Proud of my son

Nightowl it is NOT a small thing and I for one am happy to join you in celebrating the event. Having a child who is 'out of step' with their peers can be a source of tremendous anxiety and it's lovely that you want to share and acknowledge this milestone.

You should be proud of him, that is a great personal achievement. Let's hope this is the start of a new episode in his life.

Well done to him. It is not easy to overcome phobias!
Congratulations!

Thank you grannyactivist, pompa and jeni for your kind thoughts. And pompa it is definitely the start of a new episode, he has already blossomed at university (he is local but in halls) and I know he has become very social, it's just that today was the first time he had gone from home to meet friends. I had a huge lump in my throat and am grinning from ear to ear.

And it makes everything he (and we) went through no longer matter. Except that I think the experience has made him the young man he is. He is funny, quirky, eager to learn, and very individual in his thinking. My friend, who is a teacher, thinks he has benefitted from not experiencing the state education system! Not sure what to think about that!

Nice news, nightowl!

Thanks Bags it's all the better for sharing

That's absolutely wonderful, nightowl What a long road you all went down, for your son to get where he has. You're right - nothing else matters.

That is a lovely achievement nightowl ...I can see why you are bursting with pride

Oh thank you all I was already emotional now you have made me cry! My mum died when he was 9 and her last words to him were 'go to school love and you will be just as clever as T' (big brother). She loved my children so much and would be so happy today. Now I'm crying even more!

Happy crying is good.

How lovely to hear of this splendid achievement.

I was always inordinately proud of one of my D's high academic achievements, because I knew how hard won they were in the face of dyslexia.

This must feel like a real triumph for you - as indeed it is!

night that is just fantastic, you will feel as though you have won the lottery, something you have worked towards for a long time, you should be very proud you have done an amazing job with your Son I am off for a tissue.

What lovely news night, it must feel so precious to you.

It's a moment I always dreamed of but never really believed I would see. I am so proud of all my children for different reasons, none of them to do with achievement or abilities but just for being the people they are; I'm sure we all feel the same about our children.
Thank you again for the warmth and kindness of all of you

I didn't express that very well, of course I'm proud of his achievements but as Mishap said in relation to her daughter, it's more that I'm proud of how he worked so hard to overcome his difficulties. I think I'm tired, off to bed now. Goodnight all and

nightowl I can imagine you are feeling very proud and happy. After what your son has been through this must be all the sweeter for you and especially your son. Best wishes

Nightowl I'm so very happy for you. He sounds like a lovely young man and I wish him well on his journey through life.

Happy crying is just love overflowing

Nightowl how wonderful for your son and for his family. I'm sure that the support you have given him over the years has, in no small part, helped him to get this far. You should be proud of yourself and proud of your son.

Thank you Faye, nanachrissy and kittylester. I love the thought that tears are just 'love overflowing'. And what the heck; I will take some credit! After all I spent enough time beating myself up when he was younger, wondering what we had done wrong. But in fact all we did was stick with him and blunder along somehow. I always believed he would one day make up his mind to do something with his life and just do it - I just never expected it to be so quick

nightowl, a lovely inspirational story. Blundering is what us parents do best! When all's said and done we just want them to be reasonably happy with their choices....the only times (twice) I really opened my mouth and said something to either of my girls was when I thought they were doing something that was going to severly limit their choices or cause great unhappiness. They are now out there in the big world, coping with whatever life throws at them. On the whole they are quite happy with their lives, as one daughter keeps saying, 'dont worry Mum, I'm good, life's good'. Hardly a week goes by when I dont find myself thinking how amazing they are and how very proud I am of them. Enjoy the feeling nightowl, it means you 'blundered' pretty well.

So well done to your boy nightowl and to you, how happy you must be feeling.

nightowl blundering along is a really good description of what parents do. I have mentioned before about our eldest son having a stroke aged 35 and, boy, have we done some (metaphorical as well as very real!!) blundering since then but we can only do what seems best at the time. You seem to have done a brilliant job!!

I also am so happy for you and your son.A great achievement for him -and for you.I send you both my love and best wishes.