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)

@Queen the walking was/is a double edged sword. I walked A LOT with DD in the pushchair as a baby as it helped with my PND and helped her sleep so she would take a full feed. She was a relatively early walker (11 months) who wanted to walk everywhere and DS turned out the same. They can both walk for absolutely miles which is mostly good but it takes an age to wear them out now and DH and I give in before they do!

Ds1 is 18, he is so thoughtful & lovely. He’s very humble, brilliant at many things but doesn’t have a shred of arrogance about him.
Ds2 is 15, feels things too much which I love about him but is also my biggest worry. He will defend anybody who he feels are treated unfairly with such passion but his anxiety levels are high and he’s frustrated with the world.

They both have a dry wit and you can guarantee one of them will make my belly hurt from laughing most days.

Oh, today my beautiful ds, aged 11...we were in the cinema watching Tomb Raider, of all things. He doesn't hold my hand much in public any more, and it was dark, but at a scary bit where the father and Lara Croft were getting emosh about being apart for years, he grabbed my hand and whispered "and don't you ever think of going away to a remote island looking for an ancient evil will you mum, I wouldn't like that".

Total spoiler, sorry.

My dd is only 8 months but I love her little dance she does, the way she says 'yeah yeah yeah!' And that if you poke your tongue out at her it's the height of hilarity for her !!

Oh and I have PND too so I struggle badly with seeing positives sometimes but when she looks at me and does something silly (usually sticking a tongue out or singing at me) she makes me smile again.

DS is almost one!

His concentrated funny pouting expressions when he is playing
Whenever I try to stand him up he just cuddles me
His funny first noises
His constant smiles!

His tolerance, understanding and patience! I know that sounds silly because he's so little, but he's just so calm, I feel half the time I'm in more of a tizz than he is

My dd is in her 40s now and I love so much about her. She is an incredible wife and mother as well as being an outstanding teacher. She is also the best daughter anyone could wish for. She still tells me she loves me, we talk on the phone most days. Perhaps what I value at the moment is being allowed to share her gorgeous boys and the total trust she puts in me.
From the start she and her dh have said,”Your time, your rules.”
I have done some childcare three times a week for the past 11 years and it is great to feel trusted as well as loved.

Reading about all your lovely children has completely melted my heart and made me even more in a hurry to have children.

Love this! I too had PND and it took a while to bond but now I feel like I could explode with love when I think about DD.

Her big baby head, hair and chubby cheeks.

Her funny expressions.

The little noises she makes, she's trying so hard at the moment to make different noises and talk it's so cute.

The way she smiles at me when she sees me, first thing in the morning when she wakes up.

Her smell.

I could go on haha!

My DD and I have "love you more" fights. She's nearly 3 and it just melts my heart

My DS is only 4 months and when laughs his face gets really chubby and his eyes get huge. It's so adorable!

Lovely idea for a thread.

These have made me cry - so lovely!

Mine are now grown up, so my pleasure is that they really love me and want to see me. (I utterly adore them, every one of them equally)

DS (8) he is always so happy for everyone else, so unassuming, doesn’t expect anything and is grateful what what he does receive. He’s so polite and smart and kind and has the most gorgeous smile

DD (2.11) she is wild, feisty, funny, confident, cuddly and clever. She loves scary things, just like I did as a little girl

DD2 (1.4) is cheeky, such a wind up, funny sense of humour and so unbelievably clever.

Individually they’re amazing. Together they’re bloody hard work!

DS is 9 We've always known he is super intelligent and continues to make us proud academically. We emigrated close to 4 years ago, and I am so super proud of how he struggled through the language frustration and is now getting A*s in his second language and how he gets a sense of pride from it. How he loves to be helpful when his class do English at school, and how he gets a kick out of seeing them do well. Despite fighting like cat and dog at home, I am really proud at how he always has one eye on his little sister at school, and isn't embarrassed to give her a cuddle if she needs one.

DD is 6 (very nearly 7) She is very humble, and doesn't make a song and dance about being clever. She is very aware of other people's feelings, and really loves to cuddle. She is also hard as nails! She is incredibly strong and strong willed and not afraid to stick up for herself or anyone else who has been wronged. She loves music, and instinctively picks up a beat or melody which I am in awe of.

I am super proud of both of them for being bilingual through their own determination, and I still find it incredible how they can just switch from one language to another. I love how they make each other laugh, I totally adore how DD wrote that her hero is DS when asked that question.

My ds is 19 months old and I love the way he finds my mum's cats hysterical even if they're just sat down.

I also love the way he's so playful and just before he sleeps he moves my hands to stroke his face.

12 months - the way he clambers all over me with wet kisses 😘 and the joy when he thinks I'm chasing him , he moves so fast and gets so excited 😍

The way my DS1, despite his ASD and tricky emotional times at home, can be so calm and self-possessed. He's 13 and excelling academically and turning into a fine musician. He also has a delightfully cynical view of politics which makes him a fun conversationalist. He was not so likeable when he was younger - although i have always loved him fiercely.

My little DD is only six and a half weeks old and I love her to distraction.

The little sighing sounds she makes when feeding.

The way she smiles at me when she wakes up in the morning and recognises me.

Her determination when we have Tummy Time.

The way she grabs my finger in her little fist.

The fact that she's so fascinated by the bath panel when she's on her changing mat.

The way she sticks out her bottom lip when she's about to cry.

The way she looks up at me when she's in her Moses basket.

She's just beautiful

DS1 (17) is simultaneously the most infuriating and wonderful person that has ever lived.
Wonderful is starting to get the upper hand.

@thegreylady

You sound like an awesome mother/DGM - I hope your daughter knows what a gem of a mum she has

DS is 10mo.
I love how he wakes me up in the morning by babbling to himself in the next room, and how excited he is when I go in to see him.
I love how his face breaks out into a massive smile and he claps his hands when I sing if you're happy and you know it.
I love listening and watching when DH and DS play together. DS's laugh is absolutely amazing and he thinks his daddy is hilarious!
I love how he gets frustrated if I don't feed him his next mouthful fast enough.
This list could go on forever.

I also have an 18 month old, I utterly adore him, he seems to get better every day.
I love how he puts his hands over his eyes to make himself vanish and then peeps out from behind them, how if I mention ducks he says quack quack, hows he’s always so smiley his happiness is infectious, how a cuddle from mummy can fix almost anything, his giggle when he’s playing with his dad and so much more.

Aw love this thread.

The way they come into my bed in the middle of the night looking for a snuggle, I know it will only last a couple of years so I treasure it.

There are so many things that I love about my kids. Love the way my DS hugs me every night before bed without fail
DD randomly says I love you mummy at the strangest times
They both have such amazing personalities.
I love how the both stick thier tongues out when they are really concentrating.
How animated they become telling me about topics they are really interested in.
My DD sense of imagination when she’s playing with her toys.
DS level of sarcasm 😊
I could go on all night but they are the main ones 😊😊

I overheard my two this evening at bedtime saying how much they loved each other.
My eldest (9) realised that I had a grotty headache put his younger sister to bed and read her two stories. Made my heart melt, they are just gorgeous