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Original poster

Do you enjoy your children more now they are older?

51 replies

KylieKangaroo · 05/11/2020 21:05

Just that really, had a really tough year, hasn't everyone and wondered if you enjoy parenting more now your kids are older? I'm thinking ahead into the teenager years when they don't need you to put them to bed etc. I know you shouldn't wish the time away but for some reason I am at the moment!

OP posts:

Titsywoo · 05/11/2020 23:14

Yes and no. I have a 16yo DD and a 13yo DS. They rarely cuddle me now and are often moody/stroppy. But we have great chats, days out are much more fun, we laugh loads (they both have a great sense of humour), they sleep 8-11 hours a night, it's a rare

LimitIsUp · 05/11/2020 23:14

One of them developed severe anxiety at puberty and it's still having a massive impact (she's now 18), so sadly, not necessarily

Titsywoo · 05/11/2020 23:14

Sorry hit post too early! Its a rare occurence that I need to shout at them and there are no more sodding toys everywhere!

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ColdTattyWaitingForSummer · 05/11/2020 23:15

Love having older dc ❤️ my life got infinitely easier when they could be guaranteed to sleep through the night and get a weekend lie in. Teens are fun, interesting, and great to be around. You can watch movies that you actually enjoy as well! Flip side is Ds1 turned 18 and moved out for uni this year, and I really miss him.

Mumoftwoinprimary · 05/11/2020 23:16

Mine are 10 and 7. Life is really good right now. Scared of the teenage years though. I wish I could keep them exactly as they are right now forever.

IntoP20 · 05/11/2020 23:22

Oh wow, who wants to wish away the time they can put their children to bed? Such a shame

Notashandyta · 05/11/2020 23:32

Ours are 3, 5 and 6 now.

I love parenting them once they get to about 4 and a half onwards.

Plan to really make the most of the next few years. And this thread has inspired me to take more vids of them. Took loads when they were tiny but they're far more fun and interesting now.

Cant speak for teenage years yet but hoping for more ups than downs

Notashandyta · 05/11/2020 23:35

Surely loads of parents wish away the having to put them to bed years, when in the thick of it all! Hundreds of memes about it...

Doesnt mean you dont try to make the most of the squishy cuddles at the time

BackforGood · 05/11/2020 23:39

Yes.

It's great when they learn to drive and pick you up after a night out

OverTheRainbowLiesOz · 05/11/2020 23:40

Mine are all over 19. It's great - independent, good company, love visiting them.

They can get moody between 13 and 15. It passes in the same way as terrible twos.

roxisolerenshaw · 05/11/2020 23:42

My children are in their twenties and whilst I enjoy the freedom I have, I very much miss the days when they were young. I loved the baby stage, toddlers and leading up to teens but adolescence was very tough. And now I have to watch them make mistakes and can't make everything better when things go wrong for them. I think there are positives and negatives about all age groups.

lobsteroll · 05/11/2020 23:44

These responses are so lovely to hear. I have a 4 and 1 year old and no plans to have more but sometimes my heart aches at the thought of them getting older.

I never thought I'd be emotional in this way but the last 4 years have gone by so quickly and I just want things to slow down a bit!

Don't get me wrong, some days are a bloody nightmare and don't even get me started on lockdown one 🤣🤣

AlexaShutUp · 05/11/2020 23:47

My dd is 15 now and an absolute delight - smart, funny, capable, great company. However, I have loved every stage of her childhood to date. I miss the cuteness of the baby/toddler days, for sure, but I love seeing her as the person she has become - wise, kind, brave and principled.

I think it's different for everyone, though. All kids and all parents are different!

Spreadingchestnut · 05/11/2020 23:48

Deep in tumultuous adolescence here. It's hairy. Look back fondly at the toddler years which were a cinch in comparison.

firedragon101 · 05/11/2020 23:51

Mine are 9 & 10; I love this age, they still want to be with me, but don't need to be with me iyswim. I hated the baby and toddler years, mine where bloody hard though, never slept, fussy eaters, endless bloody tantrums often resulting in vomiting.... urgh I'm so glad we're currently in the eye of the storm, no doubt teenage years we will be back to tantrums alcohol induced vomiting etc! But for the moment I just love being with them.

dottiedaisee · 05/11/2020 23:53

My children are now in their 20s but I can honestly say that I would roll back the years by 15 years. Life was so much easier and I could fix their problems . All lovely high achievers with great jobs but the Covid shit has really taken its toll on all of them ☹️

TheFormerPorpentinaScamander · 05/11/2020 23:57

More? No
Differently? Yes.

I miss them climbing on my lap and wrapping their pudgy arms around my neck. I miss their chubby hands in mine. I miss them sneaking into my bed in the middle of the night. I miss them spotting me across the playground at the end of the day and running full speed before launching themselves at me as if they hadn't seen me for a month. I miss their weird toddler jokes that are only funny because they have the word "pants" in. I miss how excited they get when they learn a new skill.

