At what age did you start enjoying your DC?

[StrawberryMummy90]

I have 2 DD's (DD1 is 2yrs and DD2 is 2mths) and I obviously love them to pieces but after having DD2 I've realized I don't really enjoy the baby stage much at all. Feeding, sleepless nights etc. I don't enjoy them depending on me for their every need and I find myself daydreaming about DD1 being a few years older and being able to watch movies with her and having more conversation etc

Just wondered what age you started to really enjoy your DC or have you just loved every minute from the newborn stage and I'm just a selfish, shit mum!

I vaguely remember really struggling when DC1 was a baby & found maternity leave a bit dull tbh. Now she's 4 I absolutely love her company & miss her when she's not around.... not sure when it changed though.

You're definitely not a selfish shit mum btw!!

Not a shit mum, just depends on you/your baby's personality some times in life are easier for you and sometimes harder and suspect it may be different for each child. I have 3. My DDs are twins. I enjoyed one of them from birth (loved both) but one just used to cry and need walking around all the time whereas the other happily snuggled in, responded to singing etc and smiled all the time. The other one I started to enjoy at 9 months when the colic disappeared and the smiles started. I then couldn't stand either of them from about 2 year to 4 years (hated unreasonable toddler stage). Since 4 their company gets better on a daily basis and at 9 nearly 10 they are the best ever, funny, sweet, interesting etc.
My Ds is now 5, I have enjoyed his company since birth even the toddler stage as he is just so laid back (never tantrums). He has ASD and for him this means he doesn't engage in general prattle just talks when he has something interesting to say/ is the funniest person in the world (completely unusual and interesting perspective on stuff). We can spend an hour together not talking but loving being near each other then the next minute he won't shut up but he's so keen on what he is saying it draws me in. I know however if he was like his NT male friends I probably wouldn't enjoy his company until he was about 8.
I suspect that I may dislike my children's company again through part of teenagerhood (as heard its similar to toddlerhood in some ways) but I'll reserve judgement on that. Good luck with your DDs.

I loved newborn
Found 3-4 a challenge
5-9 easy
12-13 tricky but workable

When they left home

Eldest from 18months, second from 2 yrs - basically when they became a little more independent and able to communicate their needs.

For me 1-2 is always the trickiest bit. So physically demanding (plus I have back problems)

Ds is approaching 4 and I'm thinking "Now we get to the good bit!" (I also have dd 9)

My kids are 18 and 20 now, and I can honestly say I loved every single age and stage with both of them. I do know that lots of people struggle with certain stages, and that's nothing to feel poorly about. It doesn't mean you love your children any less.

I loved the baby stage! From about 2 years it started going downhill. Not sure when (if ever) I will enjoy parenting as much again. The first six months in particular were fantastic.

I had PND in the baby stage but wish I could get those days back and try again. Got easier from 2yo. She's 4yo now and delightful, I love every day.

Mine are older now and would say the same. Loved every stage from birth but not all the time if that makes sense. Had days when I have wanted to cry with frustration and just bugger off and leave them to it.
Today had a lovely day with 18 year old dd - ended with her mouthing off, slamming the door and mouthing some lovely phrases over something completely trivial.
Think all stages were a bit like that when I look back.

Loved the baby stage.
Hated the 2-4 stage
Loving the 5-12 stage (so far!)

Meant to say baby stage was much easier has very lucky that they were fairly good sleepers. That helps no end and honestly think it's the luck of the drawer. Had friends who have barely had a decent nightsized slerp for years.

All stages have ups and downs. I can look back with rose-tinted glasses now about how cute they were as toddlers, but DS was horrendously hard work - he’s always been challenging behaviour-wise (he’s 13 now) - and I did not enjoy his toddler years at all. I would say secondary school age/teens has been generally the best as you can have proper adult convos, have things in common, but still get cuddles (when they’re in the mood for them) and they can rationalise (well, most of the time). Put it this way, I wouldn’t go back!!

5 up.

I get a bit teary looking back at baby/toddler photos, my boys were SO beautiful (of course) but living it, I struggled to enjoy it.

Boys are 10 & 14 now, brilliant fun & firm friends (mum first of course) and we have a really strong relationship, I feel more useful now strangely.

Hated newborn stage. Generally improved from 6 months. Started properly enjoying it from about 18 months.

I enjoy bits of the baby stage. The snuggles and watching them start to learn to world around them but for me I properly start enjoying them somewhere between 2 and 3. They're so unreasonable but start to be a bit more independent.