When DO you stop lurching from phase to phase with kids?

[Ostryga]

When Dd was 2 I kept saying it’ll be better when she can talk and will tell me what’s up instead of screaming in my face. Ha ha ha how wrong I was.

Then it was 3 and not being able to walk more than a meter in public without having a full blown tantrum because I didn’t stop to look at a leaf/slug/stick/dog/puddle long enough.

In fairness 4 wasn’t too bad, or I’ve blocked it out of my memory.

Now in the midst of a five year old and my god. She’s got an answer for everything, if I ask her (nicely!) to do something 20 times and then do it myself anyway it’s a good morning.

Please tell me they start listening and actually doing said activity at some point?! I just want maybe a year of lovely child where everything isn’t a battle before the teenage years start up.

And before anyone kicks off this is lighthearted and I do love my daughter tons

*energy

Im doing that with my two year old atm. It'll all be easier when.... His current thing is not wanting to be in the pushchair but not wanting to walk very far either and would like to be carried. Then we have a short spell of running , then to the real slow walk where we go in all front gardens and close their gates.
The school run takes far longer than it should.

Well if you look at it from the other end IE as a parent have you parented this age before? Then it makes perfect sense that every time there's significant changes in them, we'll also be having to adapt. My youngest is at uni and I'm still learning :D

There was a relatively nice age around 9-10
old enough to start being independent, not needing me that much, still wanting to do family friendly activities and able to have a conversation
we’re quickly entering the teen years and although she’s relatively nice, everything is boring and baby-ish, just wants to be on her phone and questions everything - which is an amazing personality trait, but sometimes I wish she did things just because I told her so!

Oh get yersen to yon grip emporium

Oh I'd love to see mine at 5 again. Or that lovely preschool year when we went to farms and museums lots.

I know it was physically so much harder and on the go 24/7 but they love you so much then!

I think the boys got a bit hormonal at 7 girls 9. But the rest of the time between 6 and 10 is ok.