Parents with grown up children...

[Yahyahs22]

What stage did you find the hardest and what stage did you find the easiest. I have a toddler and newborn and before my newborn came along I thought I found toddler hardest but I've quickly changed my mind! Wondering if young child or teens are harder/easier!

You are at the most difficult stage, the primary school years and onwards are really good. I had easy teens so have been lucky, you need to be there emotionally for them and keep the lines of communication open.
I have three adult DC now and it’s wonderful, I feel so blessed and sort of surprised how well they’ve turned out.

Adults ,once they hit 20 ..bliss

Between 1 and 2 was exhausting.
Primary years bliss, 13-15 ye gods. Nightmare. 17 onwards, joy.

Hardest was toddler/pre school. My first dc, a dd, constantly had energy, needed entertaining; mostly by having stories read. I found this particularly hard when I had a combination of a terrible cold and morning sickness.

Now she's nearly 27, my ds is 23; they're great people (still having to live at home) and fun to be with. I still worry about them but in different ways and it's not in a "can't take a break" intensity.

I second this!

My children are between 25 and 30 and they’re all lovely. I was told yesterday by the 30 yo that I’m an amazing mum, he clearly doesn’t remember me being on the brink of kicking him out at 17 😂

From age 21 onwards. We get on fantastically now. But it has been hard.

From toddler to about 11 - great.

11 - 13 - dodgy.

Teenage years were an absolute nightmare.

@LivingstonDaisies - I hear you. When my son was 14 he would neither acknowledge me, nor sit near me in public. Now (he's 26) we chat for hours and we're firm friends!

Depends on the child. I had a son with ADHD and honesty getting through from 0-1 as projectile committing and 6-15 horrendous behaviour was so hard. I used to think he will be unemployable. Now he is an adult and could not be nicer. He is a class 1 lorry driver and has a fantastic work ethic. Saved a deposit, bought his own home. Does not drink alcohol or smoke. Never taken recreational drugs. I never in a million years could have dreamt he would turn out so well. When he was young and I was really low with his behaviour, his specialist used to tell me once he goes through puberty and reaches 18 things will improve. I used to think he was a liar. Then I found he was telling me the truth.

I loved the baby and toddler stages with all 3 of mine, but I’m an Early Years staff so I’m good with that age!

Teen years - horrible and exhausting, it’s mentally draining having teens. The stress in the house can actually be physically felt!

post 20 - yeah definitely gets a lot easier. They become human beings again phew!

post 30 - an absolute breeze 😁

For me, babies were the hardest and least rewarding. That endless lack of sleep, exhaustion and boredom.

The best, and I had one Ok but one extremely challenging child of this age, the teens. I was a bit of a rebel as a teen so found them really relatable, a huge amount of fun, self sufficient, cheeky and pushed boundaries but on the whole a breeze.

Mine are both primary age but this is really interesting. The baby and toddler years were so so hard, it’s such a good job they’re cute because they are Hard Work. So glad to be past that stage.

I completely agree.

22 and nearly 20

Great to have responsible adults , I can rope them in for Cat Sitting Duty when D H and I are away . (They don't want to go on holiday now with us)

He was a non sleeping , non eating baby/child
She was the opposite , very chilled , tried any food

They were fine as teens , I think I was very lucky

Though their adults , the worry is still there . I listen to him worry about buying a house in the future . I worry about her making her career path through a very tough and competitive profession.

But through everything , its still warms my heart to treat them, give him a lift to work on my NWD. Go shopping with her ( even to her favourite shops that I feel really out of place in)
And just have a good laugh together .

DD was an OK teen, DS not so much. DS also difficult in early 20s.

@Cervinia

For me, babies were the hardest and least rewarding. That endless lack of sleep, exhaustion and boredom.

The best, and I had one Ok but one extremely challenging child of this age, the teens. I was a bit of a rebel as a teen so found them really relatable, a huge amount of fun, self sufficient, cheeky and pushed boundaries but on the whole a breeze.
^^^
This
Though to add -
From the minute they climbed onto their feet and started to toddle about they became super awesome.

Teenage years ….. a nightmare, but you get through it (eventually 😅)

They’re individuals from day one.

challenging baby was a challenging teenager (but wondrous young woman now).
easy baby is, so far, 🤣, easy teen.

Agree with everything you've said.
I had 3 under 5 and it was a nightmare. I now have 3 adult sons and they are brilliant. Worth every exhausting day.

Dd was the most horrific teen. Really sweet toddler though.

Loving the teenage years. Don’t get me wrong, they have their Kevin moments but they’re interesting and good company. Never a dull moment.

The best time for me was aged three. Unfortunately, DD started school just after her fourth birthday, so long to enjoy before schoolproblemskicked in. DD is very independent at age 20, sorts her own problems out. However, she nearly killed herself recently through her own stupidity, which was a shock and leaves you thinking about what would have been.

DD1 13-21
DS1 14-15

The other 2 I'm still quite fond of, they've not been too bad yet but there is time. Baby/toddler, absolute walk in the park compared to a hormonal teenage girl!!

Hardest definitely newborn - with early toddlerhood a close second .

Loved the preschool/early primary age - in fact no real problems any later age - even as a teenager - although I am a fairly laid back parent so some things I consider quite acceptable for a teen I know others on MN don't .

I only have the one though - that probably makes it easier .

Teens were the hardest for me ... DS was a dream baby, self settled, sleep really well, easy going toddler and cheerful and happy until he reached about 15 ... nothing really horrendous but a few challenging years; he got to 18 and was charming again ... now 21 and a pleasure to have around.

Early teen years the best I think. Toddler and early years I found very tough - boring and tiring. 20s I'm finding quite tiresome with lots of student 'think they know everything' stances along with a level of self importance and political interests they want to impose on me which I'm not interested in. Middle and youngest as tweens and teens I find interesting - accompanied by a feeling of relief that they can be a little more independent and I can have some headspace!