To ask if anybody actually enjoys parenting toddlers?

I think it helps to try and empathise with them if you can. Think what it must be like from their point of view. They're trying to find out about the world, about its boundaries, to learn how to make choices, and sometimes it all gets muddled up in their heads. Sometimes the boundaries are unexpected to them and they're trying to make sense of why. They don't yet have the maturity to understand why they can't take ages to examine every flower on the way to pick their older sibling up from school because you'll be late otherwise, but WE can have the sense to know they'll likely want to do that, and leave a bit earlier to accommodate it to try to mitigate their frustration. Once they're a bit older and understand the concept of time etc then that's when using "I know you'd like to stop and look at flowers but if we do we're going to be late, maybe we can do it on the way back?" will work.

The tricky bit is the way our lives are set up these days. Life is often frantic, we're rushing about from A to B, with work responsibilities, ferrying other kids to clubs etc. When really, that toddler DOES need to take ages to examine all the flowers on the way, it's the way they learn.

I wish it wasn't like this. I wish life wasn't so overscheduled, but it is, so there will be inevitable tantrums!

I like it. My two have been very different to each other as toddlers but I’ve enjoyed nearly all of this period with both, my youngest is nearly 3. My younger one is much more babyish, not in a derogatory way, he’s torn between emulating his sister and being defiantly independent and telling me not to help with things as he’s a big boy, and then point blank refusing to pull his own pants up and wanting to be carried around. He’s got chubby little hands and big baby cheeks and dimples and asks why a thousand times a day and is stubborn and throws things, chuckles with complete joy and thinks I can solve all of his problems. It’s infuriating and adorable and exhausting and rewarding and it does go very quickly.

A few months ago he was shattered before nap time and I popped him on my shoulder while he bawled loudly. A woman was walking past and said “aww, what’s up with him” and I said “oh, you know, he’s two” and she beamed and said “it’s such a lovely age isn’t it” and I agreed, while rushing to get him down. They’re complicated creatures but also sometimes very straightforward.

When my daughter was a toddler, I proper envied parents of teens 😂 The toddler years felt never ending! YANBU.

Are you trying to suggest there’s a link between being a sahm and alcoholism based on your anecdote from one single person?

Loved it. Currently look after my 2 year old DGD 3 days a week. She's fantastic, very affectionate. So interesting and enjoyable to see how she alters and learns day after day. She's got a wonderful sense of humour too! She copies (or tries to) whatever her sister aged 5 does. Fascinating. She loves helping with washing, putting it in/ taking it out of the machine, setting the table, blowing bubbles in her milk, 'reading' books, 'drawing', polished the potty last week! Can take upto 30+ mins getting back from picking her sister back from school if she's got to examine all the flowers and paving stones! Better when she wants to race back on her scooter- keeps me fit.

Loathed it.

I think I must have been lucky my three weren't difficult toddlers they were all really funny. It was from around the ages of 8 to 11 I found the most annoying. When they think they know everything.

I love the toddler stage. My youngest is 4 and I am sad that I wont get to do it again. I work with very young children too.

I loved my first when he was 3. Yes there were tantrums but he was very sweet. I find the 1-2 year old watching them walk around constantly and stopping them put stuff in their mouths so tedious and boring I have to say. I don’t know how anyone could enjoy that

I enjoyed most of the toddler era as didn’t seem to get huge tantrums with either of them. They were born 15 months apart and once the second dc was a toddler they played well together and always seemed to be laughing.

Oh yeah the food thing was awful too. I remember the days of him refusing just about everything.

Now he's a student and living away from home. He hasn't died yet from starvation! Still won't eat fruit, though....

I absolutely loved the toddler years. I’m enjoying this stage (7 and 9) much less and I feel really guilty about that.

I love some bits — the affection, the love you Mummys and the cute phrases they say, the excitement at seeing a ladybird etc. but the tantrums really get me down sometimes! You have to try and shake it off and focus on the nice bits.

