To ask what stage of being a parent you least enjoyed

[Fennecfoxmummy]

My little one is only 9 months old so obviously I have very little experience. I thought I would LOVE having a little new born but it was honestly the hardest time of my life and I don't remember feeling relaxed or happy for the first 3 months however now he is amazing I love seeing the new things he is learning. The older he gets the more I enjoy him without wishing his life away!
I know toddler years are supposed to be the hardest work. What's it like when they start school? I think I'll miss him like mad or are you glad of the break. Everyone's different I know. Just wondering what to expect really

Newborn to 3/4 months was utter hell. Establishing breastfeeding, lack of sleep, migraines and other pains (uterus shrinking etc), hormones all out of whack, all coupled with the psychological nightmare of not having a clue what you're doing and everyone chiming in telling you you're doing it wrong, and having to manage their expectations.

DD is now 4 and an absolute delight (most of the time) but I'm now 20w pg and DREADING doing all that newborn awfulness again. In those early days you get nothing back, either. No interaction, no thanks, nothing. Sometimes it felt like she hated me even. Shudder

0-1 by a mile. I was on my own with a high needs baby with severe reflux. He projectile vomited every night, screamed all day and slept in 40 minute cycles until 12 months. Didn't sleep through reliably until aged 3. No idea how i survived it i really don't. Has been a dream child since then though (i like to think it's my reward for surviving the first year), was a very easy toddler, bypassed the terrible two's and has never had a tantrum. He's 8 now and really a very easy to parent child. Praying he doesn't take after me in his teens though.

Mine are grown up now and my relationship with them is good. However, child number one was the teenager from hell. His awfulness started early around 11/12 and peaked at about 18 with occasional outbreaks after that until he left home at 22 after which he realised just how much he needed us at times, money problems and relationship angst. etc. Child number two not too bad apart from usual teenage indignant sulking when he was reprimanded, nothing I couldn't handle. I guess you just have to stick with it and hope that it all comes out ok the other end. I'd say to anyone who is going through the early years, say 3 to 10, sometimes you only appreciate your offsprings' childhood in retrospect, some of those years are the best, in a calm before the storm way. Make the most of them.

Desperateforsleep I was familiar with the Kevin becomes a teenager sketch and have shown it to dd.

What I hadn't seen or heard of was 'Kevin becomes a man' sketch - hilarious

m.youtube.com/watch?v=W8RkqbqmttA

So far, weaning. Bloody hated it. Neither of mine were remotely interested in solid food for months and months and months.

They're 9 and 6 now and I'm loving these ages. Ignoring all the posts above about teenagers, fingers firmly in ears and head buried in the sand

Hi other Beyond!

My mum said the hardest bit was watching me give birth to her first GC, as there was nothing she could do to 'help'. Clearly it got easier with subsequent GC though as she didn't mention it again

Toddler/pre-schooler.

Graphista that made me laugh. My DD is currently a female Kevin. It's absolutely shocking how fast they swing from "fine" to "I HATE EVERYTHING!"

Dd is a drama queen anyway but add hormones...it's hell!

I can barely remember the newborn stage - was constantly shattered. Not a fan of anything before the age of five. Five to eight is a delight - they're so innocent and lovely but able to wipe their own bums and dress and wash themselves etc. Eldest is 9 and getting more worldly and I'm not sure I like it! Although handy being able to send them up to the post box or to make me tea :D

Love the new born stage when they're all snuggly and sleepy.
Love seeing their personality develop as they grow and change.
Not loving the terrible 2's tantrums with DD1, but love that we can have conversations that make no sense and do more together.
Dreading the teen years with 2 DD's, we know DD1 is strong willed, yet to see with DD2.

My DD is only 6 so I haven't been through all the stages yet but so far I found ages 3-4ish the hardest. She just didn't ever sit down or stop looking to be entertained. Things are getting much easier now she's getting older.

Between 11 and 14 was really hard with one and between 16 and now with another, youngest Dd seems slower to mature and im getting angsty nonsense from a 19yr old. Each age and stages have there challanges though.

The first few months with my first - exhausted, unsure anxious, depressed. Loved him though

When mine were about 2 and 4 - constant fighting

Since then, easier and easier (now 14 and 16)

Today! Someone has taken my two year old and replaced her with Satan!

Our food bill is bigger than our mortgage. DS on his own eats about what DH and I eat together (and we are not small eaters), clothes, cell phone, driving, uni stuff all so expensive.

So glad to see I'm not the only one who didn't enjoy new born stage!! I really want another baby but dread them 1st 3 months!

DS was definitely the newborn stage. DD is definitely mid teens

Newborn, without a doubt.
Especially the first - the lack of sleep combined with the 'not knowing what I'm doing' feeling, and the fact they can't tell you what the matter is.

The best is when they get to the age of my dc now - late teens, turning into 20s

Three year olds

16-17 yo DS was a nightmare.
His 18th birthday was a milestone for all of us and I'm enjoying the steps he's taking into the real world.

The pregnancy.

Honestly I've not enjoyed any of it

0-2 definitely. I cannot fit the life of me understand the attraction of babies. For me, having a baby is something you have to put up with to get the child you want.

2-4 was ok, I enjoyed them more but it's still hard both physically and emotionally.

4-12 is great. I've enjoyed/am enjoying that stage. Enjoy it more the closer to 12 they become.

12-14 is difficult but I've loved it as I can see glimpses of the young adults they will become. We laugh so much and enjoy each other's company so much. It's really fab!

15+ DS1 is starting to pull away and his friends are becoming more important to him day to day than us But that's the way it's supposed to be. I'm nervous about steering him through the next 3yrs and a teeny bit sad that I'll lose that daily contact as he becomes a man but I'm so proud of him and who he's becoming that I hope when it comes to it, I'll be ok.

The first week, when he was in nicu and i was on the post natal ward. It's been pretty easy since then though. He's now 2.5 and utterly delicious! Newborn stage was a bit boring.

from crawling to talking, (so about 8 months to about 2) chasing them round, but they can't communicate!

There is also a difficult stage between 6-9 years, when they all went through a rubbish pre-teen patch.

They are now 14, 12 and 9, and they feel easier now in many ways, despite teenage moments!