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?

[MrsDoylesTeaParty]

Tina Malone on CelebrityMasterchef yesterday said she has a 33yr old and a 1yr old! Imagine going back to babies after all that time

[MyBreadIsEggy]

I thought the newborn stage was really really hard - but I think that's because Dd was my first, and I had no idea what I was doing!
I'm finding the toddler stage equally as challenging and stressful!
I think the nicest part so far has been when Dd was between 4 and 8 months old - she was sleeping much more at night, her little quirks were starting to present themselves and she took an interest in toys.....then she started walking at 9 months and all the fun began 😳Sometimes I wish I could have frozen her at about 6 months old and kept her like that forever!

[Noodledoodledoo]

I am the same - I have NCT friends who constantly go on about them not being babies anymore and I am thinking but my DC is so much more fun now at 22 months, I loved the cuddles and snuggles as a baby but the personality and character that is developing is fab. I am really enjoying the toddler stage - its a challenge but lots of fun as well.

I also don't get the 'oh he's starting school, I want my baby back' attitude - its all a big adventure for them!

[m0therofdragons]

Phew, good to hear I'm not bonkers - was getting a bit paranoid. I can never say this in rl as I'm surrounded by broody women.

[m0therofdragons]

Haha noodle all 3 dc are now at school. On dtd's first day at reception dh and I walked them in (patents were supposed to help dc settle and dtds are in different classes so dh and I both went). Dh missed dd1s first day at school so he was completely baffled by all the sobbing mums. We settled dtds and smiled at each other trying not to run too fast out of the school as we went and had a coffee - just the two of us. It was fab. I was like "oh bollocks, am I supposed to cry now? " dd2 had to be resuscitated at birth and it was touch and go so getting her to school was a happy thing for me. My friends thought I was odd.

[eggpoacher]

I'm with you OP, I believe that you're raising a person, not having a baby. I keep correcting my DH who talks about us 'trying for a baby' - no, I'm not, I'm trying to conceive a person, and the baby stage is just something we'll have to get through.

[minipie]

I'm with you OP! DDs are 3.5 and 15 mo and I am sooo glad to be out of the small baby stage... and can't wait till they are both over 3.

Totally agree that they get better as they get older (mostly - I think 18 months is probably better than 2.5 because of the tantrums - but that's the one exception).

I also don't get why people think babies are so gorgeous. Newborns look dreadful a lot of the time. Toddlers and pre schoolers are much prettier.

[ClopySow]

Mine are 13 and 15. I found so much of their younger years a huge slog as i was on my own with them from 6 months and 2. I have a great relationship with them and a much better mum to teenagers than i was little children.

But... i'd give anything to spend a few days with little them again.

[miaowmix]

couldn't agree more matey!
I've only got one but she's more fun and interesting with every year. 9 now.
Babies and toddlers bore me to tears, have never been afflicted by broodiness.
Mate of mine was talking about their one-year old and I realised my eyes had taken on a look of horror. Need to work on that.

[Jenijena]

3 months old and 4 years old. It's a good thing I know they get better! Yanbu. So far, 2-3 is the age I've enjoyed most.

[Laiste]

I'm one of those 17 year gap mothers.

Didn't have a fourth because i love the baby/toddler stage i can assure you

They grow up very quickly. It is only 3 or 4 years and from then on they're nice humans who you can reason with and have an actual conversation with.

[m0therofdragons]

They grow up very quickly. It is only 3 or 4 years and from then on they're nice humans who you can reason with and have an actual conversation with.

Can you tell my youngest that? This evening she's particularly whiny. At 5 that stops right?

[Laiste]

Yes, on their 5th birthday.

Seriously though, from 4/5ish onwards i found all 3 of my older DDs good company. When you're alone with them and they're feeling sensible you can have lovely little chats :)

[NotCitrus]

Completely with you! My youngest starts full time school in Sept and I can't wait! No more babies here.

Have to admit I do now see small babies and toddlers and for the first time think "aww" (as opposed to being totally uninterested in any other than mine or other ones I knew well), immediately followed by "thank fuck it's not mine"!

[Vanillaradio]

Ds is 2.8 and he gets better all the time, especially now he can communicate with us so much more, express opinions, tell us what he's been doing etc. I miss some things about the baby stage (mainly having a small portable person rather than having to constantly chase a toddler!) but a lot of it was horrible! Currently ttc no 2 and realised I would be happier if I could give birth to a one year old (sadly it doesn't work that way....)

[AnnaMarlowe]

I have enjoyed every stage of my children so far but I agree that the "growing up too soon" is a slightly weird sentiment.

A FB friend of mine posted a picture of her 5 yo DD painting her nails saying "growing up much too soon" I had to sit in my hands not to reply "you bloody gave her the polish and taught her how to apply it so whose fault is that?".

My DH's cousin posted "growing up too soon" about her 18monrh old learning to walk, which I thought was just really quite odd.

My DC were gorgeous lovely babies and now they are gorgeous lovely 8 yos.

[tupperwareAARGGH]

I can't wait until mines left home and gone to Uni, he's only 6

I find parenting bloody hard, babies are dull and hated that stage and the toddler years were utter, utter hell for me. Its only just starting to be a bit more enjoyable and although I knew it before, actually having a child has shown me I am not a natural parent and there is no way I'd ever consider more.

[EmmaWoodlouse]

My DC are in their late teens now and I think I've just liked them more and more as they've got older. I mean I did love them when they were little but they were really hard work and not that interesting in some ways. I loved it when they started preschool and then school and started having experiences that I hadn't shared, so conversation with them was more of a two-way thing, not always me telling them stuff they didn't already know. By the time they got to secondary school it was really quite educational knowing them, and although they both went through stroppy teenager phases, I didn't mind so much because I could remember what it felt like to be that teenager. I can't remember what it feels like to be a non-verbal baby or a 3-year-old who never stops asking silly questions.

[maninawomansworld01]

Agree, baby stage is definitely not my favorite.

Okay okay I fucking hate it.....

Twin DS's are now 3 and DD is 10 weeks .... Thankfully we are done now, all I have to do is get through the next couple of years.

We have lots of nieces and nephews of varying ages so have a fair bit of experience in different age brackets and I reckon from 10 upwards is going to be pretty awesome.

Right now though I'll take 4 hours unbroken sleep though!

[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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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!