to have realised that I REALLY dislike the toddler stage?

[TeenTwinsToddlerandTiaras]

I am currently on my 4th (and LAST) toddler, why did it take me so long to realise this ?

Tantrums, running off, hand holding refusal, food refusal and throwing, toy playing refusal as plug sockets and anything electrical or even remotely harmful is more interesting, climbing up on everything, turning taps on full blast and leaving them on, night waking and 5am screeches of 'UP Muuummmy' (he's even figured out that if he shouts that he's done a poo (which he has'nt) I will get up straight away instead of telling him '5 more minutes sleep').

THIS IS NOT FUN!

Rant over (gritted teeth ).

Love him to death of course and all that but I would like to run away and come back when he's 5 (not that the older 3 are any easier to deal with either but I don't have to constantly be on alert to thwart the next suicide mission with them at least)!

Laughing at MrsDV's toddler and the 'darling'. My dd2 is always saying to her dolls, 'Come on darling, you must be cold' or 'I don't want to have to tell you again! Come here by the time I count three 1-2-3'

Toddlers ARE lovely, but I find they try my patience, I must admit. You have to kind of get into their zone, and I find that difficult to switch on and off now I'm working FT. And they're so PHYSICAL. I have to admit I ended up screaming at dd2 tonight, 'Stop HURTING me!' after I had endured an hour of her brushing my hair (i.e. whacking my head with a hairbrush), jumping onto the back of my neck as I undid her shoes, repeatedly rescuing herself by grabbing and swinging on my hair whenever she lost her balance, walking OVER me instead of around me, and so on.

I am finding DS quite hard work as a toddler, but SOOOOOO much easier and more fun than when he was a baby! I really expected to love the baby stage but I didn't :(

5 is a great age isn't it?

Dd is now 7 and can get a tad angry at times.

Ds is 2 and is generally lovely. The odd battle of wills keeps me on my toes.

I am adoring the toddler stage - dd is just 2 and is the funniest and most loving little thing I've ever encountered!! She does fly off into strops and cries at the drop of a hat but she laughs loads and wants loads of cuddles or "cuggles"! I didn't enjoy the newborn stage which was made more difficult by the horrendous winter we had. I started to enjoy her more when she was smiling etc. but this is the best and easiest bit for me! It's odd how people differ so much with regard to their feelings towards being a parent.

MrsDeVere

You described my DH perfectly!

Hmm I don't know. My Dd was a lovely toddler. I can honestly say I don't remember any moment where she really tried my patience. She's more of a handful at aged 4 than she was at toddler stage. My DS on the other hand looks like he will drive me crazy when he starts walking.

Bono has an enormous head. Met him once when I stayed at the Clarence-he has one huge old head.....God help his Mother's pelvic floor...

I bloody love my toddlers! I'm on my fourth and fifth aged 18m and 2.4m and they are the funniest little things in the world!
The 11 month age gap is becoming a joy rather than a nightmare as they talk in their own language, giggle at each other, do naughty things (but not that naughty and generally interact with each other.

I thought the toddler stage would be harder with 2 but its really so much easier. My dd2 is middle child by 5 years each way and she was so horrible as a toddler I actually didn't like her :(
She's 9 now and wonderful mostly.

Teenagers are great too. Except they are nocturnal and eat everything!

I love how my 18 mo lies on my chest and moves her head side to side getting comfortable on my boobs before falling asleep. I love how she wakes up with fluffy bed hair. I love how they sit beside each other to watch TV and smile because they are 'friends'. The 2 year old always tells me 'dd4 have one too' anytime she gets anything. Dd4 follows dd3 around like a little puppy when she tells her too :)

Sorry being soppy but they have their moments and as another poster mentioned, it's such a small amount of time and they really do love you more than anything :)