to ask you what you love most about your kid(s)

[QueenNefertitty]

Just seen an awful thread about a kid being sworn at in public (promise this isn't a TAAT)....

it made me feel rotten, and for some reason I started thinking about DS and all the things I love about him, listing all the ways he makes my heart swell. I wanted to share them, and thought other people might want to too...

theres always so much turmoil and worry about parenting/ kids/ child development on MN - it seemed like a nice Friday night jolly thread - hopefully not too mushy from me!

Anyway, DS is 18 mo, and the things that tug my heartstrings the most are-

The way he tries to put my face cream on my face and rub it in for me

The way he says 'Mama' when he's tired and wants to breastfeed

The way he offers me his food on a fork if I finish mine first, with a very intent look on his face

The way he stands on my feet and asks for 'a dance'

The way he sniffs tubs of playdough with a big inhale like its a delicate, savoury bouquet

The hand movement he does when he sees a fish in a picture book, or in real life (like a one handed clap)

The way he reaches out to hold my hand when we're setting off walking outside

The way he waves goodbye and shouts 'BYYYYYEEEE' AFTER someone's already left (never before)

Mine are older, 11 and 13.

With the eldest it’s seeing her grow into her adult self, watching her confidence and independence grow and the pride she takes in her abilities. And it’s losing her on a walk to find she’s spotted a good climbing tree and is half way up it.

With the younger it’s the tight, tight hugs she gives me when I kiss her goodnight, the giggling with friends, and the constant singing.

With both it’s the care they take of their little cousins; it’s breathless laughter when snuggling on the sofa with them to watch the IT Crowd or Gogglebox and it’s chats about anything and everything while we walk the dog.

@bettina

DS has this week started asking for 'BUTTBUTT' (butter) 'COCK LIT' (chocolate) and 'KEK!' (cake)

Butter I understand - we eat far too much. but the cake and chocolate... I blame his nursery key worker

Oh yes the hand reaching for mine. Still when she's 7.

My littlest is funny, strong, loving and honest.
The middle one is earnest, true and quizzical
The oldest is sweet natured, loving and open.

My heart melts at the thought of them

What a cool thread! Thanks OP. 🤗

I love how empathic (empathetic?) my youngest son is. He gives half his pocket away to charity every month. He's also kind, super affectionate and soooooo chatty.

I love how cutting and blisteringly funny my oldest is. He also has the loveliest eyes I've ever seen, and dark hair like Lawrence Olivier in Wuthering Heights... A gypsy predicted his birth to me, years before his conception. I think he's destined to do important things.

Queen you have done something wonderful tonight. You started such a positive thread and then hung around to give us all personal responses. Thats seriously supportive.
Parenthood is so bloody hard. It can be so negative when it doesnt need to be. Thank you for bringing our focus to the positive!

My dd is 5 months and we’re foinf through a challenging phase...
But every morning when I go and get her from her cot when she’s woken at 5.30 and her little face breaks into the biggest smile when she’s seen me... makes me melt and makes 5.30am my favourite time of day ❤️

DS has a great sense of humour and a real awareness of things going on around him...he's pretty perceptive.

DD is amazingly determined in all she does. She's very creative and talented. Today she told me I'm the best mum

My 6 year old dd's need to brush my hair, every day. The way she thinks she can be the best in the world at anything if she tries hard enough. Her silliness and weird jokes.

Lovely thread 😍

@Whatsgoingon

I kept getting The Sun tarot card when I met DS father. I thought it was about him and our new relationship.

When I fell pregnant three months later (!!!!) I knew I'd got the reading wrong, and the universe was telling me DS was coming. And he is that little golden haired sunshine in human form - fierce and blinding and warm and all the worlds revolve around him...

My DS’ (3) enthusiasm and fun. Also when he’s tired or just wants a cuddle he’ll come and stand next to me and wait for me to scoop him up. The rest of the time he won’t let me near him!
I love it when I pick up DD (8months) to stop her crying and she furiously sucks her thumb while the other hand grabs my face.

and thank you @jobbie - it's the hardest thing I've ever done. I'm in bits most nights by the time I've put DS to bed, cracked on with work for my ridiculous job, and cleaned the house up... Living on 5 hours sleep at best, and have many moments I wonder how the fuck we'll make it through the day.

But we do - and I'm far from perfect - but I'm proud to say I'm doing my best - and so should all the other mothers here tonight. You're doing your bests, and your kids are lucky little souls

Also - promise havent been drinking, just standing in the power of my motherhood today!

