It's lovely when your teenager tells you something (you taught them) as a fact

[KatyMac]

So I've always said whatever you book first you go to; even if something better comes along.

So exam rehearsals end of July (ballet teacher has moved them so they don't class with another class) DD arranged to go

The 'other' class is having rehearsals that day for a show....if she doesn't go she can't do the show

DD said "I'm committed to my teacher & I want to do my best in the exams, so I can't do the other show"

I'm so proud of her; how much easier would it have been to say "Oh I'll be fine in my exam, I'll do the show"

Woohoo!! Well done KatyMac DD :)

DS2 (13) spent his time at the pool the other day splashing about with his little sister, because she couldn't go in alone (and I am recovering from a bout of illness). He was amazing with her the entire time, and I was so proud.

Yes, it made me smile when I heard DS1 - who just scraped 5 gcses - say to his younger friend this summer "The thing is, man, it's worth doing some work now, because it'll be ten times harder if you have to do resits next year"!

It's lovely isn't it?

Oh, it's great

I chuckle when I hear DD,,17 giving her little brother,13 the same advice I was giving her back then

DH just look at each other and smile

DD (17) can regularly be overheard on the phone telling her friends that "you should always put your mates before blokes, 'cos your mates will always be there". One of my mantras, natch, that she's always brushed off with a sneery "not everyone's a feminist like you Mum..."

Also, "in a democracy, everyone gets one vote, Mum, even if you don't think they should!" (Usually apropos of family decisions)

Whenever I hear them telling someone something I told them, even if they refused to take it on board at the time, it makes me smile. Just shows how much does actually go in and stay in!

One of my mantras over the past few years has been "You have influence, even when you don't have control"! :)

I have heard my DD 17 say to her friends on the phone 'don't go looking for trouble. If you look hard enough, you are sure to find it.'

The number of times I have told her this....