fight for my half of the mattress.
Tall men hog the mattress, making a good night's sleep difficult. Picture: Pixabay
Public transport is difficult. Try travelling on a bus with a tall man. 'I can't sit there, or there,' he will say. When I first met my husband we travelled by coach from London to my parents' home near Middlesbrough. It was the first - and last - time we took a long-distance coach journey - coaches are not made for tall people. I was thankful my parents didn't live in Inverness.
Trains aren't much better and thankfully we rarely fly.
Then there's driving. Tall men need cars to accommodate them. With me as the main driver we have mostly owned small cars which are fine for me, but if my husband is driving he squirms around for about half an hour to 'get comfortable' then moans the entire journey about how cramped it is, how the rear-view mirror obscures his field of vision, and the head rest sits at neck level.
Public transport is no better. Try travelling on a bus with a tall man. 'I can't it there, or there,' he will say. When I first met my husband we travelled by coach from London to my parents' home near Middlesbrough. It was the first - and last - time we took a long-distance coach journey - coaches are not made for tall people. I was thankful my parents didn't live in Inverness.
Thankfully, we rarely fly.
There are even issues with the kitchen work surfaces. 'They're too low, I've got back ache,' is common tall-man-cooking complaint.
My husband's height means even trivial things are potential flashpoints: we always argue over where to hang pictures, his eyeline being totally different to mine.
On the plus side the bath is too short, which works well for me, as it's now my domain, while the shower is his.
He even says the bathroom sink is too low.
Even buying clothes is problematic - shirt sleeves are invariably too short, while shoes in size 12 are not always in stock.
I can't deny having a tall man around is useful. He can spot people in a crowd, reach things on the top shelf in the supermarket and effortlessly flick away cobwebs on the ceiling at home.
But fear not short men - being tall has its drawbacks, and for us women, a tall-man relationship is certainly no bed of roses.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
9 Beige Flags in a Relationship That Show Your Partner's a Perfect Companion
At least it's not a red flag, right? Beige flags refer to the little quirks you might notice in the person you're dating or in a relationship with. They aren't a reason to break things off, but they might not be your favorite little thing about them. Beige flags in your relationship are generally neutral — not a positive or a negative. But some could point to other qualities in your partner that are just green flags in disguise. These little quirks could be a sign that you're with someone perfectly suited to your personality. It doesn't matter what Italian place you choose for dinner, they're ordering the lasagna. If you're grabbing fast food on the road, you can count on them to get chicken tenders every single time. This beige flag might leave you fearing boredom or monotony in the relationship, but maybe it's just a sign that your partner knows what they like and has no fear of committing to those things. If they haven't tired of the same mild chicken wings by now, they'll never tire of you. Your friends notice that your partner is in more photos on your profile than on their own. They have two photos, tops, and neither contains a photo of their face. Don't let this beige flag scare you off, because it could be a sign that your significant other simply doesn't care what other people think. In a world where we all share every detail about our lives, you get to be with someone who is a complete mystery to most people. You'll never be surprised by information others might know about your partner because there is no way they know more than you. You can take plenty of photos for your own feed to make up for their lack of an online presence. They turn down any offerings of wine, juice, or coffee. Ordering a soda or a mocktail at dinner is a no-go. Even summertime lemonade is off-limits. If your partner never drinks anything other than water, you might call that a beige flag. Only sipping on water might sound like your partner is afraid to be adventurous, but it could also be a sign that they're low maintenance. They don't need all the bells and whistles to be happy and low-key quality time is enough for their love tank to feel full. You can get away with practical gifts for holidays and birthdays and you'll never have to worry about all their stuff taking over should you live together someday. It's frustrating to have a conversation over two days that should just take two minutes. You talk about how long it takes your partner to respond to a text, but you might have reason to secretly love the quirk. Since your significant other is rarely