What was your favourite age/stage with your DC?

[nervousnelly8]

DH and I have been debating what the best stage of childhood is for parents. We have 1 DS aged 17 months and another on the way. We are dreaming of the days when we get an uninterrupted night sleep and our days don't start at 5am (DS is a bad sleeper!). I'm looking forward to actually having conversations with DC and doing fun things, but before teenage angst sets in. So I'm thinking like 5-9 will be a good age range.

That said, I count my lucky stars every day for DS. The baby/toddler cuddles are awesome and a lot of days I can't imagine things getting better than they are now!

What has your favourite age with your DC been?

9-18 months for me.
So much development - language, gross motor skills, fine motor skills, awareness (and wonder) of the world around them, emotions, nuanced character traits, beginnings of social skills.

But I have actually enjoyed all ages/stages for different reasons with different children. I worked as a nanny for 11 years before having my own so have done some multiple times.

Whatever stage I'm currently at.

I enjoyed the baby stage until weaning, then toddlerhood and early childhood. Not so keen on the pre teen years, but mt favourite by far has been the teenage years. Don't get me wrong, we've had our moments, but I love the young people we've created and how they're seizing their lives with all their hopes and dreams for their future. Funnily enough it's the years I thought I'd struggle with. I just feel so lucky to have this time with them before they spread their wings.

Up til about 12. Mine are both teens now and they're lovely (although 16 year old DS seems pushing his luck a bit 😆) but as a pp said, I feel like they're drifting away.

I remember the days when I felt like I had no peace and just wanted 5 minutes but god I miss that now. Cherish it.

My dc are 9 and 7 and I think that parenting has got better every year. They are funny and interesting, loving but not totally needy, we do activities together that I genuinely enjoy, and they do stuff without me which means I can do some of my hobbies too.

I found the baby stage really hard because of sleep deprivation.

My dd is 15, and I have genuinely loved every stage so far. I don't think I have a favourite, they're all special for different reasons.

Newborn/baby stage just awful. They get better every single year, and we're in early teens now. They're often very good company, very funny and interesting, and I no longer need time away from them to recharge.

4-8.

I'm a big kid at heart and those ages are ideal for buying all the toys and clothes that I want under the guise of being for them. After that, they develop their own intetests too thoroughly that I can no longer convince others that no, really, Dd13 actually did want that barbie doll play set and glittery party dress with the butterfly's. They're not for me. Not at all.

I'm enjoying the stage now. Our eldest is 18 and youngest 13. The eldest is so laid back but knows exactly what he is doing, never causes any problems and does his thing.

The youngest is out and about with his mates, mountain biking and down the beach (especially in this weather), but again never causes us any problems. He's a cheeky little bugger though, but it's meant in fun.

We are lucky and they really are lovely boys.

The baby days were just magical and I thought I'd struggle a bit no longer having babies.
However, mine are 6, 4 and 2 now. It's still lovely. They play together all day. They are funny and fun to be with. The middle one never slept and was a very difficult toddler, but that has passed. No more nappies! More sleep!
I am still nervous about them growing up, but it's good to know that kids up.to at least 6 are still cute and fun!

Well it’s definitely not age 7, I can tell you that. I’m enjoying my 2 year old, but I don’t remember the older one being as enjoyable at this age. Maybe in comparison to 7, 2 is looking great.

I’m holding out hope for teenage years still.

Newborn up to about age 2 1/2 (when they stop napping and learn to whine instead) is great. I did struggle with the sleep deprivation but oh the cuddles
2ish to school age is HAAAAAARD for me. Clingy, no peace, constantly want entertaining. I do not enjoy playing pretend.
Around age 5 they get better at board games/conversation/being rational humans. And they start (hopefully) having friends and play dates and have their own lives and interests. Rather than just being MummyMummyMummyDaddyDaddyDaaaaaaaaadddddddyyyyyyyyyyy 24/7.

^ by my own logic DH and I have a few months to go until life is suddenly easier. I’ve been promising him this since we had the first DC (“I’m sure this stage will pass/things will get better soon...”) so it could be wishful thinking