DS 18- He is kind and caring. He is open about himself and who he is. He is a worrier and he finds life hard. He has worked his butt off to get good grades. Nothing comes easy to him but he still pushes himself. He is funny and he loves debating with me. He loves learning about feminism and detests sexism, and makes a stand against it when he witnesses it. He is very passionate about many subjects.

DS16- He is is also very kind. Very generous and sensitive. He has a lot of get up and go. He is an amazing friend, and a very loyal person, but he also will not accept be treated badly and has very firm boundaries. He has great self-esteem and a lot of self-respect.

DS14- I will start by saying that he is my struggle. I love how he makes friends everywhere he goes. He is charming and amazing with people. People are drawn to him like a magnet. He is full of spark, very fun to be around. I love how he can laugh at himself.

DD-11 She is very serious, very intelligent and knows that she wants to achieve lots in life academically and she pushes herself. She is also extremely kind, an amazing big sister to my younger one. She is a very wise head on young shoulders. She is so very determined.

DD-9 She is funny, has sharp wit. She is very loving, and also kind. She is a cheerful soul. She really knows how to make people feel special. She is very independent.

They have each others backs. They might annoy each other at home but to the world they are a team and they look after each other. Its so sweet.

Queen Im 5 years on, 3 babies in and yes Ive had 3 glasses of wine. This is a lovely thread.

For me, school was the hardest. But every parent meets their battle. Its great to have a thread where we are not complaining about something. Great idea!

With DS 7 it’s the way he’s so caring and patient with his little brother (most of the time!), his passion for wildlife and especially his keen interest in birds and his love for reading. Also the way he still holds my hand and when I say ‘I love you’, he says ‘ok’ ( which really means ‘ I love you too ‘).
With DS 3 it’s his brilliant hugs and his special smell, the way he’s still so proud of himself when he can do something, his curly hair and the way he trusts and loves his big brother. Also now that he’s started nursery, he’s excited about making friends. He’s cute when he’s pretending to be a Star Wars character or an animal too.
Lovely thread OP. Actually helpful for me as I’m finding my 3 year old really hard work at the moment.

The, erm, 'himness' of him. He has loads of amazing qualities but what I love most about him is how he is 100% just who he is.

I love how much my dds love each other. It was totally unexpected! I love the ferocity with which they defend each other.

I love how kind they are with younger children and with animals. It makes my heart swell with pride. Two recent events - watched dd2 (4yo) throw herself over, skinning her knee and bumping her chin, to catch one of our young cats who was falling, and dd1 (6yo) giving her helium balloon to a toddler who was crying because theirs had escaped unprompted. I am very proud if them.

I love the way my 3 year old daughter cares for her brother and always makes sure he's ok. I also love watching her doing her swimming lessons when she doesn't realise I can see- she's concentrates so hard and gets so excited when she does something right.

I love the way my 11 month old son is so happy so see me when he wakes up from his naps and that everything is so funny. I also love when I'm feeding him and I look down and he unlatches to give me a smile before he carries on feeding.

dd1 so scatty and dizzy but so thoroughly good through and through. And her cute little chin. Dd2 she's loopy. Has the most huge beautiful dark eyes . Kisses you out of the blue. Dd3 she's wild. Walks with a strut and a waddle and has a marvellous stubborn pout and an intimidating feistiness. All at 15 months old! What a lovely thread. Thanks for letting me ramble x

The sheer joy they find in such small, everyday things. How life is still so amazing and full of ‘wows’. Truly lovely.

Ds1 he is 13 his ability to start a debate over everything. He has his opinion and loves to let it be know and he's confident in doing so and he makes people think alot which isn't always easy to do.

Ds2 is 4 he's very quirky. I love his imagination and comes out with some brilliant things. He surprise and cheers people up daily.

Ds3 is 3 he is very independent and has so much compassion for others. He's always there for his brothers particularly ds2 and he helps and protects him in his own little way.

Bit random but DS is 11 months and I just love watching him eat! Just his wee jaws going up and down! 😂

My DD is 3 and she is so loud and she loves to make everyone laugh. I love the fact that she likes to dance around the kitchen with me. I'm seeing her grow into a confident, happy little girl and I'm so proud of her!

Dd is 12. She has so many wonderful qualities, but above all else she is brave and loves a challenge or new experience. Her enthusiasm for life is infectious.