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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:
GnomeDePlume · 12/08/2021 23:25

This is from years ago (DS is now 23). DS was about 5 or 6

We were in a big department store waiting while DH was looking at shoes. A mixed group of young teens is milling about. One of the group drops her purse and loose change spills everywhere. Girl starts to pick up the money. Boys in the group arent helping. Quick as a flash DS skids in on his knees and picks up the change. The boys in the group start laughing at the girl thinking that a little kid is going to take her money. DS picks up the last of the money and hands the whole lot to the girl. The boys in the group went very quiet having been shown up by a small boy who just wanted to help.

Still makes me smile when I think about it.

Custardslice3 · 13/08/2021 08:04

I went to bed with a migraine yesterday - DS has complex needs and can be really triggered by changes to our routine and especially by me being unwell, but he handled it really well and when he woke up this morning he came up to tell me that he wasn't going to play on his tablet in case the noise woke me and made my headache worse - if you ignore the fact that he woke me up to tell me this it was very sweet Grin

He went on to fetch me a half beaker of water and bring it to me in bed as I was super thirsty, and has said lots of kind things about looking after me.

FlemCandango · 13/08/2021 09:21

This is a lovely thread. A reminder that there are millions of kind, responsible and loving children in the world.

I was very proud of my three yesterday. I am back in the office for the first time in 10 months. So it has been a bit chaotic this week. The kids are 12, 15 and 17 but the older two are autistic and middle DD has ADHD as well so they need more help with organising things for themselves. I stayed out an hour or so after work, for leaving drinks for a colleague, DH had wall to wall meetings WFH. So the kids did dinner. Middle DD cooked for her dad and herself. The other two made pizzas from scratch. The first dough 12 yo DD misread the recipe and put far too much water in which made a floury soup, they scrapped it, but they didn't give up started again, and they made 3 tasty pizzas.

They are very sweet natured, slightly anxious young people so I was very pleased that they persisted and learned from their mistakes.

They pitched in with clearing up and loading dishwasher etc. I know it is a small thing but it felt meaningful and reminded me of their developing capabilities - which is reassuring as well.

Interested in this thread?

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Families
FluffyPJs · 13/08/2021 09:30

I have a 15 year old son who spends lots of time out with his friends or on his Xbox but chatting to his friends over the headset whilst watching Netflix rather than playing games. I was away for over a week and when I got home I walked into his room and when he glanced at me his whole face just lit up. I actually felt a rush of love at that point that made me want to cry, and then he nonchalantly said oh you're back, like I'd just popped to the shops. I know he missed me though!!

HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 13/08/2021 09:38

When I was teaching online during Lockdown 11 year old Dd would come in to my office stealthily and deliver me tea. She doesn't often make hot drinks so the fact she thought of me needing one was nice.

Also when she goes on school trips she takes her Gohenry card with her pocket money on and will always buy me a small gift, I always do the same for her when I take my students on a trip but it's sweet she decides ro spend her pocket money on me.

Original poster
robotcollision · 13/08/2021 11:32

@GnomeDePlume

This is from years ago (DS is now 23). DS was about 5 or 6

We were in a big department store waiting while DH was looking at shoes. A mixed group of young teens is milling about. One of the group drops her purse and loose change spills everywhere. Girl starts to pick up the money. Boys in the group arent helping. Quick as a flash DS skids in on his knees and picks up the change. The boys in the group start laughing at the girl thinking that a little kid is going to take her money. DS picks up the last of the money and hands the whole lot to the girl. The boys in the group went very quiet having been shown up by a small boy who just wanted to help.

Still makes me smile when I think about it.

That's put a lump in my throat. How lovely.
OP posts:
Original poster
robotcollision · 13/08/2021 11:34

@Custardslice3

I went to bed with a migraine yesterday - DS has complex needs and can be really triggered by changes to our routine and especially by me being unwell, but he handled it really well and when he woke up this morning he came up to tell me that he wasn't going to play on his tablet in case the noise woke me and made my headache worse - if you ignore the fact that he woke me up to tell me this it was very sweet Grin

He went on to fetch me a half beaker of water and bring it to me in bed as I was super thirsty, and has said lots of kind things about looking after me.

Oh, how gorgeous.

I was telling my Dsis about how kind DS2 has been since our dad died and she said, funny how the one with the ASD diagnosis is the most emotionally intelligent one in the family! Which he is.

OP posts:
Original poster
robotcollision · 13/08/2021 11:36

@FlemCandango

This is a lovely thread. A reminder that there are millions of kind, responsible and loving children in the world.

I was very proud of my three yesterday. I am back in the office for the first time in 10 months. So it has been a bit chaotic this week. The kids are 12, 15 and 17 but the older two are autistic and middle DD has ADHD as well so they need more help with organising things for themselves. I stayed out an hour or so after work, for leaving drinks for a colleague, DH had wall to wall meetings WFH. So the kids did dinner. Middle DD cooked for her dad and herself. The other two made pizzas from scratch. The first dough 12 yo DD misread the recipe and put far too much water in which made a floury soup, they scrapped it, but they didn't give up started again, and they made 3 tasty pizzas.

