I’m six feet tall, but my whole family has dwarfism – that’s what it looks like

A man who stands at six feet tall has revealed what it was like growing up in a family of parents and siblings who all have dwarfism.

Peet Montzingo, of Los Angeles, California, fits into society’s image of what someone “should look like,” but his family often felt like an outsider because of his slightly above average height.

Peet grew up in a family where everyone has dwarfism – which is defined as an adult height of four feet or less – and spent his childhood watching his parents, Vicki and Darrell, and siblings, Jennifer and Andrew, being bullied and photographed by strangers.

The six-foot-tall man even sometimes wished he was a “dwarf” so he could feel less guilty about fitting into a crowd.

Peet (pictured with his mother Vicki) grew up in a family where everyone has dwarfism – which is defined as an adult height of four feet or less

The six-foot-tall man even sometimes wishes he was a “dwarf” so he could feel less guilty about fitting into a crowd

Speak against TodayPeet described what it was like growing up in a family of short statured people.

He explained that he always “hated” when people stared at his family, adding that he was “always ready to fight someone.”

According to Vicki, as a little boy, Peet often said, “Mom, I wish I were a dwarf.”

She added: “He fit in with society’s idea of ​​what a person should look like, but at home he felt like the odd one out.”

And Peet’s tall stature caused him and his brother Andrew, a third-grade teacher from South Carolina, to have a strained relationship growing up.

Andrew, who has a rare form of dwarfism, spent many days in and out of the hospital for spinal surgeries and breathing problems. Because of this, Peet admitted that he was often jealous of the attention his brother received.

Similarly, Andrew disliked Peet for his height, good health, and his ability to participate in sports more easily.

Andrew said, “There was some jealousy because I like sports. We played small league together and he would be the kid in left field picking daisies and not competing.

“And I’m like, ‘Peet, you’ve got the perfect build and you’re not even using it right. Switch bodies with me.'”

However, as they got older, Andrew began to see that Peet faced challenges too.

When the family went to amusement parks, the dwarfed family members were not allowed to get on every ride because of their height, and Peet thought it was bad to go alone.

Peet was also extremely sensitive about his family being treated.

Speaking to Today, Peet (pictured with Vicki and brother Andrew) described what it was like growing up in a family of petite people

And Peet’s tall stature caused him and his brother Andrew, a third-grade teacher from South Carolina, to have a strained relationship growing up.

Now Andrew and Peet have reconciled and Peet spends his time creating content on his TikTok account where he helps advocate for people with dwarfism

“I definitely felt anger and sadness from him when we were younger.

“The pointing, the stares, and the name-calling — the name-calling really hit him,” Andrew explained.

Now Andrew and Peet have reconciled and Peet spends his time creating content on his TikTok account where he helps advocate for people with dwarfism.

Peet — who has 12.7 million followers on the video-sharing platform — often jokes that he’s the “real Buddy the Elf.”

He told Today, “I feel like I’ve finally found my place in the world. I teach people about differences. I get so many messages like, “You’ve changed my perspective, thanks for opening my eyes.”

Last year, Peet published a children’s book titled “Little Imperfections: A Tall Tale of Growing Up Different.”

Vicki said she is extremely proud of her son and loves that he is helping the world see people who suffer from dwarfism differently.

“We may look different and we may move differently, but inside we are all the same,” she said.