Parents of adult children... what were your kids like in elementary school?

[Anonymous]

Great stories! Any more?

[Anonymous]

I don't know if my kids are quite adults yet but my kid (18) absolutely hated school in elementary school. She constantly refused to do homework and Bs, Cs, and worse on everything. She didn't say a single word until age 2.5 and now she doesn't shut up. She was very into dolls and barbies in es, and did dance. I assumed that she would do cheer in high school. She was not at all athletic otherwise. Once she hit 7th grade she flipped a switch and became very focused on schoolwork. She dropped dance and took up running, and she'll be running in college (If college sports still exist). She graduates in the top 3% of her high school class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What were your kids like at this age, and what did they end up doing in life? College major and career? Would you have predicted it?

DS - Age 28. At age 10, he was in the midst of transitioning from painfully shy. He got along with everyone, but was always on the outskirts of everything. Hung out with me a lot. Played by himself a lot. Spent a lot of time shooting hoops in the driveway. Used me as a social crutch - if other kids were playing street hockey and invited him, he'd say I didn't allow him to leave the driveway. Skate boarded up and down the street. Loved to hang out in the kitchen with me. Liked music. Then triplets his age moved in across the street mid-year. They adopted him as the "fourth triplet" It was almost as if they looked him up and down and decided "You will be ALL of our best friend." They were super outgoing and made friends easily, and hauled DS along. They submitted DS to run for president, and dressed up in suits pretending to be his Secret Service staff, giving him a code name and everything. It really helped DS come out of his shell.

A couple of years later I had more children. DS was given the choice to watch or not. He chose to watch. He was allowed to cut the cord. He was hooked. In high school got into a band. Started going into the city for gigs. Became known for being a drummer, wore black nail polish. Girls loved him, boys thought he was gay. He wasn't. He's a medical resident now. He's still best friends with the triplets - one lived with him for over a year. He still loves music and cooking and does both when he's either very stressed or very happy. Hasn't been shy since 10.

DD - Age 25. At age 7, she was feisty and outgoing and not afraid of anything. Very strong sense of right and wrong. A little streak of wild. Loved swimming. Loved everything. One of those "good at everything" kids. Loved animals. Vaguely talked about being a vet. Became determined to get fluent in Italian and demanded her dad only speak to her in Italian. At 13 started taking the train into the city to hang out with friends. Very independent. I figured she'd go to college in NYC, but instead she went West. Has done every "abroad" opportunity she could grab. Quit swim towards the end of high school, but did it for a college gym credit and learned to swim for fun and to de-stress. She now remembers hotels by their pools. Taught her little sister to swim. Took a gap year between college and law school and traveled and worked in Europe. Is now fluent in Italian, works as a lawyer, volunteers with animals (abused animal court? I'm not sure exactly). Still goes swimming to de-stress.

Great stories! You sound like a good parent who really enjoys your adult children.