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Original poster

To hate sentimentality about the early years going fast?

157 replies

higlandcoo · 20/09/2025 10:06

Everyone has a different perspective but for me they didn’t go fast at all. The year I had a three year old and a one year old was awful. I worked part time and absolutely dreaded my days ‘off.’

I hate being told I’ll miss it one day. No, I won’t. Life is already infinitely calmer and easier, although we’re not out of the woods yet.

I often feel like I’m the only one!

OP posts:
ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 20/09/2025 10:21

My dc are adults.

Its all gone very very fast. I’d love to go back to when they were about 5 or 6 tbh

The days are long, but the years are short.

Ddakji · 20/09/2025 10:20

Actually, now I’m in the GCSE years I’m definitely looking at the early years with a fond eye. Though usually I would agree with you, OP.

RaraRachael · 20/09/2025 10:18

I follow an instagrammer who's daughter is 8. She is continually posting about how she absolutely doesn't want her to grow up. It's quite shocking how strongly she feels about it, but it stems from her neediness. The child still cries (as does the mother) on returns to school and some drop offs and she loves it.

Poppins2016 · 20/09/2025 10:17

I think it's very subjective. E.g. like a previous poster, I hated school (definitely not the best years of my life) but love the early years of raising babies and small children (not to say that it isn't bloody hard work!). We all experience motherhood differently (and your feelings, though different to mine, are 100% valid).

Comedycook · 20/09/2025 10:17

I swear my DD was two and a half for about four years.

But it's a tricky one...the days are long but the years are short. It's bittersweet really....my DC are older teens now...life is easier in many ways but you do feel a bit wistful for those years. It doesn't feel at the time that it flies by when you're knackered but it really does.

TaborlinTheGreat · 20/09/2025 10:14

I don't hate it, but it wasn't how I felt. I enjoyed the early years, but I was always happy to see them progress onto the next stage. I'm the same now they are 17 and 20. Of course when they go to uni / leave home it's a bit sad and I miss them, but I'm excited for them! It's true that the years go by fast, but I've never felt sentimental or maudlin about it really.

Mixingitup · 20/09/2025 10:12

It's the same when folks tell me school was the best days of my life. It was not.
I like the baby days. Not enjoying 6 year old girls currently 😂