Estimated reading time: 0 minutes
I, like many other parents out there I’m sure, often find myself sat watching my child playing innocently, or just sat eating their lunch and can’t help but feel such an immense sense of pride. In those moments, my child isn’t doing anything particularly remarkable. They aren’t doing anything that other toddlers haven’t done before. Yet this feeling of being proud is as strong as it would be if she was the first toddler to ever to do it.
What moments do we remember as parents?
This got me thinking…what are the things we remember as parents that makes us feel the most proud? What moments do we circle back to? What sticks with us as parents and are there any common themes of what makes us proud?
It could be significant moments in our child’s life that will make us the most proud. Or it may be our children being exceptional, doing the incredible or standing out in their field. Alternatively, is it the small things that matter to us on a personal level that really fill us with pride?
Regardless, my two year old ran up to me the other day and told me that she needed to go to the toilet for the first time (we are currently potty training!). I couldn’t have felt more proud! Was that a significant moment? Was it exceptional? Either way, I don’t think I am alone in finding immense pride in the smaller moments.
FREE GIVEAWAY FOR NEW SUBSCRIBERS!
BRAND NEW FOR 2023! I am offering all new subscribers THREE FREE BEHAVIOUR TOOLS that can be used to monitor and understand their children’s behaviour.
To claim these tools, please subscribe to the blog and confirm the subscription in your emails. Once this is done, your THREE FREE BEHAVIOUR TOOLS will be sent via email!
What moments make you most proud? – Real stories from parents:
So I wanted to reach out to other parents ask them, what is the moment that made them the most proud as a parent? I posted on various social media channels and received a number of responses. Here are a selection of the responses I received from parents around the world:
Parent 1:
“The first thing that springs to mind for me, is my eldest daughter’s sports day last year. She won a special award, not for winning any race, but for being the “most honest” sports person, which I thought was super cute!”
Parent 2:
“I was a single Mom pregnant with child number 3. Labour started on a Saturday morning and my 10 year old took charge. She got her sister dressed, did her hair and had everyone’s overnight bags ready by the door, she also called my Mom to tell her to come over sooner because contractions had sped up. She typically fought with her little sister, but for this morning, she sistered her with pure empathy.”
Parent 3:
“My son’s speech was delayed, so when he said “I love you Mommy” for the first time at just over two years old, I cried. I told his speech therapist that if I could just hear him say “I love you” it would melt my heart. He is now 4 years old and hearing him say “I love you Mommy” still leave my heart in a puddle, because I remember a time when those were the only words I wanted to hear him say.”
Parent 4:
“My child was really nervous about starting secondary school and was initially refusing to go. However, when the day came, they put on their uniform, picked up their bag and took themselves off to school. They were still upset on the morning. But when they get home they had loved their day and I was so proud that they had overcome their worries!”
Parent 5:
“I was two weeks away from delivering my 5th child. We were headed to town and I blew a tyre. I was getting out the car to get ready to change it, when my 16 year old told me to stay in the car. Wearing all black in 100 degree weather, he changed the whole thing himself perfectly. My heart swelled so big I couldn’t stop the tears.”
Do you have your own story you want to share? Let me know in the comments!
I have to be honest, when reading all the stories that parents shared, it was truly heart warming! What stood out to me the most, was the personal nature of all the stories. There were no stories of a child doing well in exams, getting a certain level of job or anything materialistic. Which are stories you may expect. Instead, all of the stories parents shared were a testament to their child’s character or their child overcoming obstacles.
(“My Baby Memories” – Affiliate Link)
Recognise the moments, tell your children!
I found it really interesting reading these type of stories, as our children are growing up in a society that is increasingly judging them through numbers. Whether this be the number of followers/friends they have on social media. The grades they get in school/College/University. How much they earn etc. Therefore, these moments that demonstrate the character of the child are all the more important to recognise. Whilst as parents we would always want our child to be successful, the character of our children is what tends to be recognised the most.
Ultimately, what makes a parent proud is deeply personal. In speaks to our own values, priorities and the way we view parenting. As our children get older, there will be new moments or new situations for your child to make you proud. Therefore, it is easy to forget some of these earlier moments of when you felt proud of your child.
This is one of the reasons I wanted to write about these feelings of pride. It is so important that we share these feelings of pride with our children. Make it a habit throughout their lives, tell them how proud you are of them. These moments don’t always have to be big accomplishments, it could be your child showing great character or resilience, stepping up when needed, overcoming adversity or maybe just telling a parent that they need the toilet for the first time!
Recognise and live these moments with your child, because before you know it…the opportunity will have passed.
What moment has made you feel the most proud as a parent? Let me know in the comments below!
(This post contains links from affiliates of this blog. If you make a purchase via the links, you will get a discount and I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to yourself. So everybody wins! All affiliate links will be labelled as such).