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Original poster

Does anyone enjoy having teenagers? Prefer it to having little kids?

237 replies

Fishandchipsatthebeach · 07/09/2023 11:39

All I hear is negativity and how it gets harder once they are teens.

I’m a mum to a 5 year old.

Does anyone actually prefer having teens to little kids?!

OP posts:
DemBonesDemBones · 07/09/2023 17:37

I have 4 aged 6-15. I am absolutely HATING the teenage phase! It feels like a stranger has come to live with us. A really self involved, vain, rude stranger.

EarthlyNightshade · 07/09/2023 17:39

DemBonesDemBones · 07/09/2023 17:37

I have 4 aged 6-15. I am absolutely HATING the teenage phase! It feels like a stranger has come to live with us. A really self involved, vain, rude stranger.

This. A stranger has moved in and for some reason I have to keep cooking him dinners.
And my actual DS has gone to live with one of those families who love the teenage years. I really want him back.

ProfYaffle · 07/09/2023 17:44

Teens are great, especially once you get to 15 and above. I've loved watching them develop into adults, enjoyed having their friends over, enjoy their company, the first alcoholic drink in the pub together with my 19 year old was a real milestone!

I've enjoyed every stage with them for what it is but wouldn't go back to small dc. Lovely memories to look back on but hard work at the time.

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BertieBotts · 07/09/2023 17:59

It's the middle bit I find really hard and most people love that bit Blush

Tiny little ones up to toddlers are totally dependent on you and that's easy enough because everyone knows where they stand and that's fine.

Teens are independent and that's great - handing over each responsibility to them has been a blessed relief to me.

It's the part in the middle where you have to be responsible for them but they REALLY don't want you to be and want to be responsible for themselves but can't be yet. I find that really hard. It seems to start around four.

Feellikeafailurenow · 07/09/2023 18:00

Nope! My eldest is 13 (so it’s likely going to get worse) which i could go back 10 years! My youngest 10 - i miss the wee baby stage & cuddles & peppa pig. I hate mobiles, arguments about make up, attitude & thinking more grown up than she actually is 🙄

Toomanygreenbeans · 07/09/2023 18:09

I think by the time teens years came around I was very much ready for them to need less basic input to eat sleep get to school and just safely exist . Teens can be challenging but it’s the natural course of growing up . I worry about them just as much as I worried about toddlers but for different reasons . I think the level of hard is the same - just different issues

Newgirls · 07/09/2023 18:30

Teens are expensive though. In every way. Even if they work it doesn’t come close to the stuff they want/need and you do want them to have a life and go out. I work more because of my teens. We don’t spend loads on clothes etc as they like vinted etc but if you go out for dinner or holiday £££££

Itslosenotloose · 07/09/2023 18:43

Oh god MILES better overall, BUT I do worry about them more. So… swings and roundabouts however I’m very, very happy to not have young kids. I’m 35 so many of my friends have small children and babies and I always breathe a sigh of relief that’s not me anymore.

Wiii · 07/09/2023 19:59

So much better with teens

mumofteenss · 07/09/2023 20:05

YES!

I have 3 teens, well, one is now 20, but I SO much prefer it to when they were little. They are so much easier. I can reason with them. We do stuff that i enjoy too. Holidays are amazing and relaxing for me too. We have interesting conversations. They are all individuals with their own very different goals and aspirations that they now understand, we can maturely discuss their future. My eldest isnt in the least bit academic where as my other two are, my eldest and youngest are very outdoorsy and sporty where as my middle one isnt, they are all different but all get along together, they days of constant bickering are long gone. I can go out when i want. They can take it in turns cooking tea. They help with house work and boring tasks. They ae 3 genuinely amazing human beings i absolutely love spending time with.

Im very lucky that punishments ae now a thing of the past. Ive never had to confiscate a phone, or ground them or anything like that. They do as they are told - not always immediately, but if i ask for jobs to be done while im working and they are at home, they do them.

This stage is by far my favourite. People always said to me "oh enjoy your kids while they are little it doesn't last long enough" but, whilst its true it goes quickly, i much much prefer parenting teens over young children and so glad to see the back of nightly reading books, bath times, arguments over food, daily boring trips to the park and holidays when i didn't get through even a chapter of a book

IvorTheEngineDriver · 07/09/2023 20:13

Me. Our DCs weren't easy but it was much less work when they were teens.

Clymene · 07/09/2023 20:14

Me. Love it

toomuchforonewoman · 07/09/2023 20:16

The teen years are killing me, the baby years are a walk in the park by comparison

Jayniegsdx3 · 07/09/2023 20:16

I have two teen girl, 16 and 15, it is by far my most favourite stage, I adore it and wish I could press pause! Would never go back, to see them blossom is amazing, the excitement of all that’s happening in their lives it’s just brilliant, challenges at times but you can talk to them and guide them through. Brace yourself for the food bill though, my goodness they can eat!!

TeenMum87 · 07/09/2023 20:18

Me! My two are 18 and 15 and are brilliant. They’re funny, independent, chatty, good company and are shaping up to be wonderful young adults. Obvs miss the toddler years of tiny people, though.

Porageeater · 07/09/2023 20:19

Absolutely I do. We have way more fun now but that’s more to do with me than dd.

ColonelRhubarbBikini · 07/09/2023 20:19

I absolutely love the teen years. God they’re amazing. My teen is the only person in the world that can make me laugh until I cry.

You have to pick your battles, loosen the reins and prepare to spend a goddamn fortune feeding and clothing them but it’s so worth it.

It sounds cheesy but they have such a zest for life. They’re raring to go and see and do. Mind you I think I would be if I slept in til midday and then ate half the fridge contents for ‘breakfast’ Grin

30yearoldvirgin · 07/09/2023 20:21

Teens are easy.
kids are easy.
Whack some neurodiversity into the mix, and that’s when the fireworks begin!

Vitriolinsanity · 07/09/2023 20:24

Yes. They're really good company,

TheBewilderedGoblin · 07/09/2023 20:30

My teens were genuinely great - 20s are tougher 😂

msmatcha · 07/09/2023 20:42

Yesssssss meeees! Proper people, great company, a joy. And they don't come with me into the bathroom.

Samlewis96 · 07/09/2023 21:05

Oh yes. They turn into "proper" people with ideas hopes and do interesting stuff. Well mine did. I have a 19 year old now ( my youngest) and must say I'm enjoying him much more than when he was a small child

HamBone · 07/09/2023 21:07

TheBewilderedGoblin · 07/09/2023 20:30

My teens were genuinely great - 20s are tougher 😂

Oh dear, @TheBewilderedGoblin , I thought we’d be out of the woods once they’re in their 20’s. 😂 What’s changed compared to their teens, if you don’t mind me asking?

UsingChangeofName · 07/09/2023 21:47

Teens can be great.
FAR easier than little people, who are FAR easier than babies.
I don't do well when deprived of sleep. You get it all back when they are teens.

Doone21 · 07/09/2023 21:57

So far yes. Just turned 14yr old boy, he's a dream