In praise of adult children

What a lovely thread and lovely stories too. MissA , your daughter is a star and that was a lovely tribute to her.
DH and I are lucky to have a great relationship with our AC and we’re very close . I had to have a minor op in February and my DD came home and worked from home to help care for me.
I’m my DM carer and when we were on holiday in March . Both my AC rang my DM regularly and came to visit on both weekends. They both live in London and don’t have a car there , and got a train and two buses to visit my mum . I was very proud of them.
My brother is a 2 hour drive away and was too busy to visit our mum !!!
My DDs long term relationship broke up a few years ago when we were on holiday again . And my DS really stepped up to comfort his sister when she needed support .

Love parsley3's "We have a family joke that we knew that the children would come in handy one day"

Husband was ill last year. Daughter who lives nearest dropped everything to spend a whole night in A & E with us. Husband admitted to hospital & both daughters took turns in staying with me/.visiting hospital - so I was not alone for a week until he got home. Fortunately SIL looked after children and both girls arranged to ‘work from my home’ during the day. So supportive

Great thread MOnica, and lovely stories too.

In our family we have a call code which says ' this is serious and for real'. My DD has used it many times to be rescued from various predicaments. Our DS asks for assistance with DIY fairly often.
I was so pleased when my car broke down in the supermarket carpark and my DD dropped everything to respond to my call code, rescued me and the shopping within the hour.
And DS similarly dropped all plans - he was on his way on to the football pitch at the time unbeknown to me - and came to the rescue of DH when he got stuck cleaning the guttering.

They come up with little thoughtfulnesses every now and then which we greatly appreciate. So lucky to have good relationships in the family.

MissA
What a lovely tribute to your daughter.
I am sure the apple didnt fall far from the tree,you instilled those values,and I am sure led by example.
Sending you a big hug

What a tribute Miss A. To be kind, to care , to see people. I'd take that any day over wealth and prestige.

MissAdventure
Your post about your amazing daughter brought tears to my eyes
You must be so proud of her x

Thank you MOnica for starting this thread and for all who have shared their family stories, especially MissAdventure.

MissA please continue to feel proud of the fine woman that you raised❤.
On a slightly irreverent note, when my last reached twenty one we had a party in the garden. I let the neighbours know about the event with a note saying " please forgive me celebrating reaching this milestone in my parental journey without the involvement of the criminal justice system, the midwifery services or any rehabilitation establishment- phew!"

What a girl you raised MissA.

MissAdventure your lovely daughter's story is well worth telling, thank you for sharing it with us all 😊

Miss Adventure Norah puts it so very well.

MissAdventure

My daughter was exceptionally kind.
She shopped for, and helped the people in the little road where she lived. (Even though they were less than kind to her at times)
She turned her car around and went back to the hospital where we had just spent almost ten hours, because my neighbour was in a panic about catching the bus.
She sponsored animals, children abroad, and contributed a huge amount towards her friends shopping each week.

She never judged anyone, always tried to consider others' feelings or issues, and all of her last texts to me were urging me to try and rest, and apologising for needing help.

She took my mum shopping, gradually doing more and more of it herself, without complaints, for over ten years, and cut mums grass for longer still. She called in to see my mums hairdresser, who was diagnosed with cancer, and ended up taking her for her chemo sessions, although she really didn't even know her that well.

She listened to a nurse who chose to confide in her while she was in hospital, and she tried to help other patients wherever and however she could.

She was funny, and feisty, loved animals, and people.

I couldn't be more proud.

Thank you for telling us - so much kindness.

I know you're so proud of her.

Miss Adventure 🌻

Thank you all.

One of my AC fell in love with and married a character whose life experiences was the opposite of what my AC had experienced but no matter, love was to conquer all. Very sadly it did not.

During the marriage, during the divorce and to this very day the rest of my family have amazed and humbled me by their commitment to support and help my AC.

I am so proud of their love and respect for each other.

MissAdventure your daughter sounds wonderful, sorry for your loss.

I have to add as we praise our adult children that mine are not perfect, but I have always deeply appreciated the fact that they have never brought trouble home when living at home, nor since. Even as teenagers they were respectful of me and our home.
There have been no issues with drink, drugs, no arrests or prison, no fraud, no fights, no domestic violence or any abuse in their lives, neither of them are lazy. They've never borrowed money from me, we've had the odd difference of opinion or misunderstanding but no real rows. It's all helped to make my life free of such stresses.

I respect them and am thankful to them so much for it all.

We have a holiday home and it is becoming a bit too much for us as we have a large garden and as it’s a 250yr old cottage, work and decoration is needed often. We have an odd job man who is brilliant but our 2 sons come up a few weekends a year and do everything that needed. Painting, clearing, gardening etc. . They enjoy working together and we take them to the local pub for a carvery. Always a joyous weekend. ❤️

Oh Miss A

A year ago, I was living with my DS1 and his wife, when I was waiting for the retirement flat I'd bought to be renovated. I had intended to be in a new flat well before that, but the negotiations were taking so long, and I could see no end to the seller's prevarications, so I gave up that purchase and bid for another which needed complete renovation. DS1 was immensely helpful in communication with agents and solicitors, with sorting our insurances and getting a trustworthy contractor on board to fix up the flat. He took me to the kitchen and bathroom showrooms and I'm so glad I took his advice - well, mostly! DS2 and his partner took me off their hands for a week or so as they live not far away, and were also very helpful with financial advice based on their own experience in employing contractors. His partner - an indefatigable gardener - helped me to create a lovely hanging basket for my flat. .The teenage DGC were a constant source of interest as was my wonderful adult DGD who made my year by presenting me with my enchanting DGGD. Since I've been settled in this retirement flat, DDS1 is a frequent visitor, on his way home from work and I can go for a weekend with the other family whenever it suits me - and them.

I’ve got 3 AC - they’re all good in their own way. Fortunately, I haven’t much of a ‘need’ for them. When I had a small operation a few years ago, they came up trumps. But on a day to day basis, I get on with my life and they with theirs. I see them fairly often, when invited 😂

Our two sons and their wives are amazing too. Our older son texts several times a week to see if we are OK and if we need anything, when we said we were considering getting a gardener he said he would come for an hour a week to help, bearing in mind he has two teenage children and is getting to grips with being diagnosed with Type One Diabetes last year it was a very considerate thing to do and typical of him, we won’t take him up on it but the offer is there if we need it. Our younger son isn’t in contact as much as his brother as he is a man of few words like his Dad but he would do anything for us if we asked, before we changed our car three years ago he spent all weekend changing the brake pads on our previous car, that is just one example of what he has done for us. He is a service engineer and when he visits he always takes our cordless vacuum cleaner apart and gives it a good clean, he also offered to clean our cooker as it is beyond my capabilities now but we had it done professionally. Last Sunday he and our DIL asked us for lunch and our son did all the cooking and washing up because our DIL has breast cancer and lymphedema in her right arm and hand, he wouldn’t let me or his MIL help. We are very proud of the men and husbands and father our two sons have become and thank you Monica for enabling me to talk about our lovely sons and DsIL.

MissA Your girl was a star 🌟 No wonder that you are so proud. 🥲 x

This is a lovely thread! I’m very blessed to have a wonderful relationship with both my girls and they would both be there if needed. I have a lot of friends and relatives, but they are my best friends.

I learned a lot about how to not be a mum from my own mum, I’ve obviously done something right!