To just want my children to grow up?

It’s a horribly tough stage. YANBU

7-11 is often lovely

Same here, everyone seems to hate the baby and toddler stage, they were my favourite ages! Glad it’s not just me

Bad news - they aren't much better at 5 or 7! It does get easier in that they can entertain themselves more but I have an almost 12 year old and its now moving on to hormonal tantrums!

Same here. I have 3 boys and bloody loved the baby and toddler years! Would do it all again in a heartbeat.

I also have a 6 month old and a 3 year old, I totally hear you! I alternate between feeling like this, and then getting teary whenever the little one grows out of a clothing size as we're not having any more. It's an emotional rollercoaster, and while I am fed up with nappies, lack of sleep etc, I know in 5/10/15 years time I'll look back and miss it all.

7/8 is a REALLY annoying age

I don't blame you. Mine are 6 and 8 and it's really nice going away for the weekend with just a rucksack each, no nappies, no buggies, teddies or excessive planning. Playdates where you can just leave them to play on their own safely. Activities that we can all actually enjoy like family cycles or roller discos or going to see home alone rather than soft play and paw patrol. After (usually) a full night's sleep. Being able to be a bit flexible with bedtimes without it always leading to a total meltdown. There are things I miss though (trying to get out the house with a baby and a toddler is not one of them)

You’re in the thick of it so I don’t blame you one bit for feeling like this. When youngest was 6 months, my older had just turned 2 and it was so hard. DH worked long hours, I was alone with them all day after no sleep at night - no other exhaustion compares!. Parenting toddlers wasn’t my thing, I find it tedious and relentless

They are now 5 and 7 and a million times easier! I love everything about them and now look forward to taking time off in school holidays to spend days with them (compared to preferring them in childcare when toddlers). It does get easier

No I get you. I've got a 3.5 yo and a 1 (next week!) yo.

It's really tough. We want a third for sure but it is so exhausting!

I have a 5 and a 7 and it is so easy in comparison. That's my experience only.

I hear you OP. Also the proud owner of a 6 mo and a 3 yo. Baby pretty standard, has his moments but is generally a sunny character. 3 yo is tricky, always has been. Individually, they are pretty easy, especially the baby. Together it’s exhausting and relentless! I am physically broken and absolutely dreading half term next week 😫 SIL has a 7 and 9 yo and she seems to have her sh*t together more than me so here’s hoping 😂

Oh god I could have written this myself. Mine are 4 & 15 months, the 15 month old wants to be held constantly, still wakes overnight and nothing we’ve tried to tackle his sleep has worked. He screams when I leave the room, screams if his brother comes to me for a hug, screams for food but then throws it all on the floor. I do not cherish every moment, I can’t wait for this stage to pass. Really looking forward to having a 4 and a 7 year old in a few years.

Omg thank you so much for saying this because it's still really hard for me at this age and it's made me think I'm not mad for thinking it might still get better

Bloody hell, I hated those younger years, and now the bigger (m) child is very self sufficient, however, the younger (f) is more needy than ever but in other ways. I love that she still needs me, but when she was 2 I could leave her in the house without her chasing me down the drive, now that she's 14 I have to drive like a formula driver just to get off the drive without her. I'm sure, in time, I'll regret this 😁

I miss 5-10 the most with DTs. The early years really were Groundhog Day.

Now I've got hormonal almost 13 year olds it's going to be an interesting few years. Then I think if they go uni they're only going to be living with for another 5 years and as they get older I'll see them less and less.

There are a few brief, golden years when things are reasonable (5-10) but then it's all downhill again. I keep wishing the rest of my DCs' childhoods away but, as things stand, I'm worried they will be living with me forever and things will never get any easier!

Yanbu. Mine are rising 5 and 7 and its great, much easier than when they were little.

I heard 30 is a good age...🤣

I think you’re fine to wish away the first year of having two with a small age gap. That is a very, very hard time and you are right in the thick of it. Things will be easier in a year and much, much easier in two or three years. Yes there are other challenges with older kids (mine are 4, 7 and 9 now) but nothing compares to that relentless grind of juggling a toddler and a baby. I miss my older two being little sometimes but nothing would compel me to live even a month of their first year over again.

I'm the total opposite! Mine are still so tiny and I already absolutely dread the thought of them being older and growing up. They're so infinitely tiny and precious to me, the thought that they won't be one day honestly breaks my heart 😭 they're with me and family for childcare (yes, so so lucky and I appreciate every second of it), but the thought of them being 'out' in the real world and therefore subject to unkindness, harm, cruelty from others etc just makes me so anxious and sad. I want to pause time to give myself time to soak it all in 😕

(yes I KNOW this is not healthy, and I KNOW I need to get a grip and stop being so silly and yes I am in therapy after severe medical trauma involving one of my children)

I understand - it is hard. But mine ARE grown up and I wish I could turn the clock back and do it all again. I love the adults they have become and take great joy in them, of course, but I find it hard when I clock that there are so many things I cannot remember.

I am not unsympathetic to how difficult parenting young children is, but this will pass. Try and find one moment of joy in each day and inscribe it on your brain - there will be one, even if well hidden! Good luck.

YANBU and I felt the same way when mine were that age. They are 6 and 8 now and honestly parenting them is a piece of cake. They go to bed at 7:30 and sleep all night, they go to school, you can have interesting conversations with them, play boardgames, eat in a restaurant without worrying about them disturbing everyone, days out without lugging a pushchair around.. It's great.

Pre school and primary 😩😩

I know it's a cliche but try not to wish the years away - they do go SO quickly. I've got a 14 yo and 11 yo and I think back wistfully to the younger years. While I get that it feels like a slog, if I could tell my younger self one thing, it would be to try and experience 'moments' and hold on to the memories. You're just in the thick of it so don't really consider what it will feel like to move on to the next stage, but I promise you will look back with nostalgia in years to come.

Keep up the good work, you're doing a great job!

Ha, I could have written this about 7 years ago!! The relentlessness of the younger years was awful and I often longed for a time when things would be easier and my daughter would be more independent. She’s now nearly 7 and honestly I miss those days so much! When you think about it it is really just a short period of time in the 18 years they’re a child, but agree it feels never ending at the time.