[Pats self on back]
It's great reading all the stories of great parents. Believe me, it ain't always easy. But bringing up kids is easy compared with dealing with teenagers. The effort needed to get a sulky, moody, tired, intelligent, girl to do her homework and pass her O and A levels while falling out with friends and pining over boys ["They all think I'm ugly" etc. etc.] was huge, especially when she blamed us for everything.

Then, at university, she almost dropped out in year one, depressed, missing a whole module - we picked her up, brought her home for pampering, nursed her through it, although we ourselves were suffering from empty-nest syndrome - didn't see that one coming!!! We helped with application forms, threatened landlords when they didn't give deposits back and acted as taxi/removal service/washing service/free money dispenser/food parcel supplier, helped her with proof-reading her dissertation, etc. etc. Nagged her when she needed it, cajoled her when nagging didn't work, then retreated to a safe distance so she could learn for herself.

And now: she's happy and well-adjusted, living in a flat in London with a decent boyfriend, and is just starting her first permanent full-time job in roughly the field she studied. She talks to us like a grown up and is grateful for all we've done and even asks us for advice and actually listens when we give it. All we did was to be parents the right way. Kept calm when she was going through the agonies of the teens. Set boundaries and let her know that they were non-negotiable, were always there for her, supported her through thick and thin; loved her.

Now, we can get our heads down to start paying off the debt we ran up getting her through 3 comfortable years as a student. We never let on to her how close to the wind we were sailing and wouldn't dream of doing so - though she always knew it wasn't easy for us. With luck we'll soon be able to help her out again if she needs a deposit or something and when the grandkids turn up we'll be there to dote on them and spoil them.

There will be times when you think: "What are we getting out of this? Why bother? What thanks do we get?" Stick with it.

So, thanks Sprog Grimsdale - you're credit to your proud parents and a delightful person.
(Che Grimsdale Best before:, Mon 6 Oct 2008, 16:36, 3 replies)

... though you do say so yourself ;)

\edit: btw your hobby listed in your profile just made me lose a dribble of tea :D
(tweebianmonkey Should be known as Widget, Mon 6 Oct 2008, 17:04, closed)

Pats Che & Mrs Che on the back
my eldest is 14 .... we're just on the brink of the Standard Grades .... I sometimes want the toddler version back.

That version could be bribed with a Penguin and an episode of Fireman Sam ...

I hope that in 10 years or so I will be in a position to post something similar.
(TheWeeWitch hasn't been here much recently .., Mon 6 Oct 2008, 17:15, closed)

a nice story
i hope that one day my parents will say the same things about bringing me up
( Soggy, Wed 8 Oct 2008, 1:17, closed)