Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Do you miss your kids being young?

78 replies

LydiaLunch7 · 18/09/2018 20:54

Lighthearted disclaimer!

My kids are 4 and 2 and they're just so cute and cuddly. I feel like I'm really gonna miss that when they're older.

Although I'm sure I'll enjoy [slightly] more adult conversation and [lots] more sleep!

Does everyone with older kids desperately miss the times when they were young and innocent??

OP posts:
Icequeen01 · 18/09/2018 22:40

Yes I really miss my DS when he was a toddler. He was full of confidence, hyper-active, would talk to anyone and he seemed to relish every second of his day! He is now 18 and a lovely young man but is full of teenage angst, can be a bit shy in certain circumstances and prefers to spend his time in bed! He started Uni this week (although is commuting each day) and it's like his toddler self was a completely different person who I miss sometimes. Wouldn't swap my 18 year old but would like to have kept my toddler too.

WheelyCote · 18/09/2018 22:40

Yep and I never thought I'd say that. I wish I could live every day again...even the supermarket tantrums😂😂😂

BigSandyBalls2015 · 18/09/2018 22:40

I think it easy to look back with rose tinted specs when kids are older, forgetting the hard bits. I'm much more prone to this than DH.

If we meet someone new and say we have twin teens, the response is often "OMG I bet that was hard for the first year or two" .... and I'm like "nooo it was fabulous blah blah". DH always interrupts to say it was extremely hard going and knackering Grin

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families
CastleFeck · 18/09/2018 22:44

I think they just get better and better. I’ve enjoyed each year more than the last.

I think some of you with older children have forgotten how difficult under 5s are. They might be cute, but they are so exhausting.

MothershipG · 18/09/2018 22:46

No, nope, no way. Children definitely improve with age, I like having teenagers much more than babies, they are much more interesting.

Mamabearx4 · 18/09/2018 22:48

Missed it so much had another lol. 17 14 9 and 15months im crazy lol

RedPandaMama · 18/09/2018 22:52

Ahhhh I wish I hadn't opened this thread. My DD is 1 and I'm already missing the teeny stages where all she wanted to do was cuddle and feed. Looking forward to watching her grow and loving the new personality she's developing though. I know we can always have another in the future but to me she's literally perfect and I can't imagine myself with any more children just yet.

Tangletwisters · 18/09/2018 22:54

Mine’s nearly 6 and I don’t miss the baby / toddler age at all. From 4 he became so much more fun.

3in4years · 18/09/2018 23:15

Oh God mine are little. I only ever wanted babies and I love the baby stage with all my being. I will miss this. Best days of my life.

AlevelConfusion · 18/09/2018 23:22

My MIL (now 80) said that everytime I catch someone elderly looking at me and the children they are reliving their past with their own children.

Ok, if I wasn't blubbing before I am now Sad

ifcatscouldtalk · 18/09/2018 23:24

My DD has recently turned 14. With my rose tinted specs I do wish I could re live some of her earlier years, knowing what I know now. I'd be more relaxed than when I had her in my twenties.
Having said that, I do think I sometimes forget the bits I found hard at times. Less sleep, no head space, trying to work and rely heavily on grandparents help, feeling inadequate at home and work. It seems more intense looking back.
Overall life is easier now. Obviously every age has its ups and downs. I like that we enjoy similar things. A meal and half decent film at the cinema beats soft play hands down.
Occasionally old photos do make me quite nostalgic though. I probably didn't fully appreciate the cuteness.
I try to enjoy whatever stage we're at.

SponsoredFred · 18/09/2018 23:28

No, not at all. I love watching them grow up

AlevelConfusion · 18/09/2018 23:29

I think some of you with older children have forgotten how difficult under 5s are.

You're right of course, one does tend to forget the bloody hard work of it all and only remember the cuddles and singing along to Dora the explorer togetherGrin
Still miss it though Sad

AlevelConfusion · 18/09/2018 23:32

Wouldn't swap my 18 year old but would like to have kept my toddler too.

Yes that would be fantastic, wouldn't it.

Frazzledkate · 18/09/2018 23:35

Mine are 1, 2 and 4. I don't really enjoy them u til they hit 2 and a half. Everyone says 'make the most of it' and I think, I'm trying! What else can I do? This thread hasn't helped, realistic as it is!

I really hope and pray I will be a mum that enjoys each stage.

Defo feel inspired to take more pics and vids from tomw tho.

Sorry for those sad who would love to see theirs little again SadFlowers

SponsoredFred · 18/09/2018 23:37

I have NOT forgotten...it is gruelling. I would not go back there, for anything

Darkestnight · 18/09/2018 23:38

Yes my dd turned 18 this year and was a shock to my system on how quick time has gone. I miss the school years mostly. Make every time count when there young as it goes so dam quick

DustyMaiden · 18/09/2018 23:41

I have 3 DC youngest is 17. I still get cuddles from all of them. I also have 4 DGC and get cuddles from them too.

MorningsEleven · 18/09/2018 23:42

My youngest is eight and was feral as a tiddler. Looking back I can laugh at his misdemeanours but he was a right little bugger. And I'm talking jumping into the river, mud fights, streaking, going on a rampage in school, locking me out of the house, walking to school in his underpants because he didn't want to get dressed.

Oh my life, he's so much easier now and still does cuddles and tells me he loves me three times a day. It gets better.

Velvetbee · 18/09/2018 23:45

Dear God, no!
Mine are 11 to 21 now. They’re fabulous and I wouldn’t go back for anything.

Titsywoo · 19/09/2018 00:20

No not really. It's not something I think about. They were great when they were little and they are great now. I've loved every stage even with its many ups and downs. I cant remember them as little people now though. They are who they are now to me.

MarthasGinYard · 19/09/2018 00:23

Yes

Would love to magic dd back to that scrumptious stage

Just for an hour or two Grin

storynanny · 19/09/2018 00:44

Oh yes I do. Mine are 35, 33 and 26 and only one lives in the UK now. Wish I could go back and do it all again knowing what I know now!

user838383 · 19/09/2018 07:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

YouTakeTheBiscuit · 19/09/2018 07:47

Yes.... yes.... oh did I say YES!

I met my partner (now husband) when his son had just turned 4, he was the sweetest nicest little boy, DSS now lives with us, for the last few years, this year he started secondary school. And has become the nasty, cheeky, disrespectful and aggressive.

He shoved me into a door last week because I wouldn't give him his ps4 remote before school. This was the first time it was witnessed by my husband, he has behaved in aggressively towards me out of sight of my husband a handful of times now (my husband never believed me, im not sure why) anyway his dad went mental! I've never seen him lose it like this. Gave him smack on the arse (i know many will thibk this is bad, we dont agree woth spanking my husband was in tears afterwards) and a very very stern lecture of putting his hands on a woman....any woman!

We cannot understand where his behaviour has come from, it's just strange he woke up one morning in summer and just because horrible towards me in particular. His dad has since sat with him many times and asked whats going on but he just says nothing, and "she did my head in, i should be allowed to do what i want" or " she aint my mum she cant tell me what to do" my husnands response is no biologivakky she isnt yet she has done everything for you mum does since the day she met you, she loves you unconditionally, he replied "it don't mean nothing"

we asked the gp for an appointment to discuss options of talking therapies, may seem extreme but we all want this nipped in the bud now

I know this is a rare and extreme case but yes I miss my dss being a small kid.