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Original poster

Parental kindnesses you recall...

224 replies

retiredgoth2 · 16/07/2013 20:39

When I was about 10, I'd been out playing with friends. And had had an argument the substance of which escapes me 20 30 ok 37 years later.

Came home in tears. This was unusual. Mum figured she couldn't make things better, but plainly so wanted to.

So she went to the Music Centre and put on a record (I don't recall her ever doing this ever in any other circumstance). It was my Wurzels LP. Which I loved. She was just trying to do something that made me happy..

Anyone else have comparable memories? I really hope in X years my kids will have their own versions...

A disclaimer.

I'm out in Covent Garden, and two drinks down, and inclined to mawkish reminiscence...

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 16/07/2013 20:40

My Dad sang 'You are my Sunshine' to me every night before bed. Smile If that counts.

Original poster
retiredgoth2 · 16/07/2013 20:43

Yep. That definitely counts, sparklingbrook!

OP posts:
bittenipples · 16/07/2013 20:44

Sparkling my dad did that too!

Are you a long lost sister? Confused

TeaCuresEverything · 16/07/2013 20:45

My Dad made up stories about a dog called Fluff and his owner Mr. Chuffles. I tell them to ds now.

Sparklingbrook · 16/07/2013 20:45

Ooh I only thought I had a brother bitten. Grin He also sang 'My Bonny lies over the Ocean'. Grin

CreatureRetorts · 16/07/2013 20:45

Mum sent me and my brother to bed without dinner for being awful.

She then came up with chicken sandwiches for us as obviously felt guilty!

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 16/07/2013 20:47

Not a kindness as such but... at a family do my sister and I were reminiscing about times our mum had got cross/shouted at us. I think I could remember one occasion and my sister could remember two. We mentioned this to our mum as an illustration of what a kindly, patient person she was.

She got really upset because we could remember a time when she'd been cross! Daft old biddy. It was Mothers' Day as well, which made us feel so much worse.

SomeKindOfDeliciousBiscuit · 16/07/2013 20:48

I remember being about 12/13 and I had the most epically shit day at school. Five late homeworks (I'd been ill but no-one cared at school), an order mark because of it AND an art detention for forgetting my overall. And that's me totally outed to anyone who went to my school Grin I was a Good Girl and I'd never had that cumulatively in the rest of my school life. I came home expecting epic trouble but my mum took me late night shopping instead to cheer me up. I think she bought me books...

BrokenBanana · 16/07/2013 20:49

Not my own parents but my best friends mum took me under her wing when I was a teem. I specifically remember her taking us away to Disneyland and giving me spending money, inviting me round for a Chinese, making sure she had the only food in that I liked (very fussy eater!) and getting me really thoughtful birthday presents. She was so lovely :)

Original poster
retiredgoth2 · 16/07/2013 20:49

Yep- I'm missing my parents too JITCV (great name by the way).

OP posts:
Kasterborous · 16/07/2013 20:49

Not kindness as such but my Mum always said to me at bedtime 'have a nice sleep I'll see you in the morning' she still does even though I'm 41 I say the same to my DD now.

SupermansBigRedPants · 16/07/2013 20:53

My mum was pretty shitty but most Saturdays she'd send me to the odeon £1 movie and/or swimming plus money for lunch.

Every Tuesday without fail we'd go for a late lunch in the tesco cafe after school then I'd throw 3 things in the trolley - smoked sausage, frozen profiteroles and a deep pan pepperoni pizza.

She wasn't great but she tried at times.

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 16/07/2013 20:54

Thanks retiredgoth2 Grin

SunshineBossaNova · 16/07/2013 20:56

My mum used to run up and down the stairs on Christmas eve ringing little bells so we'd think Santa was on his way.

Annunziata · 16/07/2013 20:57

I used to make my dad lunch on Tuesdays. He always used to come in and give me a kiss and a hug. Miss him!

Sparklingbrook · 16/07/2013 20:58

Thursday night=chocolate night. One bar each Dad bought us on the way home from work. i had a mint cracknel or a Frys Chocolate Cream. No other chocolate except that night and it was heaven.

Original poster
retiredgoth2 · 16/07/2013 21:00

I hear you, Superman..

Am aware that this could sound smug- because I had lovely parents and a kind and caring childhood. Not everyone is so blessed, I know...

OP posts:
PastaBeeandCheese · 16/07/2013 21:01

Not my Mum. She wasn't very kind. My Nan was lovely. If I was sick my Mum would drop me there as she didn't like looking after sick children.

I remember being put in cool, starched sheets with a hot water bottle while my Nan made me cheese straws to cheer me up.

Original poster
retiredgoth2 · 16/07/2013 21:03

Am trying to create a memory for our kids..

..have instituted weekend Compulsory Family Fun.

Children are ordered in mock stern voices into the snug (they comply with heads hung low)- and are then forced to watch a film they will like whilst being plied with enough E numbers to light up a small town...

Ok. Sometimes I choose the film. Pretty In Pink this week...

OP posts:
Original poster
retiredgoth2 · 16/07/2013 21:04

Huzzah for Pasta's Nan.

OP posts:
ANormalOne · 16/07/2013 21:05

When I was 10 my DM and her friend told me we were going out to walk her friend's dog, they actually took me to a riding school where I spent the day learning how to care for horses and had a riding lesson, they then arranged for me to have lessons every week.

It wasn't a present for a special occasion, my DM just knew how much I loved horses.

BabyStone · 16/07/2013 21:10

My nan (who is basically like my second mum)would let me go and watch telly with her of I couldn't sleep, I would fall asleep in her bed, everytime Smile
Them when I was learning to drive, she would buy me a present every time I failed my driving theory test, an even 'better' present when I passed, she did the same when I failed my practical driving test and then took me out shopping when I passed (second time) I didn't fail just to get presents..honest!

Plomino · 16/07/2013 21:40

When I was a kid , I wanted a pony for as long as I could remember. Had the riding lessons , but asked every birthday , every Christmas , every possible occasion , but the answer was always no , because she thought I'd get sick of it after a few months with all the care one would take . But we came to a compromise , where I took on a share in a pony , Saturday to Tuesday , and the owner did Wednesday to Friday . It was the coldest winter of the year and I was 12 . Every day I went up , mucked out , made up enormous straw beds , dragged barrels of water down the A3 when the water froze , groomed her to within an inch of her life . I loved that pony so much. Then one morning I went down , to find the pony and all her things had gone . The owner had done a moonlight flit , owing money all over the place. I was devastated .

Mum was gutted as well . The following day, she took me out to Sainsburys. On the way, she suddenly realised I'd left some stuff at the yard , and said 'oh we'll go and get it , you won't need it down there. '. I'd left it in my old pony's stable , which the yard owner had shut both doors . When I opened the door I nearly had a heart attack . For there stood a beautiful palomino pony , with her ears forwards , looking at me . Mum had been so incensed , as had the yard owner , they'd colluded with the dealer down the road to find a pony , which she paid for out of an inheritance. 32 years I had her, she was my best friend .

spiderlight · 16/07/2013 21:46

Plomino That's had me in tears...

My dad used to work long, hard shifts as an engineer and must have been exhausted at the end of the day, but he would still stop at the little shop on his way home to get me a little something every day. Usually just something tiny like a packet of Polos or a pencil, a comic on a Friday, and once the most gorgeous enamelled butterfly brooch that I still treasure. It was only when I started working myself that I realised how shattered he must have been, but he still stopped. Every day. And I probably just took it for granted :(

PastaBeeandCheese · 16/07/2013 21:48

Plomino. Tears in my eyes too. That's lovely.