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Our daughter has just messaged to say she's just passed her HGV Cat C test (Old class 2, rigid).
Only 21 in a few weeks, not even 5ft tall and never driven a lorry until 2 weeks ago - now she's clear to hit those truck stops! 🙂
This wasn't on the list of things we had in mind when she tottered into reception class all those years ago. 🤣
(Her actual aim is to become a travelling groom for a top rider competing in Europe and further afield and being able to drive the truck is an advantage).
(Her actual aim is to become a travelling groom for a top rider competing in Europe and further afield and being able to drive the truck is an advantage).
Had to think about that for a moment wondering what on earth was going on, then realised you're talking about horses 😀
I hope...
My eldest (16 years and 6 months) is only 7 months off finishing her Gold DofE. I guess its not that exciting but i'm pretty proud of her.
Football.
My 8 year old daughter has been going since Feb this year, after some class mates (all girls) nagged her into coming along.
They gave up ages ago, but she loves it and hopefully after Christmas there will be a team for her age group starting. Trying to get enough girls interested takes a bit more doing than the boys teams, but progress is being made.
I am not into football, have never really encouraged it & figured she'd drop if after a few weeks. She started in Feb when the temp was down in single figures & I was sure the biting wind across the training field would dissuade her. But, nope she absolutely loves it. She's small for her age & her confidence needs to grow, but she's a rock-solid defender.
Even the club ethos and friendly spirit from the coaches & other families has really taken me by surprise. It's a real community spirit & I'm quite ashamed that I was so cynical about the whole thing.
Racing MTB Enduros! Certainly never expected that when he was learning on his little Action Man bike
I knew when I became a parent there's no manual and we'd be making it up as we went along. But I was pretty confident I knew what the chapter titles would be.
Nope.
Netball! My girls both joined a club when they were about seven just for a bit of fun, nothing competitive. They are now both 14, both loving it, both often get player of the match awards, both 'playing up' to the Under 16 side they compete locally with and represent their school in the 'A' Team. And one of them is about to receive the whole-school award for contribution to netball. A few years ago I had not the first clue about the game, now we watch it on the TV, watch the Leeds netball team locally and went to the Commonwealth Games to watch it too.
@stumpy01 football is great when they find the right team. My daughter plays regional U16 and loves it. She's happy at that level, has no desire to play at academy level, mostly because she's aware that the girls at academy level don't seem as happy.
Last year we watched my son compete at the Commie Games, after a tricky and stressful year trying to qualify it was great to watch him get better and better through qualifying round and then score a PB in the final. He was way off the medals but I know how hard he worked just to get there, especially during the lockdowns when he was reduced to training at home.
Diving. I took my 15 yo son to Gozo two weeks ago and we did our PADI Open Water together. I thought I'd better get in some quality time before he disappears off to Benidorm with his mates before long. I didn't realise how much I would s##t myself seeing one of my children down at 18m but the lad did good.
Turning to god & getting a full immersion baptism.
Diving. Seeing how small my 9 year old daughter looks at the edge of the 10m platform is still terrifying.
Also seeing my other daughter (5yo) at the top of a high climb but that's not unexpected as I've been taking both climbing for years.
eating his own bogies. i just didn’t expect it.
jonm81 where does your daughter dive?
As ever; jonv puts things into words far better than I can! <br /><br />
There’s no handbook and no guessing where you’ll end up when you become a parent!
Rugby. Until recently my 14 year lad would squeal if his sister nudged him, yet three times per week he'll go our for organised violence on the rugby pitch
Also, adulting. My 18year old daughter has transformed in the past few weeks since starting university. Shopping, cooking, organising her day, getting up, socialising, studying, planning travels and generally being awesome. Prior to going she could barely be trusted to do her paper round every day.
jonm81 where does your daughter dive?
She is doing lessons with SDA at The Quays in Southampton
I expected my daughter to be in the eventing/show jumping world being horse mad from a young age and working at a biggish eventing yard. But no,she ended up being a nurse and is now staff nurse on a busy neuro operating theatre. I'd have been a proud Dad either way.
Our daughter has just messaged to say she’s just passed her HGV Cat C test (Old class 2, rigid).
Well Done!
Now she can drive a "tiny house vehicle".
Shy son testing classical guitars in a busy shop at the weekend, sitting there playing beautifully with bystanders watching him and telling me he was good. Proud dad.
Daughter singing at the opening of a new concert hall with full orchestra. Ditto.
Attending the same school as me.
Same as @bentandbroken - eldest (16) is vaping and has no intention of stopping. Gutted 🙁
Eldest is travelling around Colombia today having run up some volcanos, youngest can now drive an Airbus (starts work in January). I considered Geologist (discovered Physics then Biology instead) and always wanted to be a Pilot (can't see), but it's nice that they've moved (been nudged) into the areas I did not go.
My son who is nearly 18 spent Friday night playing fortnite online with his mates.
