To not want my dc to stay little

[m0therofdragons]

The world of fb has made me realise that I have a different opinion re babies. I don't think I'm really a baby person. I did like my own babies (obviously love them) then the toddler stage was bloody hard but also involved lots of laughs but now I'm seeing dc grow up (8 and 4) and love it. Each stage gets better. Yet every message on fb seems to be friends wishing their dc were still babies - I'm so done with that. I can't be the only mum who loves my dc not being so reliant and being able to have a full conversation with them.

I'm wondering if it's a family thing as my parents were saying their favourite part of being a parent was when db and I were teens.

Am I alone?

[KERALA1]

Just been to pool. Swam my 30 lengths whilst my two played (9 and 7). I got out and read paper. They showered themselves. Nice chat on way home before we all cook dinner together.

My neighbour also at pool with her gorgeous 18 monther. A very different experience!

Yanbu op - have fond memories but wouldn't go back for all trumps millions.

[AnnaMarlowe]

But MrGrouper your son will also be perfect at 5 and 10 and 15.

You don't love them less as they age!

My 8 yos are brilliant, I really look forward to seeing them at 12, 15, 20 and so on. I'm excited to see who they become.

[honkinghaddock]

Whenever I hear comments about people wanting their child to stay little I think no you really don't.

[mrgrouper]

My son is 4 (5 next month) and I do not want him to grow up. He is perfect now and I do not want him to change.

[PrincessHairyMclary]

DD is 6 now and I think this is my favourite, old enough to be a good companion, independent and funny but still wants to cuddle up.

I work with teenagers .... I don't want one and would like DD to stay how she is now.

[shaggedthruahedgebackwards]

YANBU

I think people put comments like 'growing up too fast' on FB for something to say rather than because they genuinely want their children to stay small forever

I love my DC more as they get older and can't think of anything worse than going back to caring for a baby or pre-schooler!

[Shouldwestayorshouldwegonow]

Totally agree op. We have just had a wonderful holiday with our ds/dil and 4 month old. He's obviously gorgeous but the unremitting attention they need and the lack of sleep. I keep telling them it does get easier.

I think when they can walk, talk, understand and sleep the night is the best age b that 3/13/33.

[BerriesandLeaves]

Only read the op but I'm the same. It's nice when they can do more for themselves. I've really enjoyed them during the primary school years. I wasn't mad on the school run and some of the parents, but the kids themselves i really enjoyed. Baby and toddler years can be cute, but they run you ragged, especially around age one when they start moving around.

[gabsdot]

My kids are 8 and 12 and I'm 46 so the thoughts of babies and toddlers fills me with dread. I hope I'll recover my enthusiasm a bit when I'm a granny.
I loved my son's babyhood. My DD not so much. I've enjoyed it much more since she was about 5.

[whattheseithakasmean]

I have to say, now I have 2 older teenagers I do sometimes feel a pang for the mid to late primary school age (around 8-12), they were great years. But babies and toddler, heck no.

[BlurryFace]

Yanbu, I have a 30 month old and an 18 month old and find the 30 month old much easier to get on with than the 18 month old. Honestly, I sometimes wish I could fast forward a year.

DH and I already have daydreams about what our lives will be like when the kids go out by themselves and we can watch 12A films without worrying about scarring their minds. Ooh, no night time nappy leakage! And I can show them how the washing machine works! And make them get Saturday jobs if they want expensive stuff! Any teen owners want to swap?

[Bumpsadaisie]

I love looking back at photos of mine when they were toddler and baby, but I always come away with a feeling of "well thank goodness that phase is over!" too! It was hard work (and both of mine were pretty straightforward children too).

They are just turned 7 and nearly 5 now, my youngest starts reception in Sept. I am loving this stage and so excited about DC2 starting school. I think it's a golden time - they're both still really cute and small but also fairly reasonable human beings.

When I see babies I do get a yearning, they are so small and bundly and cuddly. But I wouldn't want to go back there!

