It’s not the usual way but come brag to me about your kids (and yourself)

[Pleasegivemeyourwisdom]

can’t sleep. Had a thought. Thought I’d share it……

Basically, we knock our pans in as parents, have lots of crisis’s of fear over the humans we are raising, often feel wholly inadequate and worried for them …

so come brag about them - unashamedly to me😃 and give yourself a pat on the back while you’re at it. I’ll join you 😃

dc1 - autistic - what a roller coaster. I’m proud that he’s so kind. People comment on it. And he’s gentle and loving. And despite high school being hell, he got through it and into college. He’s coping. Awesome lad.

Dc2 - tackled having a rare childhood mass like a champ. Some terrible terrible previous times with his health but he has shown true resilience. The mass is out now and he’s doing well. I admire him. Greatly.

dd3 - has some wise traits for her tender teenage years. Is far less zipped up the back as a teen that I was. I admire her for that. And I like the she is so creative. I admire her ability to quietly not people please too! Go girl!

I’m going to dare to believe that even though I live with depression (and have crawled through periods of their lives due to it), I have actually been there for them enough to have helped these qualities I like to emerge!

Also, people tell me sometimes that I have really great kids. That makes me feel a bit less like a duffer at this whirlwind parenting malarkey.

Dont get me wrong, there’s nothing outstanding in a worldly way about any of the 3 of them, and sometimes they’re pratts of the highest order, but they’re mine and they’re still standing despite all our crazy set backs!

Now your turn. 😘
brag to me x don’t be shy 😃

My boys lost their dad December last year, and have been so resilient and strong. Much more than me!

DS2 is the wildest child, he is loud, 100 miles an hour, and never fails to make everyone smile. And the most loving cuddly boy you could ever meet, and very clever to boot! And swims like a bloody fish!

DS1 is my biggest fan, everything I do he will compliment and cheer me on. I've recently been learning to knit and made the most wonky square and I got 'mummy! That's really good!!!' And the most loving big brother. He's recently been picked for a football team too and is absolutely thrilled!

They have my whole heart and I couldn't be prouder of them

DS1 has autism and learning difficulties. He is so empathetic towards others. We recently adopted a very abused little cat and she spends her entire day with him. Where he is she is. he sits down for a second and she is on his lap. he has taken to spending alot of the day lying on the sofa as that is her happy place and they just cuddle all day.

Parenting high five to you OP. You are enough. You raised incredible people who have probably dealt with too much in their short lives, but you made it all ok. You are amazing. No wonder your kids are strong and resilient.

Ds2 is profoundly deaf and autistic... We nearly lost him when he had fits at two weeks old.. I ran into the hospital holding him, screaming for help, a doctor was waiting, grabbed him and ran with me behind him..
He found his Dadda dead just before his fifth birthday which took a long time to get over.
He went away to residential school aged seven and has stayed in the area... He does a lot of volunteering... He's met loads of celebs and he carried the Commonwealth Baton last year... I'm a very proud Mumma Bear... 💙 ♥

DS(6) is fucking brilliant. Autism, ADHD, FASD, Global Developmental Delay. Has experienced more trauma in his little life than most adults. He’s just so HAPPY all the time. An absolute joy to be around. And so clever, despite all his challenges he is soaring ahead at school and working well above his actual age across the curriculum. He’s the best.

DD1 is 15, autistic, hasn't attended school for 2 years and barely leaves her room. In the last couple of weeks she's joined the gym with a friend and went on her own yesterday. She's been on a train and a bus, both of which she refused to do before. And been to a last minute concert with 80,000 people. She usually freaks if there's more than 4 people in a room. I've seen my funny, affectionate girl come back for a little while. I'm so so proud of her.

And DD2, 11, is just a little superstar, getting on with things in her own crazy way even when the attention is on her sister. She's kind and cuddly and fabulous.

Well neither of mine have faced any of the challenges of the above children and hats off to all of them for coming through all of that. I just really like my children. They are now 20 (working a summer internship in his subject that he is ridiculously passionate about) and 17, trying to put together his personal statement for uni over this summer which involves some interesting chats about his subject as I have no clue about it.

Neither of them complain about their chores, being asked to help with anything from shitty tip runs, gardening or gardening clean up, unpacking supermarket shopping (although I think this is so they can see what goodies have been bought) they watch tv shows with us, talk to us about things they have come across in the day or share memes or silly videos. They are just lovely people.

They are kind, polite, thoughtful, never had shouting matches with them, no door slamming and I have never been sworn at (to my face ) just conversations/family meetings. They sit listening to elderly relative's conversation and act interested even though you know their games console is calling them where they can play with their mates. They are lovely, simply lovely.

There is a theme

DS1, autistic, despite a reasonably challenging 0-8 years has grown into the worlds most epic teenager. He is kind, thoughtful and sensible. Just waiting for GCSE results then off to college.

