to think being a stay at home mother of babies and toddlers is an absolute bloody dodfle.

[StillIRise]

compared to being a full time working (shit shifts) mother of stroppy, hormonal, expensive, complicated teenagers.

I am much more bone achingly knackered now than I was then, after a day of playdough and music group, with an afternoon nap or quite hour in front of a disney dvd.

The days when i could do tea, bath, story and bed by 6.30pm.

Compared to 8 hours on my feet, bit stressy, get in, feed 3 different times, drop off, pick up, nag about homework, worry about dodgy friends, drugs and unprotected sex.

U?

I think not.

[StillIRise]

Of course the first 5 years is a bit blurred and fuzzy and I can't actually remember much about it.

But it can't have been that bad could it?

[OddBoots]

Only one of mine is a teen (the other only thinks she is!) but yeah, this stage is harder then when they were tiny and much more stressful. I have always worked, I worked at home when they were little and work half and half in and out of the home now.

[TheMightyMojoceratops]

Yes. Your life is harder than mine. You win. Congratulations. Have some .

Feel better now?

[OddBoots]

I do think we can only compare the different stages of our own experiences though, not with each other. We and our families are all different.

[StillIRise]

Thanks mighty. Thats just what i needed.
Any chance of a foot rub?

[RyleDup]

Possibly, i'm not at the teenage stage so can't compare. But toddlers are hard, and they don't have the independence that teenagers have so you are more tied to them.

[HappyHippyChick]

I have the entire contents of a large pot of sudocrem over the walls, carpet, sofa, baby and toddler. Cleaning that up will be fun. I only left ds3 (2) unsupervised for about 5 mins while putting the dinner out... Doddle? I think not.

[gordyslovesheep]

YABU - what you find tiring and other people do wont be the same - YABU to feel you have it tougher than anyone else (and a bit self pitying)

I found being at home harder than working - I am much less frazzled on days where I am at work !

[ZombTEE]

Yes. You're right. Your life is completely impossible and mine is a breeze.

Why did I never realize this before?

My life is complete with this knowledge.

You, you know, fuck off.

[NormanTheForeman]

Think it depends what kind of child you have though. Mine as a baby/toddler would never have a "quiet hour in front of the tv" and was really quite hard work, but as an almost 12 year old is very easy. Not sure what will happen once he hits the teens though......

[IneedAsockamnesty]

i have dc's who are adults teenagers and babies all of them are much the same with regards to stress and energy required just in different ways.

so yabu and talking bollocks

[hiviolet]

Tea bath story and bed by 6.30? Jeez, the impossible dream!

My 13 month old rarely goes to bed before 9

[monkeysbignuts]

[hobnobsaremyfavourite]

Do people deliberately star threads like this just to prove to the worl how twatty they are? It's quite an effective techique, it helps me to update my spreadtwatsheet.
OP each stage of parenting/life brings it's own shit and joy.
HTH

[StillIRise]

OK. I admit defeat. I am U. So why am i so knackered?

Maybe its age? I feel old.

[LolaDontCryOverSpiltBleach]

Yep, you are 100% correct OP, it is definitely harder for you Congrats and all that.

[MadCap]

My second of the day.

[cfc]

Oh holy fuck - I'm holding onto the 'fact' that this will get better!!

Thanks for shattering my illusions, you bitch.

[FrustratedSycamoreBonks]

I would swap you anyday.

[HeinousHecate]

All stages and all circumstances have their challenges. I don't think it's possible to put them in some sort of universal scale. Some people will find a stage easy that others find the most difficult. All you can say with any certainty is that you feel it was easier when you were at home with toddlers than you do now. Fair enough. Nobody can say you're wrong when you're talking about how you feel about the different stages and circumstances you've been in.

It's when you attempt to extend that to others that it falls apart.

[MoreFish]

Was this not a light hearted thread?

[hobnobsaremyfavourite]

I have 4 , when DC's were small my tiredness was due to broken sleep, hormones, relentless care of babies etc etc etc.
Now they are older they are more mentally tiring, do sheloads of stuff and I am virtually working full time . I am different knackered.
It's not a fucking competition.

[LaurieBlueBell]

God no give me teenagers over toddlers any day.

[5madthings]

Actually whilst i dont agree that babies/toddlwrs are always a doddle i do agree it gets harder in the teen years. My eldest is 13 and in yr 9, we have just had to make the decision to move him to a new high school (various reasons) and he chooses his gcse options in feb. Ds2 also starts high school next sept. It all feels very important somehow, how these years go, esp educationwise affects their life!

In contrast dd is 22mths and yes it is easy, she is an utter delight, just lovely and as she is my 5th i can do babies/toddlers. Yes they each throw you a new curve ball and there us the lack if sleep etc but in general i would say its easier than the worries you have with a teen, and my teen is actually pretty good, bright, polite, well behaved etc. Its still mu h more stressfil than dealing with a todfler!