[LittleCandle]

I enjoyed my children at the stages they were at, although DD1 was a nightmare of a baby, through no fault of her own. A diagnosis of severe allergies at 14 months old made sense of the endless violent vomiting, although weaning was another trial. I have to say it was a relief when they left home, though. I do enjoy having a visit, but knowing that they will be going back home afterwards is also nice. I love my kids dearly, but I never wanted to be a martyr to them. My job as a mother was to prepare them to live independent lives away from home and I have accomplished that. Now my job is to be a sounding board, giving advice to DD1 about her baby and encouraging DD2 through her joint degrees at university.

[DerelictMyBalls]

I get you, OP: I always see my friends on FB saying 'I can't believe little Johnny is seven today. Where does the time go?'. Whereas I feel as though we have had our six-year-old for about six years!

I guess time just passes more quickly for some people! I remember on DS's 1st birthday, everyone said, 'Wow! A year already? That flew by!'. I just thought: 'for you, maybe! It was the longest year of my life!'.

I do get a bit misty-eyed when I come across his old tiny babygros. But I am glad to see him grow and change.

[goddessoftheharvest]

Oh and we've been TTC number two for over two years, and after having a small baby overnight recently....well, I feel a lot less upset about our potential infertility,I must admit

[goddessoftheharvest]

I've really enjoyed being a mum,though it's been a hard old slog at times. I definitely think it gets better as it gets older, and I get quite excited and awed sometimes, when I think of her being an actual adult woman, all gorgeous and smart and having adventures.

My own mum wanted to keep me trapped in amber at age 7, I think. She's big on preserving innocence, keeping kids ignorant of things.

I go through stages of being sick with worry about the teen years/secondary school though. I was quite an unhappy teen and had a hard time in school. I don't want that for DD

[MothershipG]

My DC are now hormonal occasionally bad tempered teenagers - but it is so much better than the baby/toddler stage. Not least because I'm not dealing with it on continuously broken sleep!

Agree with PP who said I can now think other people's babies are cute and be really grateful I don't have to deal with that any more

[downright]

Agree, agree, agree.

My youngest is three and I wouldn't go backwards for anything at all.

Roll on 4,5,6,7 etc.....

[BikeRunSki]

I'm with you OP. Mine are 7 and 4. 4 year old starts school in Septembervand I'm doing more hours at work. I love that they are a bit less dependent on me and can do more stuff. The preschool years bored me to tears.

[Believeitornot]

I love every stage so far of the DCs. Even when they were terrible sleepers etc and didn't do much and I was weeping with tiredness and boredom.

And because the time goes so quickly, I want time to stand still every now and then so I can take it all in!

[MsWorthington]

My DD is 8, and I bloody love it. I found the baby and toddler stage quite dull, and I hated it taking two hours to get out the door and having to carry so much crap around all the time. Days out and holidays are a joy now, no tears, no tantrums, no nappies or worries about missed naps.

I have a friend with a DC whose mental age will never progress beyond about four years old. Whenever I hear people saying they hate their children growing up I think of her, she'd do anything for her child to be able to grow up.

[Suzietwo]

Hurrah! Im all over this! Had a big old rant somewhere here yesterday about those bloody stupid bloggers with nothing more interesting to do than lament the passing of time and the fact children get older.

I find the whole 'savour each day for tomorrow they will be big' massively fucking patronising. It's life, I don't want my kids to be tiny forever and I certainly don't need to be told to enjoy them ffs. It doesn't mean I don't feel a degree of poignancy about them growing older but I recognise that for what it is.

[pinocchiosnose]

I agree. I found the baby stage a bit boring if I'm honest . Dd is now 3 and ds is almost 2 and it just keeps getting better.

[blueturtle6]

Hooray I have found a thread of like minded people, please can we start a group..my lg is only 10months but am loving the increased interaction. Newborns are exhausting and boring. Thanks for starting this thread OP