The Mommy Affect: Ashley & Kathleen

Introduction:
Allow me to introduce #Tallistas Ashley (6’4”) and her mom Kathleen (5’10”) – Ashley’s pillar of strength, confidence, and support. They are from Grand Prairie, Texas.

Ashley and I met on the set of a Height Goddess (clothing for tall women) photoshoot in 2014 as she and her younger sister came out to see and support their friend and retired WNBA player Chantelle Anderson (6’4”).

It was a tall girl moment I will never forgot. I was surrounded by women who were confident, had great energy and were happy to be in the company of fellow #Tallistas. Since the day we met in Dallas, Ashley has become a mom to a handsome son Destin and an entrepreneur. Congrats, Ashley.

As a result, I am excited to share Ashley’s ‘Mommy Affect’ story with all of you.

The Mommy Affect Description:
Each day of this week I will share one to two stories leading up to Mother’s Day. The purpose for TALL District’s Mommy Affect Series is to honor moms who make a difference in our tall lives. It also provides an opportunity to shed light on the ‘tall’ impact that mothers and mother figures of all heights (short, tall, average) have on their tall daughters ‘height experience’ and confidence.

Ashley & Kathleen Story
Daughter:             Mother:
Ashley                  Janna
6’4”                      5’10”

Mommy Affect: Daughter’s Perspective (Ashley)

Moms Impact
Having tall parents made being tall not as weird. It really only felt crazy to be this tall out in public.

Activities to Create Normalcy
My mom saw early on that I was going to be an athlete. She thought it was going to be track and field. She allowed me to play all sports until I settled on basketball. I think putting me in a world that my height was celebrated was key for my self confidence.

Takes a village
My K5 teacher was 5’10″ or 5’11″. It felt good to have a tall teacher because she could be the tall one (not me). I felt weird, even at 5, compared to the other kids.

“Build her up so the world can’t tear her down.” – Ashley R.

Interaction with Tallistas
My mom didn’t accept slouching, being messy, or not wearing earrings. I’ve always been a girly girl so that worked out in my favor. I try to give young #Tallistas confidence by being a positive example of what 6’4” can look like. 

“Building up her character was important so if she did get teased she could handle it.” – Kathleen R

Recommendations from one Tallista to another
I would tell Tallistas to stand tall and to be proud of the skin that they are in. Mothers of Tallistas, I would tell them to do their best with keeping their Tallistas’s heads up. Build her up so the world can’t tear her down.

Message to Mom
Having a tall mom was awesome! She was my first example of beauty. Her dark brown skin, curvy hips, and long legs were what I always wanted. I wanted to be like her.  Mom, I thank you for all those days that you made me stand up straight and walk proud. It has become a habit and something I am very proud of.

Mommy Affect: Mother’s Perspective (Kathleen) 

Height Awareness
I knew when Ashley outgrew the baby charts that she was a big kid. She was a really really really fat baby and was wearing 2T at 8 months. When the baby fat came off, around 2-3 years old, I knew she was going to be tall because she was so much bigger than the other babies. By the the time she went to grade school she was a whole head taller than her classmates.

Ashley and her cousin Che on her 3rd birthday. Che is 6 days older than Ashley.

Raising a Tallista
I just wanted to keep her uplifted because I got teased as a kid for being tall. Her being tall was seperate than her being a basketball player. I didn’t let her stand hunched over. Building up her character was important so if she did get teased she could handle it.

“She was a really really really fat baby and was wearing 2T at 8 months.” – Kathleen R.

Overcoming Tall Chalenges
The clothing was the hardest part. She was wearing preteen sizes by 5th grade. It was expensive to dress her, but worth it. I also didn’t want my daughter to feel like she had to play basketball because she was tall. God gave her the gift of athleticism. As a result, building her confidence was very important to her success.

Tall Resources
We were able to order 39 inch inseam Levi jeans online, made to order. Also, Nordstrom had larger stylish shoes.

Advice From One Mother to Another
1. Be supportive
2. Be patient
3. Admire their courage
4. Keep them uplifted
5. Always remember being tall is a trait not her character.

Thank you so much, Ashley and Mrs. Kathleen. Mrs. Kathleen, thank you for being a great example of what a mother can do to uplift her child. Ashley, continue to let your fashion light shine.

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I hope you enjoyed reading Ashley and Kathleen’s story. I would love to hear your stories as well. Leave a comment in the section below and tell us what you think about the post and/or share your ‘Mommy Affect’ story.

TALL Blessings,
J. Enovy

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