Never been so ashamed - told him he should be out doing drink/drugs and chasing girls like I was at his age (appreciate the STW response should've been cocaine and hookers but didn't want to exaggerate what I was doing in my youth!)
tut....kids today 🙁
Not my kid but my much younger sister, I’m always surprised when she’s reading pretty heavy going books, as in my head, she’s only just past junior school reading level.
She’s nearly 30 & works in counter terrorism.
stumpy01
Full Member
Football.
Snap. I don't watch it, or play it. My family are all rugby supporters. One of my daughters started this season and has scored loads of goals. Really friendly and supportive parents, not at all what I imagined. I didn't expect her to be good, other parents asking if she played for another team or with me, which she hasn't. So it's unexpected in a good way, also that it's something she wants to do, not something shes been pushed into
Shy son testing classical guitars in a busy shop at the weekend, sitting there playing beautifully
That's marvellous. However,I couldn't cope. Classical guitar makes me cry when played by strangers! My own offspring? I'd be a puddle in the corner! 😭😂
So many great examples. It's nature as well as nurture, and a big stroke of luck.
My parents found the recorder and music book I had at school and gave it to eldest when he was 6. He's in his final year studying music at Cambridge.
His little sister is 17 at Christmas. She was a live wire when she was little and MrsMC took her to tumble tots at gymnastics when she was 3.
She never really took to "olympic" type gymnastics, but the display squad she is in have represented British Gymnastics internationally every year (Covid permitting) since 2019. Hopefully Norway next year. As I type this, she's coaching the tots session.
Not just that type of achievement though, despite a few teenage bumps in the road they have turned out kind, considerate, funny and articulate young adults. Wasn't sure I wanted kids, but they have been worth every hour of all that sleep we haven't had!
Ice Skating, currently in Level 2 Beginners and clearly has a talent for it, been doing it for 7 and a half years now (and she's only 10 and a half). Neither of us have any previous with ice sports.
Giving racing a go:
Up until she quit in July this year she had only been interested in dancing, which she's done really well at since she was 5 (now 13).
She joined the local MTB coaching group in May and has improved massively - she's done a couple of Go-Ride DH races, but keen to have a go at some harder ones and is looking to have a go at XC too.
My eldest daughter is a finalist in the United Nations "Woman of the Year UK", for her work in creating safe public spaces for women. Which is very needed, some of the stories she's told me are horrendous.
She's 20.
Awards are tomorrow, couldn't care less if she wins or loses as the nomination itself is already blowing my mind.
I never expected my son to today be dealing with the suspected suicide of someone in the school year below him.
Sorry to put a downer on the thread, nice to hear the tales of kids doing awesome things.
Daughter, who had chronic fatigue from 13-18. She didn’t do day at school for that whole period.
She still got a degree by age 21. She was my colleague for 18 months and ended up running a team of 15. She’s decided to learn French. She started with an App, then did online classes. She is currently in France attending a language school and living her life in French.
Son
He is a stunningly good chef. Currently Stuzi in Leeds prior to that Tonco in Sheffield. But the stand out moment was seeing him in a band. I knew he played bass. Didn’t he’d take the lead on stage introducing songs and cracking jokes
This isn’t a the thread for all the bumps in the road. But there have been bumps
Rugby…two youngest of 3 daughters have played at championship level,elder one played for Yorkshire at twickenham ( county champions👍) oldest Dtr becoming 30! She went through hateful teenage years especially for me and mrs g now has 2 fantastic girls of her own. Our Youngest nearly qualified to drive ambulance big step up from Vauxhall Adam😁
Daughter is just about to qualify as a doctor. This has turned me into a Jewish grandmother who must mention it at every opportunity.
Seen my daughter perform ballet at Sadlers Wells, twice. In her final year of training at the moment with Ballet Cymru. Dancing as a four year old in local dance school shows and our kitchen with her friends seems a long time ago. Survived 3 years at one of the ballet schools featured in the recent Panorama expose as well. Proud, yep just a bit. She also has her Padi open water just for a bit of balance.
My son was always car mad but in the summer he rode 5000 miles around Europe on a Honda CG125. He'd taken inspiration from my dad's trip to Greece on a BSA Bantam in the late 50's.
All organised and paid for by him.
still being alive
love a humblebrag thread
Building and rebuilding The Tardis. It breaks, he rebuilds it, it breaks and gets rebuilt and so on ad infinitum. Likewise Daleks. Also ECG and Ultrsound machines etc on Holby.
Funny that. In the mid-90s I met the son of an original Dr Who set builder ... he reckoned he grew up helping his Dad position polystyrene rocks in quarries to make them look like alien planets, etc.
My parents found the recorder and music book I had at school and gave it to eldest when he was 6<br /><br />
‘we suffered, so must you’? 😏 Glad it worked out well.
Nothing to report on my two yet, but it got suddenly very dusty in here.
Building and rebuilding The Tardis. It breaks, he rebuilds it, it breaks and gets rebuilt and so on ad infinitum
He has the real sonic screwdriver?
‘we suffered, so must you’? 😏 Glad it worked out well.
