To ask what stage of being a parent you least enjoyed

[Fennecfoxmummy]

My little one is only 9 months old so obviously I have very little experience. I thought I would LOVE having a little new born but it was honestly the hardest time of my life and I don't remember feeling relaxed or happy for the first 3 months however now he is amazing I love seeing the new things he is learning. The older he gets the more I enjoy him without wishing his life away!
I know toddler years are supposed to be the hardest work. What's it like when they start school? I think I'll miss him like mad or are you glad of the break. Everyone's different I know. Just wondering what to expect really

[Heil]

For me age 2.5-3.5/4 was the hardest with mine (one currently well past that, one still in that stage!) I loved newborn/ baby stage.
for me everything was a full on battle - sleep - eating - dressing, etc. But I do have two extremely determined and strong willed children - especially ds2!

[MumBod]

Not loving this stage, tbh. Mine are 18 and 16.

I don't have all that much interaction with them, I'm coming to terms with the empty nest that's looming, they can be very difficult to reason with at times (know everything, but know nowt), they eat me out of house and home and I'm constantly worried about their exams, etc - much more than they are, judging by the lack of revision that's going on in my house at the moment.

Don't get me wrong, I love them fiercely and they can be good company, and as teenagers go they really are pretty angelic, but I'd have a couple of toddlers again in a heartbeat.

[happypoobum]

I sailed through the baby and toddler years, all easy peasy.

Having primary school DC was fine.

Having a teenage daughter has nearly killed me

[bibbitybobbityyhat]

The first 6 weeks with my first child.

[Catam]

For me it's now (18) as leaving home is a fast approaching reality and I'm just not ready

Currently veering between being immensely proud that he's matured and together and just wanting to turn the clock back a few 18 years.

[upperlimit]

3-6 months, total exhaustion, no end in sight. It has been consistently the hardest time with three children. I quite like the toddler years, they can be as wild as they wish so long as the throw me a bone and sleep in more than 60 minute chunks.

[EnglishGirlApproximately]

Ds is 5 and so far I've only really enjoyed the newborn to one stage. I feel stifled and crowded all of the time. I'm a quiet person who likes peace and space, and it's impossible with a little one. Sorry, probably not what you want to hear. I'm hoping things will get better.

[6demandingchildren]

The hardest part is when they move out x

[user1466690252]

I dislike the first 6 months. Newborn the worst. I love when they get their own little peronality and less sleep deprivation!

[highneeds]

Hated 0-6 months, dreadful reflux, had bleeding ears from all the screaming. You couldn't pay me enough to go back there. Things then got slightly easier but realised he was high needs, many tantrums, constant battles from very early on. The only good thing about all of that is, now that we're at the 'terrible twos' it's actually not that terrible because we've had all the worst temper tantrums and now that he can talk and understand much more it's much easier to communicate/bribe/negotiate. They're all so different I suspect you'll get wildly ranging responses. For me, now that he's walking, talking and understanding I hate it less. Had he been more chilled out I might not have found the early part quite so dreadful.

[SmartyPants0]

I'm agreeing with mumbod and happypoobum. I think teenagers have been the hardest, they have to make their own mistakes and I find that hard as I want to step in and make things right... ie
when they've had fallings out with their partners and are hurting and you want to punch the partner...

[Justmadeperfectflapjacks]

Ds 25
And ds 23
Both just been through nightmare relationships with one ds now shared parenting of my gs. .
Ladies don't think it gets any easier once they reach adulthood.
It truly doesn't.
Worse than toddler /teen stage as am now an outsider looking in but being asked for help and support while remaining impartial for the sake of gs. .
Brings new meaning to sleepless nights. .

[trixymalixy]

The baby stages were really hard for me. I absolutely hated it.

I have adored every other stage so far. The toddler years were a breeze compared to the hideous newborn stage. My DC both had multiple food allergies and just didn't sleep or feed well.

[daffodilbrain]

Hating pre-teen and the moodiness. I'm sure it'll seem a doddle in a few years time!

[WandaOver]

The first 6 weeks with my first child.
Other than that I've loved every minute, including the teenage years.
Hate the empty nest.

[putdownyourphone]

Mine are only 1 but the newborn stage to 6mo has put me off ever having babies again! Thankfully I got 2 for the price of 1 the first time round.

[highneeds]

Oh no I don't want to believe that it gets harder in adolescence! People keep saying that so it must be true

[Macarena1990]

Potty training and 'tweens' - am really struggling with 11 year old Dd's meltdowns

[Sparklingbrook]

First 6 weeks after the birth of DC1 and all the BF stress/feeling sore/no sleep malarkey. Awful
Wasn't keen on a lot of the primary school age stuff.

I now have a 15 year old and a 17 year old. Eldest has just learnt to drive and passed his test. I sat with him a lot while he practiced, that's not for the faint hearted. Now he is preparing for University, and I have so many mixed emotions about that.

Don't they say the hardest stage is always the one you are going through right now?

[upperlimit]

Well, we will see. My eldest only turns 10 this summer. I'm sure the teenage years will be a breeze...

[NiktheGreek]

Well I'm going through a particularly hard time at the moment with DS 14 so based on that I would say now which is a shame as DD 17 has been a breeze through her teenage years. I veer between wishing for the toddler years back and counting down the days till he leaves home.

[WandaOver]

highneeds not for everyone, just as the baby stage is easier for some than others. Mine were a joy throughout adolescence.
I really agree with Justmadeperfectflapjacks about sleepless nights when adult DC have problems though.

[DoItTooJulia]

1-2. It should be getting easier was my thinking, but by god, it didn't.

I loved the baby stages and once they could tak and were potty trained it was fab again. But that year or so felt like no mans land!

That said my eldest is 12 now....hormones, exams, teenage hood, more freedom, crossing roads (terrifies me! And then they'll be driving before I know it!), drinking, clubbing, boys/girls, moving out all to come. So maybe I'll look back fondly on them being mute, nappy wearing sleep thieves.

[limon]

Newborn to a year. Hard work breast feeding with various post partum issues . Going back to work was hard too

[OddBoots]

The coasting to toddling stage so about 10-18 months when I felt like I needed to hover behind them the whole time.

Mine are now mid to late teens, we are dealing with exams and Uni etc but this is easy compared to that stage.