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Original poster

This is utter shameless bragging but I'm not sorry

153 replies

LifeonVenus · 07/10/2019 21:08

Well I am sorry, because I hate bragging if it makes someone else feel a little less, but I hope this is a little bit more about me than inconsiderately not considering anyone else.

My dd has had a tough start in life. Think less than ideal family life, no father, lives with her grandmother etc.

Last week, she messaged me (she's just going into GCSE year) to tell me that she got an award for academic achievement for her 2nd year results. She was utterly ecstatic. I don't think anyone was more surprised than she was, as to me her grades were all over the shop (a mixture between A, B's, C's and a D in Maths).

I suspect it's not that she came third in her year, but it was more that she put in effort, but she is fully convinced she came third and I'm not about to burst that bubble. She just turned 15 and told me 'Mammy - if I could do that with only putting in a little bit of effort - imagine what I could do if I study!'. She's like me in that the carrot works better than the stick.

I'm banned from posting about her on FB, I've no friends here (friends don't really care anyway), so her godmother and grandfather rang her to congratulate her.

She really has had all the odds stacked against her so anything and everything she has achieved is all on her. So I just wanted to say that to someone. Don't know why. I don't have anyone else to tell who wouldn't feel it's bragging or something.

Anyway, just thought I'd put it out there. The encouragement seems to having a brilliant effect on her. I firmly believe in encouragement and praise.

And if anyone wants to tell me I'm a brilliant Mum (I'm the worst Mum on the planet - she doesn't even live with me), then that would be cool too..

Sorry. I usually hate these kinds of posts.

OP posts:
2018SoFarSoGreat · 07/10/2019 22:55

Yep, you've earned your MN Star, OP, well done.

Well done to your lovely DD; she should be bloody proud of herself. As should you. Well done. This kind of bragging is the good kind - and I'm delighted for you both!

NoSquirrels · 07/10/2019 23:02

I don't deserve it. It's all on her.

But there’s more to mothering than always being in the room. Which you clearly understand because you picked the best situation for her you could, and support her emotionally (when she’ll let you, she is a teen after all!) and you are luminously proud of her achievements and we should ALL be so lucky as to have someone who does that for us.

Life is long (hopefully) and relationships are more than the sum of their parts.

Well done your DD!

Blondieg · 07/10/2019 23:05

Well done to you both, she wouldn't be what she is without you regardless of situation and circumstances you clearly love her to bits xxxx

ChinookPilotsGoVertical · 07/10/2019 23:07

Congratulations to DD & wishing you both a happy future.

MaintainTheMolehill · 07/10/2019 23:15

Aw this made me smile congratulations to your daughter and you. Don't apologise you've every right to shout it from the rooftops Smile

ScrimshawTheSecond · 07/10/2019 23:27

So happy for you and your daughter, OP. Congratulations. Smile Star

Chloe9 · 07/10/2019 23:32

Bigging up your kid is not bragging, I am proud of her for you. My kids haven't had an ideal start, and my eldest especially has been through the ringer, so every achievement and break through with her I glow with pride. I have mostly stopped kicking myself for the past now, but I know that every

Chloe9 · 07/10/2019 23:34

Sorry sent to soon!

... that every accomplishment and achievement is testament to her and despite her circumstances

AbsentmindedWoman · 07/10/2019 23:38

Make sure you tell her lots how proud you are!

I may have had something in my eye reading this Grin

Toastymash · 07/10/2019 23:50

If there is ever a time to boast it's when your child has done something great that you are immensely proud of. Go for it

Cryalot2 · 07/10/2019 23:53

Congratulations to both of you. You must be so proud, its only natural.

Mrmojorising71 · 08/10/2019 00:08

Ah, congrats to both of you, a truly lovely post!

Hollyhobbi · 08/10/2019 00:16

Well done to you and your daughter from another mammy (are you Irish OP)? My youngest daughter is also 15 and just did quite well in her junior cert in spite of her dyslexia so I know a bit about how you are feeling.

PickedByYou · 08/10/2019 00:25

What a lovely post. ❤️❤️❤️
Well done your daughter.

Fallingirl · 08/10/2019 00:37

This is the loveliest post I’ve read here yet. You go right ahead and boast, Venus.

All children deserve to have a parent boasting about them! If your daughter could read your words, she would most likely pretend to be mortified (obligatory for teenage daughters, I think), but would secretly be bursting with happiness.

Being so proud of her makes you a star, and your daughter is clearly a star herself, so here’s one for each of you Star Star

Shadenevermadeanybodylessgay · 08/10/2019 09:07

You say you're a rubbish mammy, yet throughout her life all you've done is put her first.

That, to me, is an excellent mammy!!
It's more than most present parents do, you're amazing.

Well done to her too! She can do anything she wants, go anywhere, be anything. The world is her oyster ❤️

Nousernamefound · 08/10/2019 17:27

Good for her and amazing job...and if you were that dreadful she wouldn’t want to share that information with you would she. So whatever reason she’s not living with you doesn’t detract from the fact the still wants to share her achievements with you so well done.

namechangedforanon · 08/10/2019 17:36

Congrats that is awesome for you both :)

Lovely post to read

JulieTwo · 08/10/2019 17:38

Don't apologise: you've every right to burst with pride. She sounds like she's got a real strength of spirit. And she's obviously got that from you.Why don't you post her your not-Facebook post in a card and explain that this is what you'd want to tell the world if you could because you're obviously so very proud of her. And then she'll have your words with her all the time too.

LushAlice · 08/10/2019 17:46

Wonderful, wonderful piece, thanks for sharing, and congratulations on supporting her by being the proud mum. Lots of love to you both, you're amazing! xxx

Rockhopper10 · 08/10/2019 17:48

Big congratulations to your daughter. Thanks for posting. You've brightened my day

mbosnz · 08/10/2019 17:49

She's done so well!

And so have you.

Neither of you have been dealt a stellar hand, and you're both making the most of it and each other and giving it all you've got.

You have a daughter who knows she is loved, who is loved by her mother, who does everything in her best interests, even when it is the harder path for her mother, who can talk to her mother, whose mother takes pride in her. And she clearly got her battler attitude from her Mum!

(When it comes to sex, my kids have been brought up from when they were very young and first asked questions about sex, with the mantra - two, count 'em TWO forms of contraception! And one always to be a condom. Maybe that could help?!)

Here's another Star. Grin

Brixtongal · 08/10/2019 17:50

Well done Mammy and daughter. You're obviously supporting her even though far away and she wants to make you proud and do well. This is heartwarming. Thank you for sharing

vivariumvivariumsvivaria · 08/10/2019 17:50

You are right to post and boast.

Kids need to feel loved and secure, everything else is window dressing. Well done on making sure your daughter has what she needs, even though that is not the conventional way that kids get what they need.

I'm proud of you, and I don't even know you. Go you.

HopeIsNotAStrategy · 08/10/2019 17:56

Lovely, and how nice that she wanted to tell you. Be proud and give her every encouragement, you can help her make good things happen!