So last week I was a bit of a misery guts and posted my parenting regrets: a list of the things I wished we’d done differently over the years.
Now for the flip side: there are some things that I am really glad we did, parenting NON regrets, if you will …
1. Travelling Australia in our Caravan
The hubster took long service leave for 6 months when our children were 7 and 4 – best thing we ever did!
Not only did we get to spend lots of quality time with our children – something that was especially precious for the hubster, as he felt he had missed out on so much by being at work – but we got to explore our great country together. This was when both of our children learned to ride a bike, and got away from the PlayStation, TV etc. We spent lots of time in the great outdoors and meeting new people.
Yes, the kids missed some school (we home schooled them while away but weren’t very strict about it), but we feel they gained far more from our Great Australian Adventure, and we created some awesome family memories.
2. Being a Stay At Home Mum for a season
I was a SAHM until both my children were at school, and I will never regret that; I’m so glad I was able to be there during their formative years.
Yes, money was tight, but somehow we muddled through. I started my freelance writing career, and I not only became handy with the sewing maching, I became a very savvy op shopper … I bought brand name items and then sold them on Ebay for a profit, which all helped. And somehow we managed!
3. Having a Trampoline
Okay, so we never had a swimming pool but what we did have was a trampoline with the sides enclosed – this remained popular with both of them well into their high school years! And with the high sides, no broken bones 🙂 .
4. Giving them Opportunities
The hubster and I both felt we missed out on many opportunities when we were young: him because he grew up on a farm; and me because money was an issue in our single parent household.
So we made sure we gave our children as many opportunities as we could: piano lessons, guitar lessons, gymnastics, soccer, basketball, volleyball, and numerous other classes and hobbies. Even if they didn’t really take to any of them, at least we gave them the chance to try lots of new things.
We also made sure Miss 18 got braces when she desperately needed them, and now she has beautiful teeth.
5. Moving to a Cottage
When our children were 7 and 10, we moved into a tiny worker’s cottage. Through necessity, they learned that material things aren’t everything, and how to get along and share – there just wasn’t room to swing a cat! (However I will admit to being very glad to move into a regular sized house when our daughter turned 13. Yay for two bathrooms!)
And what a fabulous environment – it was like the “olden days” where kids could roam the street to each other’s houses, playing in each other’s yards, riding their bikes, shooting a few hoops, jumping on the trampoline.
6. Love and Hugs
And most importantly of all, we gave them lots of love and hugs and cuddles.
So although I have a few parenting regrets, as you can see, I feel we have clocked up just as many – if not more – parenting wins.
At the end of the day, we have raised two happy, healthy young adults. They are both valued by their employers for their great work ethic; pays their own way; and have taken various steps towards their independence (eg our son with a licence and has paid off his very nice car; our daughter has flown the nest). (Update 28.04.16: Mr 21 is now studying fulltime for a degree in Commerce, and juggling that with part-time work; Miss 19 has just returned from her first trip to Europe).They’re not finished yet – but then, who is?!
What do you think of as your parenting NON regrets?