Was ok after we got through the "Three Blind Mice" stage. Then his sister started....
Following on from my first post, I wanted to add something else – I am a typical proud dad and I'm always quick to praise them but they always put their team-mates ahead of themselves and play down any successes they have, saying they only do well because of those around them or telling me that someone else should have got 'Player of the match'. Yes, they are competitive, but the way they put others ahead of themselves is lovely to see.
That in itself is worthy of note, johndoh.
Eldest Fazzini-jnr was never really academic and always wanted to be a mechanic. He just got the right GCSEs he needed, off to college, then on to an apprenticeship. He was a treated like sh1t, paid like a skivvy, and was taught/shown/instructed to do nothing than sweep floors and change the odd tyre. So he quit. Instead of moping and bludging, booked himself on a free traffic management course, passed, and now works night shifts setting up/taking down traffic control stuff for roadworks etc. He loves it!
Now, if we could just get him to stop bloody vaping!!!
Youngest Fazzini-jnr is now in GCSE year and is a stressed out teen with major exam angst. He thinks he wants to be an engineer, just not sure what sort yet!
Following on from my first post, I wanted to add something else – I am a typical proud dad and I’m always quick to praise them but they always put their team-mates ahead of themselves and play down any successes they have, saying they only do well because of those around them or telling me that someone else should have got ‘Player of the match’. Yes, they are competitive, but the way they put others ahead of themselves is lovely to see.
100% agree, with a word of caution. When it comes to the world of work, job interviews, promotion panels, etc., then they need the skill to big themselves up a bit as well. Not to the extent of taking credit for other people's actions, but they mustn't feel shy in saying 'I did this....' rather than 'Aww....but it was a team effort really...'
You'd like to think a good interviewer can spot when 'The Team' really means 'I' but lots of interviewers aren't good.
Never thought I'd be worrying on a daily basis if my lad was going to get kicked out of school, he's a good kid but serious emotional control issues mean he loses his temper far too easily and even the Pru he's currently in can't cope.
Never thought I'd have to argue with his mother to get her to spend time with him either. Life is tough sometimes, he just needs help and support from the right people, just a shame they don't know that.
Not long after posting that, he gets sent home. Can't keep on like this!
The self confidence my 11 year old has gained from playing football.
From being quiet and standing on the edge of the group to being a leader.
As a goal keeper he has to control the players in front of him.
Recently he had to play in goal for the opposition (a team on tour from OZ) as they didn’t have a keeper. He was straight in and chatting.
This is even more pleasing to see than watching him play Man City, Liverpool, Wolves etc. which in reality are only games of football between lads.
Not long after posting that, he gets sent home. Can’t keep on like this
this may seem counter productive but have you tried him with a martial art of some sort?
My daughter struggled a lot with confidence and one of her friend talked her into going to Tae Kwon Do when she was 10. It made a huge difference to her both in confidence and dealing with people.
Martial Arts teaches discipline but also allows them to let off steam in a controlled way.
My daughter only stopped when she reached 16 as she was then in adult fighting classes and being only 4ft something and light she kept getting battered! 🤣
Sensi.
My nephew(No kids)
I remember when he started Karate in fact. Aged 6. Now years down the line he's a 3rd dan black belt running a club and taking part in international competitions. He's off to Japan next year with his brother, also 3rd dan to train there.
And thats just his hobby. He qualified as a lawyer last year.
.
God I feel old. Who started this bloody thread ???
This isn’t a the thread for all the bumps in the road. But there have been bumps
There's always bumps. The fact my daughter has found her niche in MCTD and Mrs Sandwich's area of expertise is a source of wonder and is regarded as a sure thing for early promotion to a senior post 3 years into the job.
Sandwich Jr is working through a SALT masters after 10 years in disability learning. His Tutors at Birmingham reckon he's cheating as he has recently scored perfect marks on several assessments. He's not backwards about telling the actors used in the assessments to stay in their lane when comments on treatment get made. (Just to be clear these are actors being parents not doctors performing in a simulation).
I'm not sure how I helped raise such well rounded adults.
The-muffin-man. I have thought about it but struggle to get around to arranging anything, problem for him is he doesn't always like the structured approach to some sports and I'm not sure he'd manage getting a battering very well. His confidence and temper are overwhelming for him and others around him. Day by day.
Sorry for the minor thread hijack.
He wouldn’t get battered from the start - a good teacher builds things up slowly.
My daughter was a 2nd Dan black belt so very much at the higher end of fights.
And sparring in classes is much more structured. They’re not like competition fights.
My parents found the recorder and music book I had at school and gave it to eldest when he was 6
‘we suffered, so must you’? 😏 Glad it worked out well.
Could have been worse; could have been a violin or a drum kit…🤣
Scuba diving wrecks at 11 years old. Took him on a discovery dive last week and he was utterly smitten so we've spent the last few days building up time and confidence culminating in a wreck dive this afternoon. Probably a bigger "proud dad" moment than when he hit his first proper jump.