DS2, dyspraxia and ADHD, currently a slightly challenging teen but I love the way he is will try everything. He’s aware of his limitation but will give everything a shot he will keep trying until he achieves what he wants . Love his bravery. He is confident in who he is. He is also very kind (when he remembers he’s not Kevin the teenager).

❤

I was wondering if there would be a theme when I posted. I think it's because parents of children with any sort of difficulty see their peers or their friends' children achieving things in the regular way- at school or on the sports field or just doing the normal things in daily life. And sometimes we have micro-griefs all over again. I may not be articulating that very well. But, the last week of term we had sports day and awards night. I went to both of course and watched DS1's peers being feted and it is all for things he is unlikely to ever achieve. Poor Ds was convinced he was getting an award because he had asked his head of year if he really really had to attend and was told he had to. So he interpreted that as he was getting an award. We went, DH dressed up in a nice suit, the whole bit. No award- what the head of Year meant was attendance was compulsory. DS was devastated and to be frank so were we, but of course had to hide it from him.

So it's really nice to have a thread where we can celebrate their achievements- for any kid, for whatever reasons - if they have additional needs and are achieving things others take for granted or if they don't and are just really nice and good people.

And I will just make a shout out to the kids in DS1's class at sports day. He could not work out how to hold or work the shotput. The popular sporty boy in the class held up the entire competition so he could help DS pick it up, and hold it and showed him how to move his arms. When DS finally made the shot and it fell about 30 cm from him the entire class cheered and clapped him on the back. 💖

(Now I am in tears just thinking of it).

I love these. Well done to you all on your brilliant children!

DD, ASD, 8 just tries everyday. She hates school but goes in most days, sometimes after an hour, sometimes after an hour and a half. I cannot imagine how it must feel to have to tolerate going in somewhere everyday that you find just terrifying.
She just had a meltdown about going into holiday club and I just feel her pain. It's not manipulative, it's not dramatic, she really does think that everything outside of the front door and away from me is intolerable.
But she went in.

DS6 has to spend a lot of time waiting around for DD and never ever resents it. He is always loving. He is constantly trying to learn how to soothe her and find the things she enjoys to try to tempt her to try new things. He shouldn't have to but he wants to.

My eldest has ADHD, lots of ASD traits and battled anorexia on and off for over a decade and is currently divorcing her cheating ex. But, despite that she has become a caring compassionate doctor and has grown stronger than ever. I couldn't be prouder of her.

Eldest son was a tricky kid and a frankly horrendous teen but has now grown into a gentle, funny, kind man. He found the love of his life , moved to her country and is following his passion for music there and having some success. He and his wife recently found a feral cat and newborn kittens and they managed to socialise the kittens, neuter and rehome Mum to a farm and find homes for the kittens (except the one they kept)

DD2 is simply the most competent and gentle person I know and always has been. She has an innate gift for helping others and is now a childrens' hospice nurse. I have no idea how she does it, looking after whole families at the worst time of their lives. She juggles that with managing other staff and no sleep due to her own toddler.

DS2 has autism. Special Schooled, learning difficulties, never expected to do much and won't ever live independently. But he has a job in the local supermarket, works full time, and is much loved by everyone. He's also brilliant at his job, loves to chat to all his customers and remembers everything about them. He's also the kindest uncle and loves to read to his nephew who adores him and their relationship makes my heart sing. My kids are amazing and I have no idea how they became the lovely adults they are but I am very glad!

DD is 3.5 and has just started speaking in mandarin (she goes to a bilingual nursery but we only speak English at home). It's like something suddenly clicked in her brain and she's doing so well with it!

DS is 20 months and is starting to get the hang of doing multi piece puzzles!

I'm so proud of them both.

Your kids all sound amazing 🥰🥰🥰

Such a lovely, positive thread!

Ds is 6.5 months and is being very brave at trying foods and holding his own spoon while dealing with teething pains !
Love reading about all your bigger dc too x

DS1 - ADHD, anxiety and OCD - can be so challenging at times, but so so brave the way he digs in and does stuff even though he struggles. He also can be very funny and at times so kind, I had an operation recently and it was him that tidied and cleaned for me for weeks afterwards. I wish he could have more self confidence.

DS2 - he’s such a kind and gentle soul, so good at school, always helping others. Sometimes he leaves me little sweet funny notes. He puts up with a lot from his brother that I wish he didn’t have to! He’s also fiercely and quietly himself (he’s into dance and drama).

DD17 absolute genius, so driven, loves life and stretches every last little bit out of every opportunity. Always pleasant and has been the model teenager.

DD14 can be an absolute pain in the arse but this is all rooted in agonising anxiety, which he overcomes daily. He's so kind to others that I've had numerous calls home from school - the best one being when a girl he didn't know fell in town and he held her arm (broken elbow) and called her parents. He spends his holidays volunteering for the HAF holiday kids sessions and they're forever feeding back about how amazing he is.

I love these!

thank you for sharing!