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Parenting

What age bracket do you find the hardest?

46 replies

fruitysmoothie · 24/10/2016 16:44

I'm finding that the 3-4 age group is massively hard... backchat, constant talk, attitude, answering back, whining, asking for things ALL the time, purposely doing things they aren't supposed to be....

I love my DD to pieces but my goodness things have got hard!

OP posts:
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CottonSock · 24/10/2016 16:45

Same age as mine, I need an injection of patience when on my own with her and new baby.

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fruitysmoothie · 24/10/2016 17:16

Me too Cotton! And a glass of Wine

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FATEdestiny · 24/10/2016 17:17

I was coming on to say 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 so not that different. I've done 12 years of parenting four children so far and that's my least favourite age.

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FATEdestiny · 24/10/2016 17:18

... and youngest is 25 months, so I have this stage just around the corner.

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Sgoinneal · 24/10/2016 17:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BertrandRussell · 24/10/2016 17:20

I asked my mum that once- she said she didn't know-she'd only been a mother for 55 years.....

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SpeckledyBanana · 24/10/2016 17:21

3-4. I would put DD on eBay right now. I felt the same way about DS at the same age.

I love babies, and all's well once they're in school, but preschoolers drive me potty.

(Disclaimer: I have no actual plans to sell my child.)

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BabyGanoush · 24/10/2016 17:22

Yeah, age2-4 is hardest

It then gets progressively better...

Until...?

Oldest now 14, the challenges are different now Grin

but I could not do the toddler stage again! Cute but exhausting.

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ByeByeLilSebastian · 24/10/2016 17:23

3-4 so far.

Eldest is 6 now and still is quite hard work, but at 3-4 I honestly felt so close to genuinely giving up.

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LucyLocketLostIt · 24/10/2016 17:25

Newborn for me. Both mine got progressively easier after that hell.

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AGruffaloCrumble · 24/10/2016 17:27

Just before 4 for me so far. I swear I could give DD1 to charity atm but they wouldn't get much for her.

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CwtchMeQuick · 24/10/2016 17:29

11 months - 2.5 for me. DS was a really chilled baby, the he hit 11 months and literally switched overnight into the most high maintenance tantrum throwing toddler. It was awful. He's 4.5 now and I'm finding parenting much easier, he's calmed down a bit since he learnt to talk. He's still constantly talking and on the go but I no longer have to have eyes in the back of my head.

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DuckWaddle · 24/10/2016 17:32

newborn definitely for me! Absolutely love the 3-4 age!

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Happylandpirate · 24/10/2016 17:34

My DSIS warned me "it's not the terrible twos you need to worry about.. it's the fucking 4s"!!! GrinGrin

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BotBotticelli · 24/10/2016 17:34

Agree - 10 months (when both mine started walking 😱 And trashing the house/placing themselves in mortal danger 18 times a day) until 2.5 when they could talk in proper sentences, be reasoned with/bribed and could walk down the street n cot to you without needing reins...!

Ds1 is almost 4 now and although he is a chippy argumentative little shit, it is infinitely preferable to the chaos of the young toddler phase imho.

Unfortunately DS2 is 15mo and in full "throw the remote control down the loo and dive headfirst into the traffic" phase at the moment so I am in the thick of it 😫😫

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NoIsAnAnswer · 24/10/2016 17:39

11-18 months.

3-4 years.

Or maybe I'm not cut out to be a parent! Halloween Blush

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NipSlipper · 24/10/2016 17:39

I found the age from when they start walking (so it was 10 mtgs for my DS and 17 mths for my DD) until about 2.5-3 years old hard going Grin.

Its that age hen they are mobile and demanding, but not very rational.

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sofatrainer · 24/10/2016 17:40

I can't say I'm loving 6, to be honest.

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BellMcEnd · 24/10/2016 17:42



Oh my God. DEFINITELY 3 Hmm
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MrsJayy · 24/10/2016 17:42

Gosh here goes new born hard toddler easy peasy 5-9 piece of piss 9 -14 urgh 14-17 WTAF 18 phew done Grin

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BellaGoth · 24/10/2016 17:43

Finding my 3.9 YO very hard work at the moment! He was even harder as a newborn though (reflux).

DD is a much easier baby, we'll have to wait and see how things pan out with her!

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MrsJayy · 24/10/2016 17:44

Take that back toddler easy peasy with what are you doing child bits

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CoffeeCoffeeAndLotsOfIt · 24/10/2016 17:44

My 4yo ds can be a nightmare. Cheeky, deliberately defiant, back chat etc. Then other times he's like a little angel Hmm

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Wheredidallthejaffacakesgo · 24/10/2016 17:46

This reply has been deleted

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NapQueen · 24/10/2016 17:47

0-6 months as I'm no good on low sleep and I found 1 stressful as it's new and 2 stressful as there's a 3yo and a newborn.

With dc2 he was a nightmare from 12-18m too as he couldn't walk and talk then once he started he is Mr Easy Going

Dc1 has just started reception class so she's up and down most days and it's wearing.

Ok to sum up: lots of it!

I snatch the good bits whenever I can!

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