What were some instances when your child(ren) made you proud? originally appeared on Quora - the knowledge sharing network where compelling questions are answered by people with unique insights.
Answer by Steve Taylor, medieval martial artist and father, on Quora.
We were at a battle reenactment and we have a set piece where children are "killed." My son wanted to do it, so we said yes, but I played one of the guards so I could keep an eye on him as he was only three years old.
He insisted on mustering with us and on having his own helmet and sword. Overall, he stood with all of the adults for over an hour (that is ages for a three year old) without complaining.
As we walked onto the field, he sang his own tune the entire way. Here he is making his way to the field with us:
When the scenario happened, I was "killed" first so that they could "massacre" the children. My son saw me being killed, drew his sword, and ran over and stabbed the guy who was hitting me. The guy took a death, as he was not sure what had happened (he was hit from behind).
My son then fought the murder unit single-handedly and only died when my wife (his mother) agreed to die as well so they could have a cuddle on the ground.
The entire show basically stopped for a few minutes as a dozen medieval soldiers tried to take down a psychotic three year old wielding a wooden sword, guarding his father's corpse, and yelling the battle cry "Not today, baddy!"
His mother was slightly prouder and just as horrified when he took apart the dual flush mechanism in the toilet at a toddler group he went to the next week!
A time before this when he made me proud: he was in his high chair, he must have been about two, his mother and I were play fighting (we are both medieval combat instructors) and suddenly he shouted, "Hey! Don't hit my mummy, okay Daddy?" Both me and my wife laughed and then I noticed that he was still staring at me. He repeated, "OKAY, DADDY?!". I had to agree (and look serious doing it) to calm him down as he started trying to get out of his high chair.
He could barely walk and he was ready to go toe-to-toe with a 6'2" 220lb adult to protect his mother. I couldn't have been more proud of him!