Positive parenting thread

[okayhescereal]

Anyone else really enjoying their small people at the moment and want to share some of their favourite moments?

I don't really have people I can share the highs with. People around me seem inherently prone to share the tough bits (which is absolutely fine, sometimes a good rant is extremely cathartic!) but I very rarely hear the other side of the coin when things are going well. So thought I'd start a good vibes thread <3

I have 2 smalls (5.5 and 3). I feel like we've hit our stride this year. They're both a complete delight to be around 75% + of the time and most days I end up laughing in a way I didn't do before they were around. Our house is full of life, vibrancy, busyness etc. They've developed a brilliant sense of humour, have a good balance between wanting to play imaginatively with us parents but also each other/solo. The other day we all sat down and did colouring at the table and it was just so lovely to be doing something together but individual with these people who I adore. We're often a great team together. Everything just feels nice (most of the time!).

I never realised it was possible for a family to be just content in each others company. My upbringing wasn't like this. My fave days are when it's the 4 of us, either hanging out at home or just mooching without any real purpose or goal. Prior to having children I was always on the go, seeking out friends to spend time with and aiming to achieving something with every minute so being content to simply be in the company of others not really doing much is new territory, but one I'm enjoying tremendously.

If you're also missing a platform to share some of the bits you're enjoying about this rollercoaster I'd love to hear from you.

Hopeful bump...

I love your user name! (And Bluey)

Yeah, I love spending time with DC. One thing that surprises me sometimes is how funny they are. Today's gem was on the way home from nursery:

"Is Daddy home soon?"
No, he's working late.
"So... Daddy not cooking?"
No, Mummy's making dinner tonight.
"Oh..."
...
"Oh no."

I adore spending time with my 3.5 year old! I miss him when he's at pre school and he's only there for a day and a half!

This afternoon we lay on our backs in the garden, eating an apple each, watching the clouds go by. It was blissful.

Then we watched some trains on you tube later on and I was trying to be as excited as he was and he gave me such a happy look and rested his head on my tummy for a few seconds - it was a real moment of love from him.

He's so funny, so kind, always happy and his sheer enthusiasm for life just blows me away. He's also got a great little sense of humour and is trying out different accents and characters to make me laugh - french is my new favourite, he sounds like Harry Enfield's Kevin trying to copy Perry's Manc accent :)

I have 3, they’re 1, 3 and 5. My 1 yo is getting more mobile and she spends most of the day following my 3 yo. She’s recently started kissing and hugging him and it is the cutest thing ever. I love it when they all play together. Today they were all laying on the floor with a blanket covering them, they kept putting it over their heads and pulling it off laughing, amazing how much fun they can have with a blanket lol. This is a great idea for a thread, it can be hard to focus on the positives of parenthood at times, shame it hasn’t got more replies.

Aw, what a lovely idea for a thread. I'm currently pregnant with our second, and panicking slightly... so it's nice to focus on the highs of parenting!

My 2.5 year old is going through the cutest, funniest stage at the moment. She is super affectionate and constantly clowning to make us laugh. I am constantly staggered by how quickly she's absorbing new things and understanding more about the world around her. It's given me a new appreciation of everyday things when I see that cute little mouth open in an 'o' of wonderment. It's cheesier and more wonderful than I expected 🥰

My 2 year old was complaining of a sore bum in the bath earlier. I dried him and we had a cuddle. When I put his nappy on I put some sudocrem on his bum and he said 'thank you mummy. I'm happy now'

I really love it when my kids make each other laugh. We were having dinner and littlest one (nearly 11 months) was asking for his water cup, taking a sip and then banging it on the table. My 4 year old found it hilarious that he kept on doing this and I kept on giving it to him and then taking it away (with mock exasperation!). Littlest one then managed to unstick his sticky plate and upend his macaroni cheese all over his head. Cue even further hysterical laughter. Chaotic, but lovely.

This is a lovely idea for a thread. I know this is a forum people come to for support so it can often feel quite 'heavy' and negative. I also have friends who are finding parenting hard at the moment so we tend to all have a little rant together and I never really feel like I can say how much I love parenting. Although it has its hard moments (especially with my 3 yr old at times) on the whole I absolutely love spending my days with my 2 and haven't found parenting that difficult (yet). My youngest is 6months and loves his big sister. She's also taken being a big sister totally in her stride. Seeing their relationship develop is just the best thing. I secretly quite enjoy the challenge of it all at the moment (but my kids are still little and I'll probably feel very different further down the line when my parenting stamina is flagging 😂)

Love this! Also to say mine are 8 and 13 and actually both seem to like me most of the time so just wanted to add some insight for the future that it can carry on being special and magical ❤️

What a lovely idea for a sentimental thread. I'm also really enjoying (most of the time!) mummying to little ones. Watching them joke around and my oldest "interpret" what the youngest is saying is just adorable. It's funny how sometimes apparently she is "saying" she wants him to have another snack or play with that toy for five more minutes etc...

I often feel I'm running a Montessori nursery from home. We are a little gang. A happy tribe.

One thing I'm working on though, is trying to slow down. It's a bit of a dilemma for me and I have to work at this but sometimes I plan so much into our lives because I'm aware of just how quickly the baby years are going. But then actually it puts pressure on us and doesn't always allow us to enjoy the moments like the apple and the sky, the blanket game etc.

I love love love this thread. My son is nearly 2 & a half and we're expecting his baby brother in a few weeks. Today I had my belly out and he came over to play with his brother - aka drive tractors over him for 10 minutes. Then he gave my belly a kiss, said "bye baby" and pulled my shirt down again 😂

I have a 20 month old dd, who is the joy and light of my life.

She is so cute, so funny and just lights me up. She gives the best cuddles too. Oh and she is just beautiful with a very thick and long head of brown curls (waist length at 20 months!)

My ds are 14 and 16. We are on holiday this week and they have independently decided not to take their phones with them when we go out to eat so we are having all sorts of fab conversations.

Hurrah!!!! What a refreshing post 😀

I like to leave mine by the door when I come home so I'm more present and then allow myself half an hour or so of scrolling and Mumsnet of an evening so hoping I'm setting a positive example. Love that chats over dinner are still a thing with teens!

That's ridiculously cute!!!!

Oh I hope so! Good for you 😍

Love this op! My son "graduated" pre school this week 🤣🥰

I know it's ridiculous but he actually took part in the ceremony and wore the hat and robe (we weren't sure he would)

I've had 3 separate messages from staff saying how much they'll miss him and what a wonderful boy he is, how far he's come etc. I'm so proud of him. Last January we'd moved him from a nursery we felt unsupported by. He barely interacted with children, was too shy to speak up if he needed things, he had a stutter, just generally really struggling.

We still have our struggles (like everyone!) but his stutter is (mostly) gone, he has a few really sweet friendships, he loves making people laugh and telling them about something he's interested in, especially animals and wildlife.

He was up till midnight last night (after waking at 6.30) so I was thinking today would be hard, but we've had a blast! Awake just after 8, two hours at the park with a picnic and ducks, water fun in the garden. He's painted "the Pacific ocean" for his friend next door (lots of blue and black paint on the paper) we've had pizza and watching a zoo programme and now we're off to the park again 😀