What do you think or hope your DC will say about their childhood when they grow up?

[Charlavail]

Inspired by another thread when people talked about their childhood experiences.

I hope they will be able to say they always felt loved, safe and secure.

That no matter what, they always came 1st with no hesitation.
That we always had fun

The other week DS1 (27) said he’s always known, that no matter what, I’ve always had his back.

@AntlerRose 💔 I bet they will

I really hope mine will say I did my best, put them first & was always there for them. This is in spite of us having to deal with with an abusive & selfish ex H / father who had made all of our lives very difficult.

I wish they would be saying we had lots of fun, like other posters. However, our lives are busy and often stressful & I don't think this is the case as much as I'd wish.

They love their sports & that takes up a massive portion of our lives. I hope they'll recognise the support I've given them in something that matters a lot to them.

(In my own case my parents were far from perfect, and didn't treat me very well at times; however, I always knew they were engaged and aware of what was going on in my life & what mattered, and they supported me educationally to do anything I wanted with no pressure & no limits. I hugely appreciate that.)

I think she'll say I work too much but I hope she knows it was so our holidays and weekends could be filled with joy.

I hope when mine grow up they know instinctively that they were safe, and that there’s always a place for them with us. I hope they have memories of being loved and respected, can acknowledge that whilst we might not always have got it right we did our best by them, and their memories are of a normal experience based against their peers.

Safe and loved, and I’ve always got their backs, and whilst there’s breathe in my body I’m there for them and will keep them safe and be by their side.

I hope they will look back and think it was fun.

My -now adult- children do tell me now- they both loved their childhood.
My DD asked me a few months ago- " Mum how come you managed to get us be so well behaved without punishment or shouting?"

speakout, that's so lovely. I wish I had been much less shouty.

That he spent a lot of time messing about in streams. 3 hour long baths with lego figure adventures. Making cakes with his dad. Holidays to beaches in Wales. Games days with his friends. Bedtime stories.

Oh god, I hope they'll say it was fun! I've worked so hard to make it fun!!

My own was shit. I was cold, hungry, scared and lonely for most of it. I just want theirs to have been full of fun (and love).

I hope he doesn't resent me for being an only child or being divorced from his dad.

I think there might be a lot more anti-screen time feeling and she’ll look back with bemused horror on how much I let her have - in the way I know laugh about my parents letting us all cram into a car boot!

That we always put them first, do our our best to give them life experiences & fun and that we absolutely love them, even when they drive us mad & they can come to us with anything and it will be okay.

That they were loved, and were allowed to be children.

Tbh I think that if your DC only have trivial gripes, and aren't afraid to express them to you, you've done a great job.

I tell myself that I'll be happy if DS grows up feeling warm, clean and safe. In reality he doesn't think about those things (I hope), because he takes them for granted. Good result, I think.

How loved they were.

That we always there to watch the Christmas performances, the sports days, that they always had the right costume on on the (many) themed school days (Wear Orange to celebrate the Netherlands! Dress up as a Minibeast! etc etc).

That we prioritised outside time and that they climbed trees, fished, swam in streams, went blackberry picking, played in the garden most of the summer.

That mummy and daddy were kind, supportive and fun!