Best age for children?

[edgeofheaven]

Wondering what you think are the best ages for DCs perspective of a parent?

My DCs are 4 and 2 and I am very glad to be out of the newborn/infant stage, which I did not enjoy. My 4 year old has lately become less tantrumy and very sweet and loving.

I'm guessing for a non-baby person like myself it's somewhere in mid-late primary school but would love to hear others' thoughts!

Ooh, about 26 to 30, OP! When they’re through the nappies and teething, the tantrums, the play dates, the teenage strops, the expensive uni years, the expensive needing a mortgage deposit years...
No, just joking. Every stage has good bits and tough bits, and it’s a steep learning curve, but I wouldn’t have missed any of it. DC are endlessly fascinating and lovable. Even when they drive you to exhaustion - and I speak as a single parent, who was widowed when they were both still babies!

I have 12 and 9 year olds. I'd say it depends on the child.

Ds was a dream 2-9. Dd was great 4-8 so a bit of a crossover. I find 8/9 year olds hard work though because they think they're all grown up and know everything!

@Babdoc I'd take play dates over teething and tantrums any day!

I liked 7 - 12 best as children. They can communicate reasonably well, the tantrums have virtually disappeared and they can do a lot for themselves. Puberty is a stormy time for mother’s of daughters, and fathers of sons. Ime, they try to assert their independence far more with the same sex parent - old bull and young bull....