It’s very difficult and a complete failure of today’s society that we’re not entrenched in communities that would help this - through giving parents help, distraction, relief, companionship etc etc. I have always worked and doing so was always about having something else in my life. My one best friend who is a genuine SAHM is now a functioning alcoholic

My eldest was a calm delight as a toddler, really interesting to spend time with as he was like a sponge in terms of wanting to learn about the world. My youngest didn't seem to enjoy being a toddler at all. He would mainly just rage against the world, miserable in his skin,obviously feeling his every move was thwarted by this person who was trying to keep him alive. When we were out and he couldn't get his own way, he'd hold my hand but then make his legs go floppy so his whole body dangled from my one hand. And when when he was at home he'd just throw himself on the floor in disgust and misery. 😂 He turned me grey!

DH got fed up one day when he'd not long turned 3 with the throwing himself on the floor and told him very sternly not to get back up again until he told him he could. And if he chose to do that every time he got annoyed, that's what would happen, he could stay there till one of us told him he could get up. It did the trick, and he stopped doing it!

The upside of it all was that when he was about 4, he became generally the sunniest person in a room, everyone loved him. He was very entertaining and vivacious, wore his heart on his sleeve totally. But of course the downside was that if he was angry for any reason there were still occasions when he'd be properly grumpy, but by then he'd do it in such a way that even that was quite entertaining to watch.

He's been a brilliant teenager overall and I very much enjoy spending time with him. So hang on in there! Try to remember that they won't be like that forever!

I had 3 dc. Loved the toddler stage but ..especially for dc1 hated the teen stage. Had learn a bit more before the other 2. I think everyone's personality matches to a different stage and l was more at ease with little ones. Saying that l was a SAHM so was not wrecked from work, no one else was minding them and introducing different routines . Maybe l just liked to be in charge and l certainly wasn't when it came to teens. So hopefully you will be over the worst and really enjoy your older kids.

Oh yes I've got one of these. Will happily starve if it's not one of his safe foods. He's 3.5 and still non verbal so not being able to know what is wrong is fucking hard. I empathise, totally get it

I was seriously ill when dd1 was a baby so did enjoy the toddler years more than I thought I would because it had been so hard when she was tiny. However, I also found endless tantrums and zero sleep incredibly difficult. It took me a good 3 years to get the nerve to have another baby and dd2 was born a few days before dd1's 4th birthday. SO much easier from the word go, she never had a tantrum I couldn't believe it. If dd1 had been the same as dd2 at the baby stage I'd have had lots of children! I certainly prefer it when children can tell you what hurts and you see their personality developing.

I loved the years when both were at primary school. Secondary and college ages were challenging at times but not too bad compared to many friends' stories. .

These days, dd1 (nearly 22) is ND, still VERY emotionally needy and exhausting at times but wonderful. Dd2 (nearly 18) is SO stroppy and self centred a lot of the time, completely different to when she was tiny! But also a lovely person underneath and I have total faith that she'll be easier to "parent" as a YA than her sister has been. All depends on so many factors but toddler stage can certainly be incredibly hard.

It was the best of times and the worst of times.
I have 10 years perspective; I'd give anything to have a few weeks back when they were 1.5 - 4.
And then happily return to how they are now ❤️

I love toddlers. Youngest is 2 and I think it’s the most fun age! They’re so funny and full of character but still young and cuddly.

I’m the opposite! I find parenting teens (well I have an older teen and a pre teen) a doddle in comparison! Even when they drive you mad and give you emotional worries it’s easier.

I loved it, but then I found the baby stage really hard...

They're all different, and we all have different strengths/weaknesses/triggers as parents.

Yanbu

I found it hard work.

I mean looking back there were lover things,
places you could take them, activities you could do.

But at the time it was very hard work.

It depends on what your toddler is like. My DS is 4 and has never had a single tantrum in his life. He’s a joy to be around because he’s never a challenge. I’m sure I’d think differently had I experienced what some other parents have.

I’m not very maternal but ages 2-4 are the best for me. They’re like little drunk mates.

Whereas I’ve found 6+ when they start gibbing shite, but without the cuteness, quite wearing.