What are you proud of re your parenting? Boast freely!

[Chewingle]

A quiet morning here and chance to reflect on parenting that I’m proud of.

Yes, likely in reality that I had very little to do with it - but irrelevant to purposes of this thread.

And, needless to say.... I could start another thread on all my parenting fails?

But just for this thread - only positive.

1. My children are readers. As I write this, all reading. It is rare not to have at least one of them reading over the last year at home mainly.

1. They watch little TV (but do love a movie or some trash TV (moving in quickly)) and not interested in computer games.

1. Very sporty. Hugely so. And all represent their schools in top teams.

1. This makes me particularly proud - they are so polite, articulate and confident. They are great at conversing with pretty much anyone - from 92 year old neighbour to 5 year old cousin.

1. They are interested in the world, they are positive and hopeful and full of enthusiasm for life.

1. They are so affectionate and loving with me.

1. They are happy. Very happy.

Would love to hear yours?

My DS (3) is dry at night and has been for around 6 months. My DD (1) has recently stayed all night in her cot. I feel like that's where my parenting is at the moment. How old are your DC?

Teens

Good on you!

Sounds lovely.

My youngest (2) is so enthusiastic about life, always smiling and giving every thing a go.

My eldest (4) is kind, caring, loving and compassionate

I'm proud to have single handedly raised two wonderful young men with their own homes and partners, who work hard and are thoughtful and loving.

@fairydustandpixies

I'm proud to have single handedly raised two wonderful young men with their own homes and partners, who work hard and are thoughtful and loving.

Oh I can’t believe I didn’t include that in too a single parent

Perhaps that why I’m feeling so bloody proud of myself today!

Well done you!

The reading, sports, kindness and decency achievements are their successes IMO and I am delighted but...

I AM proud of how well they get on with each other.
How well they treat each other and how respectful and supportive they are among themselves.

They pretty much do what I ask them to without me needing to badger them, and we are a good team when required. Also they are funny, and can take a joke.

I’m not hugely interested in mine being sporty/artsy/readers/writers, all those interests have their own merits and are down to personality in my opinion.

That’s being said, all 5 of my DC are no fools, quite streetwise, which I think is parenting. My priority has been them being independent, kind and emotionally resilient which they all are. Honest too, although sometimes to a fault!

DH has made them adventurous and I’m proud of that too. They speak up for themselves and know their worth without being cocky. Not easily led. Otherwise they are all quite different.

Eldest has own child, he is a great, hands on dad. This makes me almost self-combust with pride.

@RubyFakeLips

I’m not hugely interested in mine being sporty/artsy/readers/writers, all those interests have their own merits and are down to personality in my opinion.

That’s being said, all 5 of my DC are no fools, quite streetwise, which I think is parenting. My priority has been them being independent, kind and emotionally resilient which they all are. Honest too, although sometimes to a fault!

DH has made them adventurous and I’m proud of that too. They speak up for themselves and know their worth without being cocky. Not easily led. Otherwise they are all quite different.

Eldest has own child, he is a great, hands on dad. This makes me almost self-combust with pride.

You didn’t need to preempt your successes by downplaying others.

Must be particularly lovely when you see your children being great parents themselves, I look forward to that

I’m proud that I do a visual time table for my daughter every day to help her cope, that I create social stories to enable her to more easily cope with difficult situations, like vaccinations, toilet training, going back to preschool. That I have sequencing strips to help her wash her hands, and go to the toilet.

I’m proud that I’ve spent so much time reading about speech and language practices to help her communication. That I’ve done online courses in occupational therapy to help her developmental delays.

I’m proud that I have done courses on understanding autism, sensory processing disorder, so that I can help her as much as I possibly can.

I’m proud that I have a great and positive relationship with her key worker and other professionals so we can all help her.

I’m proud of my daughter because she keeps trying. And she is so loving and kind. I’m proud that she is now able to take herself to her room if her little sister is screaming and she can’t cope with the sound.

For my youngest I’m proud that she is so loving and so keen to catch her sister up. She’s so creative when it comes to duplo and building anything.

@Allthenumbers

My word you should be proud

Proud that:

1. Mine's not a 'reader' but could read from age 3 and by age 7 was able to read, spell and type extensively through computer games, apps and watching a lot of videos on the computer, starting from the ones I set up for them to watch and the ones I introduced them to, to the ones they found themselves when they were old enough. I always helped with difficult words and better handwriting developed much later.

Not to mention they watched a lot of 'how to' videos and learned to make so many things from them; was an aspiring vet/police officer/swimming instructor, marine biologist, etc all at different times through visual learning and being out in the world exploring and experiencing things.

I was/still am a reader but even I don't have the quick-thinking and imaginative skills they possess (Not to their level anyway). This is really their nature and reading for fun seemed limiting to them.

1. This love of computer games and everything to do with Tech has led down a very lucrative and fulfilling career for them and I'm so pleased I didn't look down on/prefer one form of learning over the other.

