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Original poster

Proud of the small stuff DC do

47 replies

robotcollision · 12/08/2021 18:06

MY DC are both late teens now. Today, after a horrendous two weeks of arranging my dad's funeral and sorting out a care home for my mother who has dementia, DH and DS2 took me for a walk in a beautiful nearby park. I bought us some ice creams and when I went to pay discovered DS2 had sneakily paid in advance. Then got home to DS1 ringing from uni town to say he had landed a job in a coffee shop and was over the moon to get barista training. I feel so proud of DS2 (who has HFA) for being so kind and supportive during a crisis and for DS1's work ethic as he is doing a very high pressured joint honours but is choosing to get a job until term starts.

What small things do your DC do that make you prouder than the showy-offy stuff?

OP posts:
Camomila · 12/08/2021 18:13

Oh that is lovely Smile

Mine are how proud DS1 (5) is every time DS2 (18m) learns a new word. He also reads his brothers board books to him and tries to teach him things eg, Not "buh!" DS2, it's a london bus.

DS2 reciprocates by going to stroke DS1s back when it's time to wake up. I also love how he knows to take things to the bin when he's finished with them (including shoes and toys but he's getting there).

Hungryinthefridge · 12/08/2021 18:18

Ds (aged 3) just said, "Thank you mummy." I was shocked to the core and said, "What for sweet?" and he said "My orange." (for peeling it for him). And then proceeded to put the peel in the bin Shock.

He's been a bit naughty lately, shouting all the time and wingey etc. So am so chuffed!

HumdrumGuga · 12/08/2021 18:19

😭 That's adorable OP.

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Families
RhinestoneCowgirl · 12/08/2021 18:22

I knew I'd got something right as a parent when I fell painfully on the stairs (I cried!). My two DC were primary aged at the time and both came running to comfort me with hugs and sympathy.

Your teens sound lovely OP, job well done.

Original poster
robotcollision · 12/08/2021 18:30

@Camomila

Oh that is lovely Smile

Mine are how proud DS1 (5) is every time DS2 (18m) learns a new word. He also reads his brothers board books to him and tries to teach him things eg, Not "buh!" DS2, it's a london bus.

DS2 reciprocates by going to stroke DS1s back when it's time to wake up. I also love how he knows to take things to the bin when he's finished with them (including shoes and toys but he's getting there).

These are so cute. Lovely boys!
OP posts:
Original poster
robotcollision · 12/08/2021 18:31

@Hungryinthefridge

Ds (aged 3) just said, "Thank you mummy." I was shocked to the core and said, "What for sweet?" and he said "My orange." (for peeling it for him). And then proceeded to put the peel in the bin Shock.

He's been a bit naughty lately, shouting all the time and wingey etc. So am so chuffed!

That is adorable.
OP posts:
Original poster
robotcollision · 12/08/2021 18:31

@RhinestoneCowgirl

I knew I'd got something right as a parent when I fell painfully on the stairs (I cried!). My two DC were primary aged at the time and both came running to comfort me with hugs and sympathy.

Your teens sound lovely OP, job well done.

That's so lovely. And thank you.
OP posts:
Original poster
robotcollision · 12/08/2021 18:33

@HumdrumGuga

😭 That's adorable OP.
Thank you. I felt a bit choked up when I saw DS2 putting his debit card back after having sneakily paid for the ice creams. It was so lovely. He's been a rock during this difficult time. And then the pride in DS1's voice at getting a cafe job.
OP posts:
Jericha · 12/08/2021 18:35

what a lovely thread. Sorry things have been tough OP. your boys sound lovely. I'm dyspraxic and always walk into things. I did this last week and said "silly mummy" (better than swearing out loud!). My four year old said "you're not silly mummy, you're wonderful". Ahhhhhh.

NotableTree · 12/08/2021 18:36

Honestly, one of the interesting things about having a child is how impressively hungry they are for learning new stuff when little. I was in total awe of baby DS starting to walk and talk and figure out the word, and how fearless he was about it all. I’m in awe of all babies and toddlers. He’s nine now and still surprising me.

JassyRadlett · 12/08/2021 18:39

What a lovely lovely thread. I’m so sorry about your dad but what lovely boys you have.

I had one of these moments today. My eldest is 9 and has always been very very shy. We have practised ‘talking to grown ups’ for years to get him more confident - even making eye contact with his teachers in the morning used to be a massive trial.

Today we were leaving a cafe we’d never been to before. Indy place with homemade cakes etc. Out of the blue, DS1 stopped as we were leaving, looked the cafe owner in the eye and said beautifully clearly, no shy mumbling, ‘I just wanted to say that was a really great Victoria sponge, one of the best I’ve had, so thank you very much.’

It sounds like such a tiny throwaway moment but I nearly cried, I was so proud of him thinking about the fact that the cafe owner (who had been lovely throughout the visit) might like to be thanked and have his cakes appreciated, and then being willing and able to say it.

MonkeyPuddle · 12/08/2021 18:39

Ah how lovely OP, make sure to tell them how proud you are.

