To ask if anybody actually enjoys parenting toddlers?

Yes!! Mine have just started fighting over this. To start with I couldn’t work out why my younger one was screeching “butt…, butt!!!” at me in the lift; then I realised she’d learnt the word and wanted to be the one to press the button. We also have it at traffic lights. And she hates it when I stop her running into the road.

I don’t mind one toddler (he’s 2). But I find it hard to enjoy parenting him and his 4yo brother together.

They are cute and funny at this age but its hard work its like looking after your drunk best friend whos also suicidal and a bit of an arsehole

My 32 month old is going through a phase where he will spend 30-45 minutes almost every morning having a melt over nothing. I love my kids more than anything but the endless wailing for me - only to get angry if i try to go to him and screaming "no" at me - then reverting is exhausting. Especially as i have an intense job so that's a significant amount of our time together during the week. I have learnt to roll with the punches and I think I am good at not taking it too personally but my god - you are left going "can you please just work out what you want".

I think there's pros and cons to every stage to be honest and mine is 3 now and I do actually love this stage. But I'd say the period from about 8mths- almost 3 I was definitely flying by the seat of my pants just surviving. We were certainly not thriving lol.

I imagine it must be really hard to actually be a toddler though. You've more independence, you've got opinions but you can't actually communicate any of it and have no emotional regulation so is it any wonder they are just blind with rage 90% of the time?

All you can do is know you're not along, do what you need to in order to get your day in and know that this stage doesn't last forever.

My first toddler was an absolute dream, until about 3 anyway. I did NOT know how easy I had it!! Don't worry, I got pay back and then some with no2. I look back now though and they were both so adorable and cute and delightful.

I also think it helps so much to know about their development and what’s normal. Much less frustrating! They will do mad shit but you will look back and laugh at most of it.

Totally depends on the kids. First was a dream from 9 months until 2.5 then a pain from 2.5 until 4, now easier again, but she got a sibling at 2y8mo so fair enough really…second was an easy baby, currently just 2 and whilst frustrating is still absolutely great but think she will be a pain in the arse as a 3yo!

But I absolutely love the early walking, talking, discovering, compliant toddlers that they are at the beginning. My favourite bit of parenting so far because they are so funny.

I found parenting twin toddlers really hard work. I'm with you. It was damage limitation mostly. I now have two nearly 15 year olds. It's still exhausting (single & working full time) but they're brilliant company and don't shit themselves as soon as you've ordered a latte, which is marvellous quite honestly 😂

I loved the toddler stage, loved my child learning to talk especially and his personality coming out. I found the earlier baby stages very hard.

Mine was an absolute doddle so yes, I did. But I know that was just luck. She’s just an easy child and I think a huge part of that was she talked very early and had an amazing vocabulary so she was able to
communicate clearly and didn’t get frustrated.

I found the phrase 'hell hath no fury like a toddler given the wrong colour cup' very useful. Repeating it in my head mid tantrum helped reinstate my sense of humour. My toddler trying to physically drag a loaf of bread I had bought (and by extension me) back to the shop, resulting in the packaging bursting and the bread falling onto the pavement, was stressful at the time, but it's a fond memory of toddler madness now.

I have 3 , 5 and 8 yo all so different. I think each hose is hard and easy, nothing lasts forever. I worry about missing these days and then feel bad for wishing them away during epic tantrums. You’re entitled to feel however you like OP. And as for people whose kids have never had a tantrum!? Cannot imagine that!

Yes, I love it. My youngest is 3 and I'm so sad that my toddler days are nearly completely behind me.

When it gets tough (and it does, he's the most willful out of all of them!) I tell myself 'I'll miss this one day'.

I do think it gets easier and more enjoyable with each DC too

The toddler years were my favourite. They're just so joyful at that age.

First one was an absolute joy and fabulous fun and company as a toddler; is only a bit tricky now she’s 8 (read: still great with the odd pushback). Secondborn turned 3 and was an emotional rollercoaster, cried at the drop of a hat, oppositional to absolutely everything, favourite word no 🤣 she improved at 4 but is an absolute handful in comparison to the firstborn 😂

This reminds me of the parenting advice to give children choices where both are acceptable to you. "Would you like to put on your shoes or coat first?" Sort of thing.

My children have never been stupid enough to fall for that sort of thing, but it is recommended everywhere.

I have 4 kids, three are now adults/teens and a 6yo. I found the toddler years the most mentally and physically exhausting, even with the easier toddlers. I remember sometimes just losing my rag because I couldn't deal with anymore screaming/tantrums/refusing to do anything I asked etc. Parenting teens has genuinely been a joy, they are lovely to be around, we have interesting conversations and we have a great relationship of mutual respect. It took a lot of years of hard work getting here though and the toddler years were probably the hardest.

To be fair our DS was pretty good…he didn’t adequately prepare us for our DD being far harder! Her first word was “no” and it was downhill from there…

Nobody is ‘piling on’ or bullying you. You made statements, were disagreed with and are now having a massive strop for no reason whatsoever. People are pointing that out and you have gone into full drama professional victim mode. It’s very strange.

YANBU!

I have 3 children - first 2 were actually overall, very compliant. Youngest - OMG it was a battle of wills! It still is at 4, but worse as they can argue back, are mobile and a lot stronger! They like to run around the dining room table so you can'tcatch them, refusing to sit down to eat. Or when it's time to put shoes on. Or do anything else they don't want to do! Won't let you catch them. Aarghhh. My first 2 were never like that!!

Though I still prefer it to newborn/baby stage with the sleepless nights!!

It is exhausting but teens…. Omg the stress. I don’t know why but I wasn’t expecting it. Such naivety…

So you reply, "oh goody cause mummy was REALLY wanting some toast, yummy, so what do you really want?"

I love parenting my toddler, but I definitely dont think its unreasonable not to! I really struggled with newborn stage and I know others who loved having a newborn and found it easy. I think it depends on both your own temperament and the child's too.