1. So helpful, friendly, genuinely kind, cheerful, has a strong sense of fairness, doesn't look down on anyone, not overly impressed by anyone either, very happy in their own skin/good self-worth/self-esteem and does their own thing regardless of what anybody else is doing, fearless and honest - will not say one thing and mean another or say what they don't mean.

1. Isn't too emotional or mushy (unlike me) so when I'm often randomly told "I love you mum", "You're the best", "You're cool, mum", I know it comes from a genuine place and not just a platitude, because it wasn't prompted and they wouldn't say it if they didn't feel it. It feels even more special.

One of the best days of my life was when I was told, from nowhere: "Mummy, I really love my life". That was when I knew I made it as a parent. Again, because they don't typically say these "deep" things (What they call anything emotional/sentimental). All my fears went away and I stopped constantly thinking I'd failed or didn't do enough.

So much more but this should do.

I'm proud of mine for different reasons:
My eldest for battling and beating her anorexia and still managing to do the job she was born for. She's a doctor and her committment to her patients and her love for her job is amazing.
My DS1 for following his heart and taking a leap of faith to move to the other side of the world. His work ethic and his music.
My DD2 for a compassion in her work (childrens hospice nurse)and her competence at life !
My DS2 who despite his autism, despite his learning disabilities, has a job, and is the kindest, loveliest young man. I'm constantly greeted with 'oh your XXX he is so lovely, I always go to his till because he is so friendly and helpful' He didn't walk til 3 or speak til he was 5 and yet here he is, and he has worked tirelessly and cheerfully throughout Covid.

No idea how they all turned out so well but I am so glad!

Mine are healthy, happy and confident.

They each have their own interests, strengths and achievements.

DSD15 is currently working through the entire household washing, DSD9 is baking a cake, they keep bringing DH and I tea as we fit a bathroom.

V grateful for them today!

I am proud that on discovering that my three year daughter old has autism I felt sad for a few days, then picked my self up dusted myself off and got on with learning how I could help her. Lots of things finally made sense. This is after a truly horrendous birth which took me months to recover from, various medical issues for her which meant I was unable to leave the house with her for her first year, dealing with the resulting crippling loneliness and anxiety and then having another baby.

I gave up my career to be a full time carer to her as well as a mum. Well I never went back after maternity leave. She needed me. Still does.

I, like another poster, went on various courses to learn about autism. I created visual timetables and lots of other resources to help her cope with life. I fought with blood sweat and tears to have her in an EHCP with adequate support before she started school. I fought for her to be allowed to go to the school (mainstream) that we chose as best for her even when they said no, she couldn't come we can't meet her needs (they could, and they do, very well). I've held her whilst she screams and hits me, totally out of control and deal with that with patience and understanding. I've changed my parenting completely going against what I've always thought I would do, to ensure I'm being the best mum I can be for her (and my other child who as yet shows no signs of autism).

I say I but it's really a we, as DH has also done all of these things too. Child is five now, and my word what a five years it's been.

I'm not always proud, I have bad days and make parenting decisions that I regret like everyone does. But overall, I'm proud of my family.

My 3 y/o has recently coped with her Daddy disappearing into hospital for a month, then coming home and dying suddenly three weeks later, then moving house in with 2 other adults and 2 kids and changing childcare after her nursery closed suddenly. She hasn't regressed in any way and has taken it all in her stride. She's amazing. She talks about her Daddy with affection and love, and talks to him in Heaven. She is unfailingly polite without having to be reminded, always says please and thank you, and always wants to make people happy. She is very kind and wants to help me and others. She's an absolute treasure.

DS(15)

Is a reader - with eclectic taste
He'll try any food at least once
He has a wicked, dry sense of humour
He's polite & kind
He's very loving
He's a good cook
He has his own views and isn't afraid to disagree with his friends or call out bad behaviour
He rarely moans

DD1

• That when I was a single parent with a demanding job, high needs toddler, little money and we were the only two eating in the house, we always ate dinner sat at the table without the TV.
• That other people always commented on her manners
• That she’s a well rounded, kind empathetic women despite her dad being a dick

DD2

• keeping her alive
• not choosing the easiest route sometimes and instead acting for her best interest at personal cost.

With both of them I could have done more and better. I could have done a lot worse too.

My teen DS never misses the toilet or leaves the seat up.
As a lone parent with no male relatives I'm relieved we got that one right.

Both of mine (11 months, and nearly 4) love books and I love that.

11 month old is hitting all her milestones and is the happiest little baby.

4 year old is very resilient and independent - her forest kindergarten have commented a few times about how she tries hard at everything which is lovely. She's (mostly( very kind and looks after he sister.

@megletthesecond

My teen DS never misses the toilet or leaves the seat up. As a lone parent with no male relatives I'm relieved we got that one right.

Now that IS an achievement 😃

Mine is a positive child. He has chronic illness and suffered so much since he was a baby, but turned out to be happy child, full of life.

Love these - thank you!

Very proud of my 3 boys. Eldest is 16 and has coped magnificently with learning at home and the cancelled exams fiasco.

Twins are almost 13 and are lovely to be around, best friends and great company.

They are all even looking forward to going out for a walk with me this afternoon in the wind and drizzle!