To ask how long children remain little for

[acatisnotjustforeaster]

I am forever being told, cherish the time spend with our darling children as they aren't little for long. How long do you think we've got them for ss lovely little innocents?

[molyholy]

Ooh I dont know. My dd is 7 in a few months and it has gone past in the blink of an eye!

[acatisnotjustforeaster]

I know. I'm just coming to the end of the baby stage and missing it already

[Thumbcat]

I think once they start school they start to change from being little. Definitely by year 1 that little child loveliness has gone.

[CitronVert]

My youngest DS leaves primary school tomorrow. He was always my baby but he's so big now. It really does go in the blink of an eye.

I'm a bit sad tonight

[acatisnotjustforeaster]

5 thumbcat? ????

[acatisnotjustforeaster]

Citronvert I can imagine. I am determined to enjoy all the wide eyed wonderment as much as I can.

[BertieBotts]

I think it's about seven actually. DS can be a bit of a pain sometimes and act older, but he is still little. He will be seven in October.

[sweetkitty]

My eldest is 11 in a few days (ive been on MN since before she was born) mym youngest is 5.

It really is a blink of an eye

[ollieplimsoles]

This is a bit picky sorry-

But it really annoys me when someone has a baby, posts about the new arrival on facebook, then one person has to say something like 'seriously enjoy every minute it goes so fast'.. I read them and just think; no shit sherlock, thanks for pointing that out, better make sure I'm enjoying my baby enough as it will all be gone soon. Just creams my corn..

[mrsruffallo]

I'd say secondary school is the big change

[OddBoots]

It goes past so quickly but older children are just as wonderful, my eldest is about to turn 16 and my youngest is 12 and they are fantastic to spend time with, they are funny, affectionate, helpful and kind (most of the time, anyway). I loved their baby stage but this bit is just as good.

[StayGoldPonyBoy]

I vote 7. They lose their cute babyish feet and get big front teeth at 7. I think they want to act older by then too.

[CheesyNachos]

I don't know. My DS is 5. I had dreadful pnd for 4 years and cannot really recall those years... it was a blur. I am hoping that each age and each stage is a joy no matter what it brings because I feel I missed out on the early years. I love the stage he is at now though.... funny, interesting, trying to work the world out. I hope every age is like that.

[Zebda]

I agree with 7 - this is when DD started eye-rolling at me and getting sulky (i.e the end of cuteness and general good humour).

[Theycallmemellowjello]

I find it a bit unsettling to hear people talking about children in this way. You're not losing them - you're gaining as they grow up.

[IfNotNowThenWhen]

Nooo. Mine is 9 and still quite"little" a lot of the time. I have made an effort to not let him get too teenagery tho.
( it does help that he looks 7!)
My friend with girls, hers were putting on make up and having mum and daughter pampering session at 6, and seems much more grown up. I love this age,and have liked each new age more and more, and hate when you have a baby and everyone goes "ooh enjoy it its downhill from now on" Niners can still be big eyed with wonder at times.

[thehumanjam]

I stopped referring to my eldest as "my little boy" when he turned 8.

[nipplequestion]

I agree with 7. DS has begun to understand his place in the world more this year and is beginning to lose that complete innocence younger children have.

[acatisnotjustforeaster]

Ifnotnowthenwhen just out of interest, how did you not let your 9 year old get too teenagery?

[revealall]

I thought the todler to young child (about 5ish) went on forever. There was a long stage from 7 till about now ( 11) when they seem to enjoy being children but gradually become more capable.
Secondary school and you are pretty much out of childhood really.

[SoupDragon]

I find it unsettling when people can't grasp that it is possible to love who your children are growing into and yet still wish you had the chubby cheeked preschooler back for a while so you could feel their pudgy little hand in yours or the weight of them balanced over one shoulder as you carry them to bed already asleep.

I love the 6ft tall beanpole my DS1 (16) has grown into but I still think wistfully of his preschool self.

[mrsruffallo]

CheesyNachos- the best is yet to come and that nasty PND will be a distant memory for you. Mothering older kids is as good as it gets!

[acatisnotjustforeaster]

In my op I didn't mean we would love our older children any less, I'm just curious as to when they lose that innocent nature. It's not meant to disregard the loveliness of older children

[G1veMeStrength]

My junior school children aren't little but they are still soooo much fun and also capable. I like it. They still gasp in amazement at things but can do up their own seatbelts. They don't have a newborn smell but their hugs are given out of choice and love. Perfect age.

(I have said 'perfect age' at every stage. Its honestly always lovely in different ways and with different challenging bits of course.)

[BackforGood]

I stopped referring to my eldest as "my little boy" when he turned 8

Yet, my Mum would still sometimes refer to her 'little boy' , when db was 6'3" and over 40

I now know how she feels, and introduced my 6' 19yr old to a friend as 'my little boy' the other day