bothered to respond to a message, you'll never have to worry about them becoming dependent on you for every little thing. You can make plans with friends, grab drinks with coworkers, and plan a weekend away with family without worrying about your partner. They'll miss you, but they're also self-sufficient and mature enough to know that you'll come back when you promised. Plus, yours is the kind of attention and company they crave most. You might be a bit embarrassed when your partner makes Toaster Strudels while your friends are over, but an immature palate could be a positive in your relationship. Munching on Dunkaroos while everyone else enjoys a sophisticated charcuterie spread, your significant other is completely comfortable with who they are. You never have to worry about them growing insecure because of other friendships in your life and they'll never be anything other than themselves around you. What you see is what you get, and that's a comforting thing in a world of highlight reels and Photoshop. The first alarm goes off at 6 a.m. and the cycle begins. They hit snooze and you wait for the 6:05 a.m. alarm to ring. The process continues until it's close to 7 a.m. and you've been awake the entire time. Your partner is still smashing the snooze button while you're rolling out of bed. This beige flag might be frustrating in the beginning, but if you're a non-snooze type of person, you'll never have to worry about missing your own alarm again. Their weird alarm cycle will have you up before the sun and ready to start your day, every day. If you're sensitive to loud sounds or the unexpected, you might be consistently surprised when your partner starts belting Taylor Swift at the most random moments. Singing the theme song to The Big Bang Theory as they're folding laundry or singing all the wrong lyrics to a classic rock hit might annoy you at times, but you might also find that your partner is just fun to be around. Life will never be boring for you if your significant other has no problem breaking out in song and dance when everything is awkwardly silent. You'll never have to think of fun things for the two of you to do because they'll always have an exciting plan up their sleeve. When your partner starts telling a work story, you settle in for a film-length event. They cover every detail and mention parts of the story that are completely unnecessary and you have to hold back from cutting them off mid-sentence. The overexplaining might get old and your friends might complain about it, but it could work in your favor. Your partner's attention to detail and ability to remember everything means they'll always get the hint. When your social meter runs out at a party, they'll be the first to make an excuse so you can leave. The item you mentioned just once will be your next birthday present. They even know when you're getting hangry, so you'll never be short on snacks. It makes your shoulders shoot up to your ears every time they put an unrinsed plate into the dishwasher. Dried egg and crusty spaghetti sauce don't scare them, but this quirk might scare you a bit. Sure, you could be looking at a lifetime of questionable dishes to dine on, but you can also be sure that your significant other will rarely sweat the small stuff. They don't spiral into a bad mood when their sweater catches on the cabinet and you've never seen them lose a wink of sleep over what someone else says about them. They don't let the little things get them down and that could be a positive for you. We all have beige flags, though some are more noticeable than others. Little quirks like these can become endearing parts of someone's personality or tiny frustrations that grind our gears. It's up to us to learn how to embrace the best, the less-than-perfect, and the basic beige parts of our partner.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Amazing footage reveals 'weird' discovery on pet dog inside Aussie home
A pet owner was baffled to see a possum clinging to his dog's striped jumper inside his home this week, with the dog simply trotting around while the animal hitched a ride. Home security footage captured the moment the Sydney man noticed the possum on Wednesday night. He instructed his dog Stella to go outside so he could get a closer look. He repeatedly remarked on how "weird" the discovery was before slowly pulling the jumper off his dog. "He was cooking Mexican and realised the dogs were nowhere to be seen for around an hour," the man's daughter Francesca explained to Yahoo News. "Then Stella came running out into the lounge room with a possum attached. He originally thought it was a giant rat!" She said her dad took the jumper off as the possum was attached to it, wrapped it around the possum so it was warm, then popped it in a box with a towel and took it to the vet. 🤔 Rare animal hiding in outback photo helps solve decades-long mystery 🔎 Deadly Australian creature hiding in door frame – can you see it? 