Please, Go Ahead & Brag: What Are You Usually Modest About?

This might come across as super-obnoxious, probably, but here goes:

I am really very proud of my son and how we are raising him. I don't talk about it too much, esp. at his preschool, but it's almost like I can see his brain and imagination, his desire to learn more, growing on a daily basis. We have provided a pretty mellow home; our family activities are centered around nature, music, lots of good literature, discovery and lots of 'down time' for play.... and just letting him be his own person. We are pretty happy with the little person we are growing at home, happy with our decisions to do things a little differently than the popular culture and to give him time to be a child, to respect this time of his life. His imagination, his personality, his willingness to follow through with his responsibilities and even his way of playing with other children or talking to other adults and the feedback I get from his teachers-- all of this gives my heart comfort that we're doing okay. He's not perfect (no child is) and is a bit quirky in that he doesn't make a lot of eye contact, but I love his heart. He's just a really good kid.

You know what? That's an honest question! :)

I am sure all of us are secretly proud of something or the other - our kids, ourselves, something - but play it down, like you say, to keep up with modesty. Once in a while, letting it out and bragging to our hearts content gives us a lot of sanity! :)

hmm...let me see....
Sometimes, when my husband or my friends compliment on my culinary skills, I feel like I am a better chef than some of those on Food network. I make bold comments to hubby, like 'Oh, I can take that chef down in Chopped!'. He smiles, and lets me indulge :)))

that my 91yo grandmother can still play a mean hand of rummy & kick our butts!

that my Mom will be 70 this year, & can list on her resume that she held the Mayor's office for 2 terms until she chose to retire....& this was after her early retirement from her 30 years in a union job! A busy lady!

& I guess the biggie for me would be: all of the kids in the family know that they can rely on me. I may not agree with them, I may state my case as being completely opposed to their views....but I will support them - before, during, & after the event. & they know I will have food & dessert waiting for them. :)

.....................

I have really well-behaved kids. Every kid has their moments, but it seems like our house is SOOOO much less chaotic than anyone I've ever met.

I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful family.

Thank you for reminding me!

Yep, but my modesty won't let me brag about it. It's a blessing and a curse, I guess.

My son is super smart and gorgeous. Whenever people comment on his looks, I say, "Oh, you're sweet for saying that," and I mean it. I know that it's the sweetness in them attracted to the sweetness in him. I can't help but feel proud, though. He'll be awkward and funny-looking soon enough.

Regarding his smarts, he just sits back and thinks about stuff, figuring it out before he jumps on it. I love that about him, and I love to watch it in action. He likes to try something once and then practice it behind the scenes on his own, before surprising us all with a sudden mastery of it. He doesn't want the help, and he can't stand an audience outside of his immediates. We can only talk about it because he won't do it when we try to show him off.

My baby sings on key and using the correct number of syllables, though he is not pronouncing the words clearly.

Our daughter also does very well in school (outstandings across the board) and is an excellent reader. The only 'bragging' I do is to scan and email her report card to her grandparents sometimes. Otherwise, I don't really tell anyone else, especially when other parents are going on and on about their own kids accomplishments because to me, it's not a competition and I've never been much of a braggart anyway.

I think my son is wonderful, I get complimented a lot on how nice, easy going, bright and handsome he is. I just say, "thank you" and smile because I completely agree with them. I never brag about him because it's just not my nature, but people talk about their kids a lot and it doesn't bother me at all. I really think it's HOW you say things, not what you say that might make it seem obnoxious.

My son is super cute, well mannered and has beautiful long blonde surfer hair (he's 5)... People tell me all the time, he should be a model :)

All parents are typically proud of their kids for various reasons.
And if we talk about it, to friends or others, it is either in a sharing manner, or in a boastful manner.
But ya know, one person can boast about their kid and it is not bothering anyone. But another person can be boasting about their kid... and they are seen as a ego boasting braggart.
Or, a person might be talking about their kids' strong points, because someone asked about their kid or gave them a compliment on their kid.

One person can be an obnoxious Braggart, and another isn't.
I guess, it is all about tact. And sensitivity to politeness or not.

People "compliment" me on my son and daughter a lot. Even the Teachers. So then I will typically just say "Thank you, that's nice to hear!"
I don't then go and grab the spotlight and ramble on and on and on and on and on and on and on... about my kid(s) and giving them a soliloquy about how GREAT my kid(s) is and how advanced they are compared to other kids.
Some parents, do. Ya know?
But I guess it is just their gusto, for their kid.

And for some, being a great kid means being ahead of other kids.
For me/us... it is about how well our kids can catch on to the different shades of gray socially, and being able to know themselves and their strengths and pursuits. And both my kids are very astute to these things. My kids are 5 and 9, and even my 5 year old son really knows himself and the innuendos of things and people. And they are not followers. They know what makes them tick.
That, is what I am proud of.

"Modest" I am not sure what this word is? I try not to be boastful, but if the topic comes up I will share :)

I think that shareing is perfectly acceptable. My son is crazy good at video games, at 5 he gets a crowd from the workers and other customers at gamestop. I am not surprised both his parents are "gamers" but that is one of his best skills. If he can learn it via video game he knows it for life - we LOVE the Sesame St and other learning games.

I sometimes feel bad telling people what our son knows, especially family because there are 2 others the same age as our son, 2 years.
BUT, I am very proud of him that he knows his Alphabet, can sing/say them all the way through, and recognizes all his letters.

I wrote out the letters in chalk on our patio and I asked him "which letter is this?" and he always responds correctly. It's amazing, and I couldn't be more proud. He learns so quickly! He is even beginning to read words out of the books we read to him, and is spelling out words to us. He spelled out "daddy" and "cat" etc. to us just the other day. He's a little smartie.

We couldn't be more proud of him :)