What’s your favourite thing about your kids getting older?

[MidoriNoRingo]

Thought it might be nice to have a nicer thread for a change!

My eldest is 11 and when I come home knackered from work she is now old enough to cook us all dinner. (Which she loves doing by the way!)

what’s been your favourite things about your children growing up?

DS1 is 13 and the best thing is being able to have a proper conversation and not just pretend to be interested in a monologue about star wars. He can also make a perfect cuppa.

They start being more independent and actively helpful.
Having interesting chats with them about life.
Sharing my own interests with them (hobbies, books, films etc)
Seeing them grow up and become their own people

Watching decent films and not cartoons!

Being able to go out for a walk and leave DS at home e.g. when I get up earlier than him at the weekend. As a sole parent it’s incredible not being so tied to DS/the house all the time!

Also he says ‘honey, I’m home!’ when he gets home which is quite sweet :)

That they moved out 😁

My youngest is 20 and great company, he took me out for lunch today which was lovely

My oldest is 17 and we’ve allowed him to have 3 parties in our house in the last year and they’ve all been brilliant. 30-40 teenagers each time and I know a lot of them so when I do my checking-about-rounds, I get dragged into dancing. Got to say I love it.

My oldest is 17 and we’ve allowed him to have 3 parties in our house in the last year and they’ve all been brilliant. 30-40 teenagers each time and I know a lot of them so when I do my checking-about-rounds, I get dragged into dancing. Got to say I love it.

I love how funny they are. They make me belly laugh often. My youngest two are teenagers. I especially like the relationships that my DCs have with each other. I was telling them this the other day, - that I am so grateful for them, and how happy it makes me that they have such a strong bond. They regularly socialise together through choice, and appreciate each other.

Can I just point out that they also drive each other mad sometimes!

The jokes and humour.
Being able to leave them at home and go out spontaneously for a pint/gym/shop/in the garden for an hour, even out to work!
They can feed themselves and clean up after themselves (to an extent...).
LIE INS. We get up before them these days.

Being old enough to play together so I don't have to entertain all the time!

That they sleep in and I no longer have 5-6am wake ups!

That they can amuse themselves and we don’t have to have planned days out.

They are teens and make me cups of tea, help me do stuff around the house (if I ask!).

Mine are 16 and 13 and going out for dinner with them now is a real pleasure, great chat, funny people.

Being able to leave her so l can go out - not panicking about leaving work dead on time to do the school run. Watching her have a wicked sense of humour and having a bit of friendly banter with people but knowing exactly when to stop.

That they’re not shitting themselves anymore.. although in a few months I’ll have another one who will be shitting herself for a couple of years - but after this we’re done.

I like that I can talk to them more, although DD 6 is freakishly like me. Yesterday I think she opened her mouth and my voice came out. Her dad was messing around and she said “oi, pack it in Mr” and she sounded exactly like me. I like that they’re forming their own opinions - she’s now a vegetarian and DS has some strong opinions on dinosaurs.

Seeing their personalities develop and getting some independence back!

Holidays are relaxing and fun. No hyper vigilance needed.

They carried everything to the beach today and I just walked behind with nothing. That was a good feeling because they are all stronger than me now.

The lie-ins - it’s holiday and no one is up before 9am.

Mine are in their 20s. So many delights but one I particularly enjoy is watching with DD movies that I loved in the 90s and seeing them through her eyes. Last weekend we watched Steel Magnolias together which was lovely. We also recently watched Reality Bites which felt completely relevant to her as a recent graduate.

My son is wonderful company. He's VERY quick and witty and has a brilliant sense of humour. He's also very kind and empathetic and a great little confidant. I truly enjoy spending time with him. He's 13, but still very loving and gives the BEST hugs.

Being able to leave them at home and go out for a bit. They are 12 and 14. So me and DH go out for walks/to the pub/to do a hobby and don't have to worry about it.

The eldest likes to watch films with us too so working though a back catalogue of classics we think she'll like.

They don't get sick as often, we lived at the kids hospital more or less for years

They can largely walk to a destination in a straight line

They have the funniest conversation (7and 4)

They appreciate days out that aren't just softplay

They like the cinema

Even though eldest is ND and youngest not the best sleeper they still fairly reliably both sleep 6+ consecutive hours most nights, I didn't sleep for 2 consecutive hours for years but now I'm normal tired rather than suffering sleep deprivation dementia

I love that they reminisce over memories we've made

Not being woken up at 6am on Christmas morning!

And going to the pub with them.

Oh so many.

Being able to go upstairs and read a book for an hour at the weekend and no one climbs on furniture or tries to drink cleaning products.

Being able to leave them home alone for short periods without dragging them out if they’re happy playing etc.

More grown up meals.

Physically less tiring, better sleep etc.

And then…. You do what I do and have a surprise baby after a ten and 13 year gap… 😬

So many things, but equally so many things I miss about them being small too!

first year with no school uniform to buy and that I didn’t mess them up being a single parent