If you watch what kids do, you'll be kicking the seat back of the person in front of you.

I'm the same height as you, KatW, and I have no idea how the tall folks put up with steerage. Even I feel cramped there, although leg room isn't usually the problem. With short legs it is sometimes comfortable to rest a foot on the protruding part of the arm rest of the row in front of me (kind of my own personal foot rest). Your leg will be bent but because you have short legs it is not at all uncomfortable.