10 things your children can't believe you have experienced
As a dad of five children ranging in age from three all the way up to 20, one of the most common things that my older children think is that I couldn’t possibly have gone through some of the things that they have,but of course I have!
You get that old line, “You don’t understand me or how I feel or what I am thinking!”
Ok of course I don’t, but the truth is I do actually understand.
Here is my list of 10 things that I don’t think really changes from generation to generation. The reason I believe that is because I remember saying exactly the same things to my mum!
1. When you are a teenager and experience your first love and it doesn’t work out, you inevitably have a broken heart. Of course I don’t understand! I never had a broken heart! Amazingly like us all I have also had a broken heart so I do know how you feel. It’s not pleasant and takes time to get over it.
2. Another interesting one for me is sport. Your children seem to have the perception that you have never lost at any sport so when they lose there was never any consoling them!
I was pretty good at most sports, but even I lost at times! I particularly remember being at the city of Cardiff schools athlectic finals and we were killing them in the relay. I ran first, but when runner number three went to pass the baton to the next runner they dropped it! So my wonderful children I know exactly what’s it like to lose. It took me weeks to get over that!
3. When you have a group of friends and you’re outcast from the group for no reason. Usually just because it’s your turn! It’s horrible and unnecessary, but this happened to me on many occasions so my heart went out to my own children when it happened to them.
4. School was never my favourite place. I think at times I spent more time away from school than attending. I couldn’t wait to leave so when my children told me they hated school it was very easy to relate although they seemed to think I never understood.
5. Exams. “Dad you don’t know how tough the exams are!” How many times have I heard that?! Truth is my lovely children, I also found exams very difficult.
6. One of the most difficult things I found as a teenager was name calling. It’s awful and it’s quite simply bullying. Thankfully I didn’t grow up in the world of social media. It was definitly straight to your face and that was easy to deal with, but there is no doubt that my children suffered name calling on social media and it must have been terrible so totally understand how they felt.
7. As a teenager I loved to party and I also loved new clothes to go out, so when my oldest two daughters would say to me that they have nothing to wear I would sometimes say ok, what do you want, but also I would sometimes say no. At which point I would hear, “You don’t understand! I will look a tramp!” It always made me laugh because most of time I didn’t have new clothes to wear as a teenager!
8. One of things I did a lot of as a teenager was go to concerts. Without a doubt it was an amazing experience and I always left the concert feeling brilliant so it was interesting to hear my children say that it was brilliant, but of course I am too old to understand! Hey, I was young once!
9. One of most difficult things we experience as teenagers is peer pressure. How many times have I heard that my friend has the latest phone or the latest trainers etc. Lots, believe me, but sometimes I couldn’t afford to get the latest fashion for my children As my mother couldn’t always buy it for me, yet trying to explain this to my children, that I understood how they felt always fell on deaf ears.
10. One of my three and half year old twins, M, said to me the other day, “Daddy you were never a baby were you?” I tried to explain that I was once, but she wouldn’t have it! Even at three and half years old there was no perception that I was once a child!
My teenage children also on many occasions have said you would not know how I feel. Actually I do! I was a teenager once with hormones running wild, being moody and angry with the world!
Been there done that, read the book got the T-shirt!
My wonderful children, I have been a baby, a toddler, I’ve been to primary school and I’ve been a teenager so believe me when I say I understand!
Life is not always easy.
- We have all experienced good and bad times in our lives and as my children grow older they will experienced many more things that I have lived through and to their amazement I will understand.
21 Comments
john adams
October 21, 2015 at 9:27 pm
We recently has No.3 occur in this house. That was a tough one. As for No6, I'm gonna keep the kids off social media for as long as is humanely possible. Cyberbullying is such a horrible, pernicious thing. At least I'm well versed in social media. If they experience it, I shall help them overcome it. #BrilliantBlogPosts
thefillingglass.com
October 23, 2015 at 4:29 am
Lol! My children think that its hilarious that I have a mummy and a daddy, you're right they just can't conceptualise us being children.
