to be a bit suprised that my grown up kids are...ordinary?

[noteventhebestdrummer]

I suppose I imagined they were going to be brain surgeons or astronauts or something. And they are not, they are just happy regular people which is great of course but somehow I thought they would be something more out-of-the-ordinary.

And they ARE lovely.

I think that's lovely and it means you have done your job extremely well. :)

There's nothing wrong with ordinary and I agree, it sounds like you did a great job!

There is a lot to be said for ordinary when you see the horror of thengs like big brother and x factor with everyone thinking their lives depend on being outrageous and.or famous.i agree you have done well esp if they are lovely and you still LIKE them after the teenage years

I know what you mean - my mum thought we'd do really exciting things and unfortunately (unlike you!) she's let us know that. I see where she's coming from, but honestly, there are three of us and our happiness is in inverse proportion to how 'successful' or 'high flying' we are.

happy is all I aspire to

happy is extra-ordinary

I think the main thing is that they are happy. Who wants miserable career high-flyers or money-obsessed lonely kids anyway? You've done a great job. My parents always instilled in me that as long as I was happy, they were happy-although when I was young they said if I became a tory I would live in the garage!

awwwww, thanks! I am sure you are right.

Although noddyholder, I am not sure I like the 'current' teenager :)

Ah well ... it is against nature to like teenagers, isn't it?

They sound lovely.

Mine is sooooo annoying atm stayed at a friends last night and meant to be home at 11 rang 10 mins ago!Have to think of punishment before he gets in but no internet is a failsafe

ordinary is all i've ever aspired to , for myself, or my children. surprised that you are surprised by this, surprised you imagined anyhting different.

That's exactly the sort of thing where my brothers and I used to provide each other with alibis ... we thought we were so smart, but dad admitted recently that, in fact, he'd known all along we were taking advantage and just didn't want to get mum upset.

They've threatened to do the same to us with the grandchildren, though!

"happy is all I aspire to

happy is extra-ordinary"

agree with activate.
being fucked up or abused is the norm.
so if your children are not that, then you have done a grand job.

noddyholder hows about a few chores around the house.

noteven your kids sound wonderful, well adjusted and well brought up. Think how many unhappy people are around, how lucky to not be one!

out of curiosity, would you describe yourself as ordinary or out-of-the-ordinary?

as others say... if they are happy that's all they need to be! (and sadly being happy is not necessarily all that ordinary )

Happy is what I want for mine.

Brain etc surgeons can still be unhappy!

Be very pleased with yourself.

I don't think jobs like prime minster etc make people happy. Tony Blair aged about 20 years during his time as PM.

I kind of know what you mean, and I am sure your kids are fab, but I just wanted to say that NO ONE is ordinary.

I know it's all icky and vomit inducing, but everyone has their things to overcome (what I see as a tiny step, someone else may see as a huge mountain) and everyone has their gifts, we all may not do something worthy of a history book, but we will all do something amazing, just by being.

The teacher who saved my life for example

The friend who pulls me through the next crisis

the dental nurse who makes ds feel special and proud of beng good at the dentist.

The checkout operator who is patient with ds wanting to put the shopping on the conveyor himself

Every day someone "ordinary" does something that makes our day better, and it really does matter

The kind MNers who are helping us through teh minefield of ASD assessment, with their advice and their knowledge, and hey don't even know us!

I actually know what you mean and think you are very brave for saying it 'out loud'.

My children aren't grown up yet, so at the moment am presuming they will win the Nobel Prize.

I know just what you mean too OP. I am just coming to terms with the fact that I am ordinary (am 39).
I sometimes look at my 3 dc and think that while they are lovely and gorgeous they are actually quite a lot like other children - it suprises me every time.

I am aiming for ordinary, genius often seems to come with a high price.

He has come straight in and is emptying the dishwasher without me screaming He knows he is in the doghouse!

erm I am ordinary to me I guess! But yes, that can be life-changing even in simple ways. I teach and after one lesson - which seemed to be fun but regular to me - the mother of my student said on leaving 'Thank you, that's the only time this week I've seen T smiling, he's having a terrible time in school and nothing we've tried has made him feel better'.

Oblomov, you sound very pessimisic, not sure I agree with you at all

noddyholder, GOOD LUCK

pessimisTic

MEH

But it doesn't matter as you don't need to wear them together.

Um, why was this bumped?

As this thread has already been brought back to life, I would just like to say of course there's nothing wrong with being ordinary. I mean I'm ordinary, after all...