Beakerandbungle · 12/08/2021 18:42

Mine is when my eldest DS 9 ( adhd) tidies the living room for me and make me ‘dinner’ and a coffee and brings them to me on a tray in my bedroom. He puts the coffee cup on a small plate with a serviette he’d found and a biscuit and spoon on the side!

He never really shows physical affection and life with him can be very challenging, but sometimes he just does such thoughtful things ( I’m a single mum so it only is him that does these things for me!). He also once decorated the bathroom with fairy lights and put folded towels and nice bath products out for meSmile

JassyRadlett · 12/08/2021 18:43

Oh @Beakerandbungle what a lovely thoughtful boy!

TheWayTheLightFalls · 12/08/2021 18:46

DD (nearly 4) will occasionally pause and say “Do you know what mum? We had a lovely day.” Just melts my heart.

CarolinaWeeper · 12/08/2021 18:46

DS1 is 4y and can be very timid. We were at a park on Tuesday and there was a very high slide, one of the tube ones that they've always bern scared of because 1. He doesn't like heights and 2. He is scared of going through tunnels. I asked if he wanted to go down the slide (I always ask and he always refuses.) He said "I'll try" then climbed up, had a bit of a nervous monent at the top then slid down. I'll never forget his beaming little face when he emerged at the bottom of the slide. I was so proud of him.

Beakerandbungle · 12/08/2021 18:51

@JassyRadlett at times Grin

But it does help me when he’s being extremely challenging because of his adhd and anxiety as I can try to remember that the anxiety behaviour isn’t who he is.

Some lovely anecdotes of lovely children on here Smile

Chocoqueen · 12/08/2021 18:54

Ahh, nothing to add as DC1 isn't due for another 2 weeks... but these are melting my heart ❤ ♥. All your kids sound lovely! You should be proud!

Sawyersfishbiscuits · 12/08/2021 18:54

I found out that DD2 (who incidentally is horrid to us mostly at the moment🙄) has been a really lovely friend at school to a boy who is being bullied. She held onto his bag for a whole lesson to stop the bullies taking it. She's tiny and doesn't say boo to a goose in lessons but there was no way those bullies were getting his bag!
I'm so proud of her.

Incywinceyspider · 12/08/2021 18:58

DS (22 months) finally managed to negotiate the slide at the park all by himself today. He's never been the most physical child and it's taken a while. Proud mammy moment Smile

Original poster
robotcollision · 12/08/2021 23:11

@JassyRadlett

What a lovely lovely thread. I’m so sorry about your dad but what lovely boys you have.

I had one of these moments today. My eldest is 9 and has always been very very shy. We have practised ‘talking to grown ups’ for years to get him more confident - even making eye contact with his teachers in the morning used to be a massive trial.

Today we were leaving a cafe we’d never been to before. Indy place with homemade cakes etc. Out of the blue, DS1 stopped as we were leaving, looked the cafe owner in the eye and said beautifully clearly, no shy mumbling, ‘I just wanted to say that was a really great Victoria sponge, one of the best I’ve had, so thank you very much.’

It sounds like such a tiny throwaway moment but I nearly cried, I was so proud of him thinking about the fact that the cafe owner (who had been lovely throughout the visit) might like to be thanked and have his cakes appreciated, and then being willing and able to say it.

I love that! I totally get how important that tiny breakthrough is for him and you.

Just catching up with the thread again and reading everyone's lovely stories about their kind and brave DC.

OP posts:
Original poster
robotcollision · 12/08/2021 23:12

@Sawyersfishbiscuits

I found out that DD2 (who incidentally is horrid to us mostly at the moment🙄) has been a really lovely friend at school to a boy who is being bullied. She held onto his bag for a whole lesson to stop the bullies taking it. She's tiny and doesn't say boo to a goose in lessons but there was no way those bullies were getting his bag! I'm so proud of her.
That's wonderful. I'd be so proud if my child did this.
OP posts:
Original poster
robotcollision · 12/08/2021 23:13

@CarolinaWeeper and @Incywinceyspider - those slide stories are lovely. Watching them overcome fear and physical difficulty and just give stuff a go, then to see the smiles on their faces...

OP posts:
Kanaloa · 12/08/2021 23:14

Aww how lovely. Sometimes I think it’s easy to be proud of big things like uni graduation because we expect them, and are waiting for them, but little things like this are unexpected and catch your feelings out in a different way!

Original poster
robotcollision · 12/08/2021 23:15

@Beakerandbungle

Mine is when my eldest DS 9 ( adhd) tidies the living room for me and make me ‘dinner’ and a coffee and brings them to me on a tray in my bedroom. He puts the coffee cup on a small plate with a serviette he’d found and a biscuit and spoon on the side!

He never really shows physical affection and life with him can be very challenging, but sometimes he just does such thoughtful things ( I’m a single mum so it only is him that does these things for me!). He also once decorated the bathroom with fairy lights and put folded towels and nice bath products out for meSmile

Oh he sounds so caring and thoughtful. Especially moving if he's coping with ADHD as well.
OP posts:
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