I think I have already turned into one of those people who forget what toddlers are really like!

[MyballsareSandy]

And my kids are only early teens. I'm going to be one of those miserable old grannies aren't I, complaining about the noise and mess.

I met a friend for lunch in a pizza place and she child minds two 4 year olds. I just found it stressful, they were constantly interrupting, getting up and down, sitting under the table, play fighting, arguing. Friend did her best but they didn't listen much.

Tell me I'm a miserable old bag.

I had 2 young ones round mine recently and I got tired just watching them, and their mum was with them and interacting well with them. I think you just forget the strain.

As some one still dealing with a 4 yr old and a 2.5 yr old who never sit still, just cut us some slack when you see us and be thankful you now have civilised humans instead :)

I forget what toddlers are like every evening. And then my 2.5yo wakes up at 5.30am and I am reminded.... Sigh....

I have a 3 year old and a 6 year old yanbu even we realise they are being pests lol

Hooray! As I have a 2 year old and a 10 month old, it's really good to know that, not only will there come a time when things are less hectic, I will also be so far from chaotic that I will actually have forgotten what it's like. That's just incomprehensible at the moment

Thank you, you giver of hope, you.

I'm with the OP. It is scary how much you forget when your children are older. We get lie ins, but I can never get 13 year old DD to go to bed at night, and she has to get up at 6.30 for school.

DS is 2 and a bit and I've already forgotten all the baby bit, you know where you can't put them down and they don't really do very much. As least when DS cries there's usually a 'reason'...!

I am looking forward to eating a meal without at least one plate of food or a drink being spilt. Or world war 3 over a toy

Urgh yes, the drink-spilling phase - awful

A 4 year old isn't a toddler, they should really know better or at least stop mucking about when asked to be sensible. What will the children be like at school if they can't eat lunch without fighting, sitting under the table and arguing?

YANBU, I am feeling stressed about having a friend over with a 'busy' 18mo, and my youngest is only 2.10 It's amazing how quickly the house has become unsafe for babies again!

You'll be a great granny like I'm a great auntie.
All the fun of toddlers, running around, pulling faces, building towers etc

Then you go home to your clean, tidy house which isn't full of plastic tat.

Marvelous.

grumblepuss I've been a great uncle but now I'm a great-uncle and that's even better.

And going to be one again soon, by marriage this time. Another child DW and I can give noisy messy toys to without fear of retaliation - wicked

I forgot, oldest 2 are teens (oldest 19) youngest are just turned 3 and 16 months. I can feel the life being drained from me some days

Andrew are you related to my mil? Her dsis bought ds3 a set of instruments when ds4 was born

IKEA - Both mine can sit perfectly wonderfully at school at nursery and if they are on good form but once tired and or excited they become children. It's normal and I don't feel the need to be regimented during family time at such a young age !

HavanaSlife Only related in spirit as far as I know!

ikeaismylocal (great name btw) I think you may have fallen into the 'forgotten' camp! Whilst a 4 year old should be able to sit nicely, invariably they won't or they only will with tons of effort on your part. I am absolutely delighted that my 4 year old is off to school, I am exhausted!

I have two young kids and they can be royal pain in the butts.

I adore them, obviously and would never wish the time away. But I do look forward to being able to go out for a meal and sit having a nice conversation with them, rather than have pens thrown in my face, or calm a spitting contest or stop punches to each others balls.

ikeaismylocal (great name btw) I think you may have fallen into the 'forgotten' camp! Whilst a 4 year old should be able to sit nicely, invariably they won't or they only will with tons of effort on your part. I am absolutely delighted that my 4 year old is off to school, I am exhausted!

Sadly I'm in the thinking surely it can't go on for that long! Camp. My dc is 17 months old and I expect toddler like behavior from him but I'm not sure I have the patience to ne dealing with toddler behavior for the next 3 years! I guess I will have to become more patient.

You are a miserable old bag

IKEA you may be ok if you just have one and train him well. Have 2 close in age who are not the sit still type and it's a whole different ball game. I am in there with hob nails. I look forward to a civilised existence again

I'm pregnant with dc2, I think I'm just going to be grateful if both children are in my eyesight!

19 mth gap here. It's amazing but my two are thick as thieves ... I am sure they plot mischief every time I turn away !!!