🦘 Shock moment kangaroo enters suburban home The possum in question appeared to be a disorientated juvenile, a possibly lost its mother. John Grant from animal rescue service WIRES told Yahoo News it was likely seeking refuge on the dog, similar to how joeys cling to their mothers for protection. He said finding possums inside the home or on the roof is "not uncommon", particularly in areas surrounding bushland. When taking a possum to the vet it is best to transport it in a warm, dark environment such as in an appropriately sized box with a towel or blanket. John said if unsure what to do, simply call a wildlife rescuer for assistance. "Always remain calm so the possum doesn't take fright, and call WIRES on 1300 094 737 or your nearest wildlife rescue group for advice on the situation," he said. "The dog owners handled the situation perfectly by gently containing the joey, keeping it warm, then taking it to the vet." He said after a medical examination the vet will call a wildlife volunteer to care for the possum until it's old enough to be released. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
Men Are Getting Honest About The Small Truths They Keep From The Women In Their Lives, And It's Surprisingly Eye-Opening
There are plenty of things men think, feel, or quietly do that they just don't always say out loud, and it's not because they're hiding anything bad. Sometimes it's out of shyness, sometimes it's pride, sometimes it's out of societal conditioning, and sometimes it's just that they don't think anyone's paying attention. Recently, redditor BDenergy966 wanted to know what specifically some of those things are that men hide from the women in their lives when they asked: "What are some secrets men don't tell women?" The thread got over 4.9K responses from men who shared the harmless secrets they keep from women (in particular S.O.). Below are the top and most often repeated "secrets": 1."Zero chance we want to go see what that sound was you heard in the middle of the night because we are just as scared as you, but we do it anyway." —jfunks69 2."I won't love you if you were a cockroach." —Simecrafter 3."We also re-read old messages when we miss you." —Chocomuffinbite 4."We notice a lot more about you than you realise." —Spare-Investigator-2 5."We care more than we show. We just got used to hiding it." —Chocomuffinbite 6."Compliments, or acknowledgements of good doing, are things we will remember forever. We don't often get these things, for years at a time sometimes, so when we do get a genuine compliment, it feels insanely good." —Fooblee 7."You are worried about your imperfections when naked, we are normally just overjoyed to see boobs." —Glad_Mistake6408 8."You initiating physical intimacy, even PG rated, is your cheat code for us. We don't get that much, so it's magical when it does happen. We wish it were the norm." —rooftopworld 9."When we say we aren't thinking about anything, it's true. We aren't thinking about anything." —randomjajaja 10."We like being the little spoon, too. Feels like a warm jetpack." —Luddite_Literature 11."If I'm quiet, it doesn't mean I'm upset or that something is wrong. 90% of the time I'm either tired, thinking about something else, or just don't have anything to say." —PLANETxNAMEK 12."The amount of overthinking I do. The whole 'I'm fine' even when I'm not. My goal is to make my girl happy. The last thing I want to do is burden her with my issues and overthinking. Plus, I always think, Do I say what's wrong and risk ruining things, or do I keep my mouth shut and just let it eat at me?" —ProgrammingFlaw_3489 13."If we like you, we don't care about makeup or pretty clothes." —WN11 14."I don't know if you look good in that dress because I have no sense of fashion. It's probably fine though." —MyCatIsAnActualNinja 15."We love it when you initiate sex. Doesn't have to be all the time. We'll do our part, lol. But it gets old if we're the only ones doing it. We want to feel attractive and like you turn us on, too." —Woodstock0311 16."We do cry when we're feeling down." —Zwienka 17."Yes, your friend is hot, and yes, sometimes hotter than you, but we really don't care that much, and it doesn't eat at us like TV shows play up for their plot lines. We recognize they're hot and move on. We picked you because we love you. Get out of your own head." —RoarOfTheWorlds 18."When we don't want to tell you something, sometimes just go with it. Sometimes it's just inane nonsense in our heads, and you would wonder what choices you made in life to be exposed to this nonsense... like how long does Darth Vader take in the can? Or is the janitor in Scrubs and the policeman in The Fugitive the same person?" —RemoteLocal lastly, "We didn't really get that spider, and it fell somewhere onto the bed." —Fantastic-Trash-8237 You can read the original thread on Reddit. Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.