They are very sweet natured, slightly anxious young people so I was very pleased that they persisted and learned from their mistakes.

They pitched in with clearing up and loading dishwasher etc. I know it is a small thing but it felt meaningful and reminded me of their developing capabilities - which is reassuring as well.

That's lovely too. I like all these examples of autistic children being so helpful and loving and attentive. Explodes some stupid myths about them.
OP posts:
TheFairyCaravan · 13/08/2021 11:47

Lovely thread.

DS1 (26) is a soldier. The garage where he fills his car up has an M&S food hall so he started bringing me Percy Pigs on random occasions. Unfortunately I’ve been quite poorly of late, so the little gifts have got more frequent. If he gets in late I often wake up to a bag of Percy Pigs on the kitchen side. This week it was a box of Percy Pig tarts.

He was away recently and sent me a link to an article he’d read that said the more time you spend with your mum the longer she lives. He put “that’s me avoiding you, then! 😂”. However, when he got home and he found out how poorly I’ve been he put his hand on my shoulder and said “don’t worry mum, I’ll spend loads of time with you so you live forever.”

CarolinaWeeper · 13/08/2021 14:07

don’t worry mum, I’ll spend loads of time with you so you live forever

I'm not crying, honest.

ValidUser · 13/08/2021 14:31

My DS blows the best raspberries and smiles at everyone. He can also roll over.

He's almost 5 months old and he's my IVF baby and I love him so much I could cry. 😊

Goldenphoenix · 13/08/2021 14:59

Was so proud yesterday when after I had got my leg all scratched up while blackberrying my eight year old fetched an antiseptic wipe, sat my down and tended my wounds all off her own back. Was so proud of her initiative and that caring for me was just top of her agenda.

Original poster
robotcollision · 13/08/2021 17:46

@TheFairyCaravan

Lovely thread.

DS1 (26) is a soldier. The garage where he fills his car up has an M&S food hall so he started bringing me Percy Pigs on random occasions. Unfortunately I’ve been quite poorly of late, so the little gifts have got more frequent. If he gets in late I often wake up to a bag of Percy Pigs on the kitchen side. This week it was a box of Percy Pig tarts.

He was away recently and sent me a link to an article he’d read that said the more time you spend with your mum the longer she lives. He put “that’s me avoiding you, then! 😂”. However, when he got home and he found out how poorly I’ve been he put his hand on my shoulder and said “don’t worry mum, I’ll spend loads of time with you so you live forever.”

What a lovely thing to say. And excellent taste. Percy Pigs!
OP posts:
Original poster
robotcollision · 13/08/2021 17:47

@ValidUser

My DS blows the best raspberries and smiles at everyone. He can also roll over.

He's almost 5 months old and he's my IVF baby and I love him so much I could cry. 😊

Oh, cutie. IVF here too, so I know how grateful you must feel to have him.
OP posts:
Original poster
robotcollision · 13/08/2021 17:47

@Goldenphoenix

Was so proud yesterday when after I had got my leg all scratched up while blackberrying my eight year old fetched an antiseptic wipe, sat my down and tended my wounds all off her own back. Was so proud of her initiative and that caring for me was just top of her agenda.
That is so kind of her. At such a young age.
OP posts:
NoEffingWaytoSurvive · 15/08/2021 05:03

I must have something in my eye!

DS is a complete softy, but he tries to be cool when we are out in public Grin.

Recently I managed to surprise him with his favourite activity, and completely unprompted he stopped in the street, thanked me, gave me a huge cuddle and just beamed at me.

He is the best.

NoLeafClover · 15/08/2021 05:32

Gorgeous thread. And it kind of gives me hope for the future.

I don't have children unfortunately, but I remember one time I was looking after my nephew when he was 3. I have a bad back that was particularly bad that day, he wanted a piggyback, and I had to explain that my back was too sore. And he took a cushion, and very gently put it behind my back on the sofa, whilst saying 'if you have a sore back you need this'. I had to work very hard at not crying

BeaLola · 15/08/2021 09:50

My MIL died unexpectedly recently and my DH (only child) got told over the phone - DS 13 just held him and stroked his face as DH cried silently and reminded DH of the lovely visit they both had with her recently - was so caring and just right at time

TeenMinusTests · 15/08/2021 10:49

When DD2 was 3, I dropped a 2lb weight on my besandled toe when cooking. Agony. She went upstairs and got one of her cuddly toys and brought it down for me. Smile

KateF · 15/08/2021 10:54

Dd1 was a very difficult teenager but has grown up massively over the last year. She knew I'd had a tough week at work and was very tired so texted 'I've sent you £20, get a takeaway'. Very sweet and much appreciated.

KateF · 15/08/2021 11:02

Also, had a lovely text conversation with dd2 the other night about the books she remembers from her childhood. She's 20 and has Asperger's so tends to text me random thoughts late at night (or videos of hippos!) but this one turned into a really lovely reminisce of all that time spent reading to her.

GetTaeFuck · 15/08/2021 11:04

I was ill yesterday.

DC1 (13) played with DC3 (5) on and off through the day, and DC2 (10, HFA) made me several cuppas AND a sandwich.

And they all let me choose the Saturday night movie Grin

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