However I don't miss 2am 'star wars quizzes'. I don't miss tantrums and refusing to eat a meal they ate last week. I dont miss them insisting they need to talk to me while I'm on the toilet. I don't miss them "falling" in the bath when I'm in it. I dont miss the never ending cooking and cleaning which only I could do. I don't miss the sulking and quitting half way through a board game when it becomes clear they are losing.

They are mid-teens now and would rather poke their eyes out than watch me wee. But they are so funny. They have my twisted sense of humour. They love to play board/card games. CAH is a firm favourite. We can watch 'grown up' films although they also still love Disney, musicals and anime. They help with the chores, but it takes nagging. If I'm ill they can cook, although its usually only noodles or pasta. And the sarcasm. They are wonderful.

Don't wish the early years away. So far I've found all ages great and all ages hard. Just in different ways.

MrsAvocet · 05/11/2020 23:59

Yes I do. Mine are 22, 17 and 15 now and they are all great. I think teenagers get an unfairly bad press. Mine can be a bit sulky every now and then of course but nothing major and I really enjoy their company, and that of their friends. I did enjoy being their Mum when they were little and cute but in all honesty, the US election makes way better dinner table conversation than Thomas the Tank Engine and I don't miss the sleepless nights and having to physically do everything for them. Now mine bring me a cup of tea in bed every morning and have been absolutely brilliant at pulling their weight around the house whilst I have been quite ill this year. And I do still get cuddles - just not in public now!
I've enjoyed every phase really, but I wouldn't want to go back now. I do miss my adult DD though. With lockdown etc I have barely seen her this year though she calls or messages me most days.

jessicagrace1972 · 06/11/2020 00:07

I have a mid teen, primary school age and a toddler.

My middle one is easiest by far, my eldest and youngest take it in turns to be the most trying but I definitely enjoy having a teen least. It's mainly the worrying that he's ok, he likes to stay in his room, doesn't talk a lot, I worry about his exams, whether he has enough friends, when he's out I find it hard to sleep until he's home. I also long for the happy chatty little boy he once was, my heart aches for his long cuddles and for him to be small enough to sit on my lap.

My little one is sweet, cuddly and fun but the tantrums are in full swing at the moment and she exhausts me😂

my middle child is a breeze, we have good conversations but he's still small enough to want me to read him a story or lie next to him at bed time, probably the best stage overall but when I no longer have a toddler I'll miss that too.

Africa2go · 06/11/2020 00:10

15 x 2 and 11 here. I've enjoyed it all really, it's been a bit Groundhog Day at times (feed, play, sleep ..... and repeat) but they are genuinely funny & great company. The banter (sorry, "bant" ) is laugh out loud sometimes, they're just entertaining. DD has made dinner and we've had an hour's family debate with the 15yr olds about the American election process. It's just great. We also have a semblance of spontaneity back - a quick drink after work (they can get home & feed themselves), days out etc decided on the spur of the moment without thinking of baby routines and taking an hour to leave the house!

Don't get me wrong, they have their moments when they act like 2yr olds and the worry that goes with the pressures they face as young teens isn't to be minimised, I miss their toddler-cuteness, but its good.

JinpingShuffle · 06/11/2020 00:33

These posts are lovely to read and make me feel a little less sad about time passing so quickly.

Mine are both still very small. I love them so much as they are, so funny. But it's such hard work. Yet at the same time I am so scared how fast they are growing up and know I will miss it so much when they don't want to spend all of their time with me, cuddle up, tell me all their worries, have me explain how everything works etc. And with letting them go out into the world on their own and not being able to protect them. I can't wait to see the people they become but I do want to freeze the memories of how they are now and keep them forever.

Iloveliberty · 06/11/2020 00:41

I may be looking back through rose colored glasses, but I loved it when my children were little, then at primary school. Being involved in their lives and watching them learn new things and bursting with pride at their sports days. They are in their 20’s now and we share a great relationship but it’s hard to not feel as necessary any more!

minipie · 06/11/2020 00:49

I’m enjoying 5 and 8 a lot more than the baby and toddler years. The fact they finally sleep helps a lot. They are really interested in discovering things about the world, we have some great conversations. They are still very hard work sometimes and have some proper tantrums especially when tired or hungry ... but so much better than younger.

Our eldest has always been incredibly moody so I’m hoping she’s getting it out of her system and will be a well balanced, chilled teenager... or if not, at least I’ll be prepared!

squeekums · 06/11/2020 00:52

yep
I dont cope well with babies and toddlers

garlictwist · 06/11/2020 05:34

My mum says she much prefers being a parent now we're in our thirties

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