What do you enjoy about parenting young children?

[morninglarking]

Come and spread your stories of joy, I feel like I need some morale boosting as to why becoming a parent was a good idea after yet another 4am wake up call from my 10m old this beautiful weather has me dreaming of long, lazy breakfasts and beautiful sunny holidays.. cry

Oh I feel your pain with the 4am wake up! Ds had me up at quarter past 4 and dd has just wandered into his room, so we're all up for the day haha.

My favourite part of parenting them atm is:
Snuggles with my 10 month old, he's just works out kisses, they're sloppy and sometimes involve a bite but he makes the most adorable mwah noise 😂

My 3 year old has developed my love of reading during lockdown, so the 3 of us have spent alot of the past few months in ds room on his snuggle chair having lots of story time while dh works downstairs.

DS has started to mimic her "another one" although it does sound a bit like "snuffer on" 😂

They're a hoot! Easy to make them laugh, completely demented – 13 month old likes to scoot around backwards on her bum, then do yoga child's pose while giggling; everything is new and exciting – a leaf! a stick!; their problems can be solved with a cuddle or a banana or the park.

Every day they do more stuff. Sure it's stuff I don't want like brushing my teeth not theirs, or feeding their toys yoghurt, but it's hilarious.

(Telling you this through gritted teeth after the night from hell.)

It's amazing watching them learn and discover new skills. My just 2 year old takes in so much and can see her copying what we do, not necessarily at the time but later on

I get to watch Hey Dugee with him. Its hilarious

They're so funny

My nearly two year old is my favourite person in the world. He makes me laugh constantly, he gives the best hugs (and when he comes up to me pursing his lips and saying 'now mummy kiss' it makes me very happy indeed), he learns or says something new every day which is wonderful to watch, his energy is somehow both exhausting and exhilarating.

All that said, it's absolutely fine to feel like it sucks sometimes, and it's really, really tough if they're not sleeping. I know many on MN disagree with sleep training but for us sorting sleep was the point at which we really started to enjoy rather than endure parenthood.

Lovely idea for a thread. I have a just turned 3 year old DD and am expecting another in August. I too dream of lazy breakfasts and sunny (quiet!) holidays!

I love her wonder at the world - and seeing her learn and take things in. She will remember something I said in passing weeks ago and it amazes me!

Her constant talking - drives me nuts sometimes as there isn’t a second to think, but it is also just wonderful - she wants to talk about / to everything and know absolutely everything.

Watching her personality and interests grow - this has been even more so over the last year. I’m starting to really see the person she is turning into, which is an absolute joy.

Seeing her energy and zest for life. It always makes DH and I laugh as she will have been non stop all day, we are both shattered and she’s still bombing around by bedtime!

The pride I have for her. I am so, so proud of her, which might sound silly, but she is just brilliant and I can’t quite believe she is my daughter.

The things we have to look forward to together. I’ve never missed previous stages or felt sad she was getting bigger - I love watching her grow and am excited about what is to come - I love the thought of her going to school and all the brilliant things she will experience there, thinking of her developing hobbies and maybe learning an instrument / being in a sports team etc and supporting her with those things, and then when she is much older watching her turn into a young adult. I actively look forward to all that stuff and feel excited about it for her (it that makes sense!)

When they do things that make you laugh. When they do something that really makes you proud. When you have had a bad day or feel unwell and they give you lovely cuddles.

The look of wonder and pure happiness on their faces over simple things and learning new skills. Something as simple as blowing a dandelion can make things the best day ever for them.

Echoing PP- sleep training/night weaning made all of us happier.

I love how affectionate DS is, lots of random cuddles and I love yous (he's soon to be three).

It's fun watching him explore the world and he's now at an age where he really enjoyed doing different things like the zoo and museums (before lockdown at least).

DD is 7m today - someone asked me the other day what my favourite stage has been so far and i love every bit more than the last.

This morning she woke up at 5.30, we're now hanging out downstairs while she practises her dodgy crawl/fall/shuffle/wriggle routine in chase of a tennis ball. She's so easily entertained, she smiles at everything and she lights up like the sun when she sees her dad.

Not much at 10mo but once he was mobile I loved watching him explore the world. Then from 18mo onwards he was an absolute delight. He is now 4yo and the thing I love the most is his incredibly affectionate nature. I have never felt so loved :)

I totally feel your pain. My 10mo has woken at 5am since as long as I can remember!

I love exploring new things with her. We took her to the beach recently for the first time and her sense of wonder and joy was astonishing. She loved the sand and just watching the surf. I'm a bit of a cynical mama but it was so moving.

I can't wait until we can take her on a sunny holiday, although it won't quite be lie ins and afternoon cocktails I can't wait to share her discovering new things.

The cuddles :)

their problems can be solved with a cuddle or a banana or the park.

To be fair, so can mine and I am 60!

Amazing, keep them coming!

This morning when I came down from my shower DS excitement at seeing me and the cuddle he gave me made me feel like the most amazing person ever :) Just wait until you get those cuddles, there is no feeling in the world like it.

Miss having toddlers so much.
Their little legs swinging by your hip when you lift them up; the way they are so thrilled to see you when you pick them up from anywhere; their willingness to turn anything into an adventure - posting a letter, feeding the ducks, making a den.
I would have those days back in a heartbeat, although admittedly I was always exhausted!!

Sharing the world through the eyes of a child is just magical!
Mine are now 10 and 7 and it’s still lovely !

(Having kids doesn’t have make you sentimental too!)

Snuggling! I love cuddles with 2 year old DS.

And seeing him explore the world, the funny things he thinks, the adorable mispronunciations, his little giggle when we're playing endless games of his own invention. His imaginary friends are so cute!