Mummy Fever
October 23, 2015 at 9:30 am
Funny really isn't it – I get the "did you really Mummy?" all the time but then they love a good story! #BinkyLinky
Mrs Tubbs
October 23, 2015 at 11:55 am
The Tubblet is exactly the same – we've never done anything, experienced anything and just don't understand! But actually we went through exactly the same things. Except the social media and the mobile phones, which we're going to have to figure out together. #binkylinky
Jeremy Barnes
October 23, 2015 at 4:50 pm
we go through this with the teenager all the time. I'm pretty sure she thinks I grew up in the 1800s
Helen Gandy – Beautiful Things
October 23, 2015 at 9:10 pm
Haha, this is so true, you nailed it! Great post as always and thanks for hosting #binkylinky
Random Musings
October 23, 2015 at 10:59 pm
Great list and definitely true. Its not until you are much older that you realise that pretty much everything you did, your parents did first! Thanks for hosting the #binkylinky
Debbie
Random Musings
October 29, 2015 at 6:00 pm
Back again 🙂
Thanks for linking up to #AnythingGoes
Debbie
Sarah Howe – Run Jump Scrap
October 24, 2015 at 5:11 am
I love this Nigel and the thing is I don't think any child gets it until the get older and have kids!! I remember begging my mum got stuff she couldn't afford and having nothing to wear! My mum I know now was worse off! Thanks for hosting as always xx
Debbie Roberts
October 24, 2015 at 5:42 pm
Yes, us parents were born parents and have no clue as to anything else but parenting! I'm sure my two don't believe I actually had a life before them, but us parents will end up having the last laugh as they grow and maybe become parents themselves one day.
I do feel we are lucky living where we live a there isn't so much pressure to have the latest stuff or follow a trend, my 18 year old son was tickled pink to get a second hand iphone 4 for Christmas (last year). And as for social media, it is a trend that maybe us parents don't fully understand the obsession with. Again I feel lucky that my two aren't bothered by it, although I do turn to them when I need help on FaceBook!
Laura
October 25, 2015 at 2:23 pm
Ha ha great post – you were never a baby were you Dad love it 🙂 although it does sadden me the sad things that I know could happen to my children too especially how bullying can carry onto social media. But yes children do have the misconception that parents were always parents 🙂 #kcacols
Lianne Thebrunettesays
October 26, 2015 at 9:51 am
So true. My son is 11 and beginning the whole 'you dont understand, you've obviously never lived' stage!
I think the fact that we have been through it, makes them growing up so much harder!! #anythinggoes
Lewis Emmerson
October 26, 2015 at 11:00 am
This made me smile, I have these conversations all the time with my 11 year old. I tell him that I used to feel the same way about my parents and it's only now that I realise that they knew exactly what they were talking about! I love to tell my children stories about when Mummy and Daddy were little like they are now, the things we did, the places we went, etc. We love to look at old photos too so that the children can imagine a time when we weren't as old as we are now!! #AnythingGoes
ljdove23
October 26, 2015 at 11:01 am
Love this, I have this conversation all the time with my 11 year old. He looks at me like I have no clue what he is talking about despite the fact that like you, I have been there, done that and got the t-shite…twic
Modern Belle
October 27, 2015 at 2:28 am
I think until you start getting into your 20s, it is hard to appreciate what your parents did for you, and tried to do for you but you were too stupid to listen. Thankfully, my parents didn't completely give up despite the fact that I was a complete idiot at times.
Robyn @ The Years Are Short
October 27, 2015 at 9:12 am
I haven't experienced this yet with my own kids (just one 11-month old, so far!). I do remember being the one thinking (and saying) that my parents had no idea! I also remember being astounded to hear some of the stories that came out of my grandmother towards the end when she thought she was still in her youth, who knows if they were true! Funny post, especially your young daughters not being able to imagine that you were once a baby!
Lysa-Ann WIlds
October 27, 2015 at 5:49 pm
Having four children of my own from 26 to 14 years old I've lived through countless you don't or you wouldn't understands. However, my 16 year old is wise beyond her years and is the only child in the world who understands that I've gone through what she's going through and will come to me and ask how to get through the horrific teen years, fights with friends, her first broken heart, and so on. The 14 year old well that's a blog post in itself!! Wishing you a beautiful day!
Much love,
Lysa xx
Jessica Powell
October 27, 2015 at 6:21 pm
Love this – my mum still recounts the tale of how I believed she was young at the same time as the dinosaurs! 🙂
Anna
October 27, 2015 at 11:03 pm
All so so true! What beautiful kids you have – lovely photos. Mine are still small enough to think I built the world one handed if I told them so, so I really need to start thinking about all this stuff. Thanks for your honesty. #abitofeverything
Agent Spitback
October 28, 2015 at 1:01 pm
What a wonderful post! I loved it. It was funny and warm at the same time. I like the part when they can't believe that you were a baby once. That's funny. But I'm guilty as well as sometimes I can't imagine my parents as younger people too! Hope to see you again @ #abitofeverything.
Franca Desjardins
October 31, 2015 at 11:46 am
I love this list Nige and it is so true!! It is funny how our kids don't understand that we also had the same experiences when we were young! My daughter is still young but there are few things that she does that I can related and I also see it with my teenage niece!! Thanks for joining me at #KCACOLS. I would love if you join me again on Sunday! 🙂 xx
http://www.amomentwithfranca.com/