Ouch! That would be bad enough to say to a grown up, but to a child? (I get that all the time, but I'm not 12, so I say, "No, not a diet Coke, a REAL Coke." Or did say.)

Isn't it true, though, how a chance comment, especially in childhood, can linger for years?

I remember once, taking ballroom dancing lessons when I was 14. I was on my Very First Diet, starting at about 160. I don't remember how much I'd lost, but I was in a size 14 which, in 1960s sizes, would be a size 10 today. I looked fine. We had to walk across the room, say something gracious to someone, and walk back and sit down. The instructor said, "She's too fast" and all the boys giggled. He turned to them and said, "I didn't say she's too fat. I said she's too fast." I was absolutely devastated and did the only sane thing -- went out afterwards and ate a hot fudge sundae.