to ask how much you enjoy motherhood and what are ages/genders of your children?

[beclev24]

Recently I've been feeling that motherhood can be a bit of a slog. I have 3 DC, all boys. I adore them all but the days tend to feel fraught with breaking up fights/ dealing with mood swings/ managing their behaviour etc on top of all the day to day stuff like cleaning/ washing / cooking etc. I rarely feel relaxed around them and always feel "on duty."

I'm interested to know if there is any correlation between how many kids people have and their ages and genders and how much people enjoy being parents on a day to day basis. I'm not talking about how much people love their kids- I think most of us do. I'm talking about the day to day experience of it and how much it feels like a joy, and how much a slog or a challenge. Would love to hear other peoples' experiences.

I also have 3 boys op. 10, 8 and 1.

Most of the time I enjoy it. Some of the time I don't!

Lately I've been thinking longingly of retirement at times - hopefully having enough money to go away without dc, be able to laze on a beach again. I'm 31 😂 so don't think it's an age thing, more of an intermittent motherhood exhaustion thing.

2 boys, 8 and 11 and I love mothering. The anxiety and worry is a constant but they're brilliant company and nice kids, so this stress isn't caused by them doing owt wrong. Now and then I need a break from being in charge all the time because I am a single parent but what I want is a break from the responsibility mostly, not them, I miss them when they're at their dad's. So I'd say I'm thoroughly happy 90% of the time and only get stressed out when the weight of responsibility or my anxiety gets a bit overwhelming. As they've got older they've been more "rewarding" if that's the right word - I get cups of tea made and they entertain each other, help out with housework etc... When they were tiny it was a slog - like herding cats ( and wiping cats arses and spoon feeding cats and breastfeeding.).. OK.... let's leave that there...

I have an 8 year old son and daughters, 6, 3 and 10 months...things are busy and I don’t get enough sleep and get very little “me” time but on the whole, I enjoy it...

I have girls 19,13,7,5,5 boys 6 and 4.
Love almost all aspects of being a Mum which is why I had so many.

Something I’ve found helpful is making time for myself. My mum is very good and lets the kids stay at hers two nights a week. DS loves her to bits and it’s nice for me to get a break. Obviously not everyone is lucky enough to have this but if you do make the most of it!

I have one - aged 3.5.

It's bloody hard work. There are times I love it motherhood and times I hate it.

I know I wouldn't be able to cope with more so I'm sticking at one!

Single parent with disabilities

Three dds ages ten and seven with autism and two

No I don’t enjoy it

It’s relentless and difficult and there isn’t enough of me to go around so constant guilt

I’m much happier when I’m at Uni. Then I enjoy my children as the time is limited. But school holidays are a long slog with zero breaks and it piles up.

I have a DD who will be 4 in September and a 7-month old baby.
I enjoy it because I have a nanny so I can always go off with just one of the kids or on my own.
When I’m doing motherhood on my own without help I sink into depression very quickly.

Not very much. But i like having responsibility in my life. I was a bit lost before. Child is female, aged 3.

I have boys 8 and 6 and a girl of 4, I'm 29.

I love being a mum, I must admit I struggled when middle son was around 5 up until recently but he is very hard work even alone and I just expected a bit more from him. In general they are really well behaved kids, they actually get on really well (compared to how me and my brother did) and if anything are too much partners in crime and that's where the trouble comes in but generally they know when enough is enough (apart from middle son which is where main stresses lie!)

We are due number 4 and I am petrified it will tip the balance over but I think we are pretty laid back parents with clear boundaries and the kids know what is expected from them and have respect for us so I think overall a good balance!

I’m 28 and have three boys aged 7, 5 and 3. I enjoy motherhood but it’s HARD.

I have an 8yo & a 6yo. One of each. Generally, they are nice, well behaved, easy going children who don't have any issues in life (DC2 is a fussy eater but that's the biggest issue). I increasingly enjoy their company but I don't like the catering/nutritionist/cleaning/organising/educationalist/taxiing/putting someone before me most of the time aspects of it. I do like taking them on outings and playing with them. I'd make a great aunt or godparent! Luckily, I have a job I really enjoy and so motherhood is only one part of my life. And the job pays well so we can afford a cleaner which reduces the physical side of the menial tasks even if I have to do all of the thinking.

I adore being a Mum and my only regret in life is that I didn't have more children :)

The DCs are 18 and 20 now - just the two. TBH I have loved every single stage. Babies? What's not to love about a baby? Toddlers inquisitive sweet and daring. First day at school? First sports day? Daft nativities, piano lessons - watching them grow, grow grow. Teaching them to swim and play tennis. Playing endless games with them. Cooking with them. Singing with them. Best of all curling up with them at night-time and reading with them ....

I have adored being a Mum.

Sorry I should add that I do have a job and always have had throughout the kids' childhood and i definitely echo the points that other posters have made that it really helped me. Everything at work is calm ordered and grown up. So that gave me the mental space almost to enjoy my children wholeheartedly.

I have a dd aged 23 and a ds 19. I love being a mum! There are lots of challenges and worries (dd is autistic for eg) but you never give up and you try and try again to help/ be there, you love them unconditionally.

I love it but I couldn't cope without breaks. I'm a single parent and my 7 yo goes to her dad EOW. I need that time and if I have a run of weeks on end without a break I really notice the difference.

I’ve got six from 25 down to 12 two of them have ASD. I love being a parent and really kids when they were little. I always got so much joy just watching them play and chatting with them etc. DH does not find it as enjoyable, he gets frustrated be little things.

I'm 40 and DS is 6. He's amazing and I love motherhood. He was very much wanted but the reality of motherhood came as a huge shock - not helped by a traumatic birth. The first 4 months or so we're very tough. I loved my son but felt hugely overwhelmed.

I have two, a girl aged 9 and a boy aged 5. I love being a mum. But it is HARD work. The juggle of work/life/relationship etc. Worrying about giving them enough time each. The endless admin that only I deal with. My older one is really quite tricky to deal with emotionally and the little one needs me so much despite being a confident and happy child. I love them, and wouldn’t change being a mum for the world. But I was definitely the perfect parent before I had them...

I'm early 40s and have 3 teenagers aged 17, 15 & 14. This is my favourite bit so far - they are largely independent and don't need me all the time. I'm far too selfish for the early stages of motherhood and was probably a crap parent when they were little as I never mastered how to play with them or be silly. They are now at an age where they have opinions and ideas of their own and it's just lovely seeing them develop into young adults. I really appreciate how lucky I am to have them.

Forgot to add that they are girl, girl, boy. I've always worked full-time as the main breadwinner in the house which made things hard when they were little. MN talks about the mental load, which I carried until very recently.

I'm 57 and have 19 & 16 yr old boys. I love it. But there have been times in the past 20yrs when it's been bloody exhausting, boring and repetitive. All stages bring their own angst and joy but I do particularly love having teenagers. From about the age of 12 they became really good company, developed a sense of humour, and mastered irony and satire, couple that with not having to cart them and half the house around every time you go, out and it makes for a much nicer life.

Tbh I've had enough of it, my ds is 22and my dd is 18 and I'm totally bored of being a parent. I cannot wait for them to leave home so I have a tidy house, more money, more headspace and can move to somewhere smaller. I love them, obviously but omg.

I am 55 btw and work ftoth

I have 2 boys, 9 and 12.

I do love them but I often think I’d have been better off and happier not having them.