Parenting Parents

I have emotionally supportive parents but I do still have to parent them at times! Mum and Dad have been divorced for many years now and it usually takes me or my sister to manage their relationship - when Dad is messing with Mum, or when Mum is being too sensitive. Like kids the two of them! They still have to deal with each other more than they would like as my little brother is 15.

Both my mum and dad help me in practical ways whenever I see them. They would both like to see me/Hannah more but travel doesn't permit. They do make a huge effort to get here as much as they can though - so I guess they still help me financially as well.

My relationship with them is great. I love them both. They frustrate me though! As any family member does I think. And as I said in Kandice's thread, they continually surprise me with how 'unsorted' they are as adults. I guess growing up I just expected those who are older to have their lives a lot more organised! Slowly learning that is very much not the case... just more time to accumulate baggage.

Edited spelling

Edited by nikkiwhyte

The relationship I have with my Mum is amazing, she is truely my best friend and the person I trust the most other than DH of course! She often just pops around with a meal, normally about once a week or quite frequently brings around home baking. She will just grab the vaccum or fold my washing if it is just laying there waiting to be done. I never have to ask her to do it, somehow she can just read my mind when I have far too much on my plate! She generally pops in every second day for Lauren cuddles and takes her across the road to the park for a swing! Her Nana is besotted with her!

Typing this has made me realise just how much she does do for me.

My Dad is supportive, but in other ways like financial stuff and mortgages and business like things. DH is in business and Dad is like a mentor for him to be successful in our business!

Overall, my relationship with my parents is fantastic. They are very supportive towards both DH and I.

Thanks for making me think about this, now I have thought about it, I guess I am very lucky!

ETA: My parents divorced when I was 15 and it totally broke my heart. They have no contact whatsoever with each other, that is one downside to my Mum and Dad as I would have loved for them to still be together!



Edited by peachy

I wouldnt be where I am today without mine (and not just in a literal sense)!

Dad has always doted on me .. and Mum would do anything for us kids (usually to the detriment of herself) .. however once Isabelle arrived the whole parenting me thing increased ten fold especially when I developed PND.

They scooped up not only me (but DH and Issy too) and set us up at there house and arranged everything so that we were all looked after until I felt strong enough to go out on my own.

It wasnt till I looked at Isabelle I realised that, that is how my parents feel about me!

I love both of mine they are amazing. They help us out in every way possible my mum is truely my best friend. I hope I can be the kind of parents they are

I have to parent my mother, have done all my life. Having said that though, when I really need her to be she is the parent. She is as supportive as she can be emotionally and that is enough. My dad is old school and doesnt show his emotions, but he is there if I need him.

DH parents on the otherhand, man that woman needs to learn to back off!!! To much of a good thing is BAD. Do love em though. She did just cook me dinner....

I have an amazing mother- my Mum and Dad split when I was a baby so its pretty much been me and her. We're really close and she is my best friend. We have our ups and downs- we're both quite strong, stubborn opinionated people but luckily we have a pretty healthy relationship so can talk out most things. Shes not a doting grandmother but she adores the girls and is a wealth of knowledge for me. I am so proud of what she has accomplished and totally respect her opinion- we talk on the phone everyday.
Unfortunately being on the other side of the world she can't practically parent very effectively- emotionally though, she is my rock.

My Dad is a tough one. in some senses he is really good- he is a doting besotted grandfather and Charlotte has him wrapped around her little finger. As a child he was always more like an annoying older brother than a father- but I saw him every second weekend and he did ok. He grew up hugely when I was in my mid teens but it was a bit of a case of too little too late- he wanted to be a father at that point but I wasn't that interested. Our relationship is pretty good now though- I feel like the parent alot of the time, like when I had to support him through his divorce, but he is a really adoring father and all in all I'm pretty happy with my lot

When I hear stories about other peoples parents and unhappy childhoods it make me realise how good I had/have it. I love that I can rely on Mum rather than her being a source of grief.

mine are wicked ghave been there from the moment i found out i was having james i could ask for more