And if you did, did it ever cross your mind that maybe you’re embarrassing them and maybe you should treat them like more than just a trophy? Any Freudian slips?
I brag about the kid but I won’t hang out in his school library and try to solicit female students to date him. Although when his mom picked him up from school last year, somebody at the airport wanted to play matchmaker.
Nope. I don’t, I respect their wishes with respect to “advertising” their triumphs or successes and I never treat my kids as trophies. Because their level of success or failure doesn’t define them or me - and it certainly doesn’t define our relationship or the love and pride my husband and I feel for them.
Not without their permission.
No.
I have a few close friends who care very much about my kid and vice versa and we share the challenges and the triumphs with each other. So, yes, I’ll tell them when I’m proud of something he did, but it doesn’t have the flavor of bragging to me, because I’m not doing it to impress my friends or show off. They’re happy when things go well for my son, just as I am when things go well for their kids. Yes, my son knows. No, he doesn’t mind because he understands the context.
The rest of the world? What do I care what they think?
Oh, wait, I see you’re a student. I assume your parents are doing this. On the one hand, I can see why that would be incredibly annoying, especially if you think they’re pumping up their own social standing and sense of self-worth with your accomplishments rather than just bubbling over with pride. Certainly feel free to try to have a mature and rational discussion with them about why you’d rather they not do this. OTOH, if that’s the worst thing your parents ever do to you, you’re really in very good shape.
I admit - I do, but I’m Jewish and if you’re not kvelling about your kids, your grand-kids, your nieces and nephews, your grand-nieces and nephews, etc, can you even be called Jewish? I care about what’s happening with my friends and my family, I want to hear about what great things are happening to them and to their kids, and they feel the same way.
I am proud of my kid and I want to share how awesome my kid is with friends and family, and sometimes even random strangers. I personally find it difficult to understand a parent who wouldn’t behave like that, and I enjoy hearing about the kids of my friends and family, and, yes, sometimes even kids of random strangers. Hearing people tell me about something awesome that their kid did makes me feel good.
Again, maybe it’s because I’m Jewish, and come from a culture in which publicly demonstrating love and pride for your family is not only acceptable, it’s expected. Parents hug their kids, and that means fathers hug and kiss their sons, siblings hug each other, including brothers. None of this hand-shaking nonsense. We also shamelessly brag about our kids. That’s what we do.
I do share some modest info, depending. But I learned long ago that there’s often more power in what you don’t say (and what they later learn other ways,) than outright bragging. My kids know I share certain things.
The only thing that bothered me about my grandmother’s bragging was that she either made it sound like Iwas 6 years old (I got familiar with a look from people, when they realized I was much older.) Or that she got into hyperbole, beyond reality.
So, OP, what are your parents saying that embarasses you so much?
My wife and I glowingly discuss our kids accomplishments with each other. We take great pride in their achievements, acumen, maturity, etc. We don’t brag or even get into it with others unless they ask, and even then it’s just a casual “s/he’s doing great”.
Funny, we listen intently to their stories about their kids and routinely say to each other later, “they never asked about our kids”. Maybe we should brag more.
Actually in some cases we’d be embarrassed because our kids have done/ are doing well and that’s not always the case with our friends.
@MWolf great explanation! Perhaps I have more Jewish ancestory than I thought 
We (parents) share about our kids with those who know them, both family and friends. We also hear about our friends’ kids and our nephews/cousins. We enjoy sharing lives together - both good and bad.
I also know my kids share about their parents. I know oodles of kids share about their parents. That’s how life goes for most folks - they share it.
A few parents and/or kids probably go overboard (like the recent shopping for a date on campus incident), but for the majority it’s just sharing. Humans as a species weren’t meant to be hermits. It helps us know we’re “normal” when we can all share similar things. Maybe my lads aren’t the basketball star my co-worker’s is or doing the fun antics her young daughter is doing, but it’s still fun to share - and she enjoys my guys’ successes in their fields too. My mom loves hearing about her grandkids.
If your parents are seriously going overboard, have you tried talking to them? If that doesn’t work, have you tried getting a trusted family member or perhaps someone from school to talk with them? Most parents/kids have natural boundaries knowing what to share and what not to, but if yours don’t, you could try to nicely set some.
I share with friends and family about my kids and love to hear them update me on their own. Nothing is more annoying than a shameless bragger. And no, we aren’t jealous, we just think you’re silly. We know one who is extreme, who thankfully we only see like twice a year. The last time he was jawing poetic about his D being so advanced, graduating college early, honors, buying a new Jeep, such a beautiful younng lady and she walks up and says “Dad, no one cares - stop it.” She’s probably been wanting to do that since the stories of her being the best at selling Girl Scout cookies.
I wanted to hug her.
No. Only as much as my kid would be ok with.
Absolutely. Sometimes they make me take it down, lol.
Sure, but I don’t brag much so they don’t generally get upset. S is more sensitive than D, doesn’t want anything on social media.
Verbally all the time, on social media never ever. Facebook is for bragging about my dogs.
I share w/ my Mom and MIL mainly, and others only if asked and they are close. Well, my assistant at work gets to hear everything too. She doesn’t have kids, and they call from time to time, so she gets pulled in that way.
I have to admit, I find it puzzling when I ask some friends about their kids and the only response is “they’re fine.” But everyone has a different level of sharing/privacy. And I do try to respect when the kids set limits, i.e., don’t post/comment on their social media or I will be unfriended …
Bragging is when one embellishes the accomplishments or gives more voice to them than what they merit.
My friends and I have been following each others’ kids’ progress through high school, college, professional school and personal life for years and years. So naturally when asked I give information.
If I say “D is graduating from medical school in May” after being asked “How is your D”, that’s not bragging.
Things that are worth “bragging” about, they usually become known through local news media coverage, school announcements and through the grapevine. It’s not wise to make any additional enthusiasm to all these since no one truly appreciates it. One exception is when someone asks you directly about it.
I don’t brag as a normal course of action, but when our daughter was awarded a Fulbright to study in Denmark, I sent the info to our local paper to print in their College News column. As it turned out, her university sent the info to the newspaper anyway.
Guilty as charged, and no offense taken @OneWhoTalks .