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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask which are more trouble - toddlers or teens

111 replies

ProudAS · 11/03/2014 12:22

I'm not a parent myself but I am curious

OP posts:
BrawToken · 15/03/2014 18:47

It depends entirely on the child I suspect, my teen is a 16 and worrying (the usual, parties, drinking, boys) and wonderful (loves helping with small child, housework, doing well enough at school and has a p.t. job) in equal measure and she was a lovely toddler. My 5 year old was a dream toddler but who knows what she will be like...
Teenagers are born incrementally so you don't just wake up with a teenager. I have found each prior step prepares a parent for the next!

GertyD · 15/03/2014 18:54

They are both pretty bad/amazing in their own ways. At least you can go to the pub and leave the teen unsupervised for a bit Grin

Fecklessdizzy · 15/03/2014 19:36

Oooh, give me teens any day! Grin They can be left for the evening, they can make their own lunch, they can explain exactly why they are pissed off with the world, they can be bribed to perform useful household tasks ( I need never clean out the gutters again - joy unconfined! ) Their mates recommend good books for you to read ( Scott Lynch - Fab! ) They get things off high shelves in the supermarket, they mostly put themselves to bed, they organise their own social lives ( goodbye play date hell ... ) They are better at crossing the road, they never want to be carried on long walks, you can do your own surfing and not splosh around behind them making sure they don't drown, I could go on and on and on!

In fact I just did!

BlackeyedSusan · 15/03/2014 19:39

teens. toddlers can be put into time out or carried out of whereever kicking and screaming. I am waiting to see if mine turn out better as teens.

CustardOmlet · 15/03/2014 19:40

My toddler has headbutt me twice today and screamed on/off for 3hrs, I'm hoping for an improvement in the teenage years (although I get the feeling he will cause me a lot of worry!)

ConfusedDotty · 15/03/2014 19:41

Teens and even worse in their 20s

Thegingerpig · 15/03/2014 20:15

Fecklessdizzy you have given me some light at the end of the tunnel after an exhausting day with 2 toddlers!

MammaTJ · 15/03/2014 20:22

Toddlers Teens

You know where they are You have no clue where they are

They wake you at night You stay awake at night wondering if
if they need you. they might need you.

You drive carefully to keep They drive themselves or get into other
them safe. teens cars and goodness knows what
could happen.

YOU DECIDE!!

MammaTJ · 15/03/2014 20:23

Should have done preview! That looked better before I posted.

ArmchairDetective · 15/03/2014 20:26

My mum always knew where I was when I was a teenager. At home doing my homework usually.

FrancesNiadova · 15/03/2014 20:37

Teens. You can contain a toddler's mess in a small area & win them round with shockingly shallow bribery/rewards. Teens have an apathy to EVERYTHING, that I envy, they mess up your home and your mind

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