Aibu that everyone said the newborn was the hard bit?

[MissMarpletheMurderer]

The tough bit of parenting is the no sleep newborn stage. I accepted this it was bloody hard. I still kept a diary and I've just read back my feelings. It was hard, exhausting my marriage took a battering bit at least it was divide and conquer. We were a team.
Teenagers are a whole different ball game, they try to divide and conquer us. I am more exhausted and near to the brink than at any parenting age before. I have signed up to a parenting class but I'm very open with my friends and everyone is saying the same. Aibu to suggest the pre teenage part is the BYAGTG (best you are going to get?)

YANBU, could have written your op myself. Why does nobody warn you and where did you find that course?

I loved the baby stage, but found toddler stage hard. Primary school age was lovely. Teenager stage was really difficult.

It’s shit and what really bugs me is how little support there is- anywhere. All the focus and money goes on the early years which seems a false economy to me. Teens are bombarded with so much these days.

I'd have my new born twins back any day - the teen versions are driving me to distraction, oh the drama . . .

I bloody love babies, so damn nice and fairly quiet. The newborn stage was a piece of piss, I say that now but dd1 woke up on the hour every hour, dd2 was a dream, the dt's, well... aye a piece of piss

Dd1 is now almost 11 and such a stroppy wee twunt most of the time. It settled a bit when her periods started, but now we've got the monthly fucking demon child visiting. She's utterly smart as though and I love a good chat with her.

Dd2 is 9 in a couple weeks and chats shit just for the sake of chatting shit. As do her friends. Bursts my head. I went on a school trip with them yesterday and had such fun, I felt young again

I'd say I like the toddler/preschool age, but I look after a friends dc's every week, these 2 and 3 year olds are horrendous. Spoilt, bitey, scratchy little horrors. But oh so sweet and damn funny when not being violent to each other.

My dt's are 5 and them and their friends utterly crack me up. The uncertainty but damn sure attitude crack me up.

I've decided, I don't want teens. What can I do?

I do love a baby though...

I’ve got twins and had 3 under 15 months. Walk in the park compared to this.

Anyone seen this..

Everyone is different, I loved the teenage stage. Not just my own, who I always liked, but their friends. Those same kids I found annoying at 5 were hilarious at 15.

I agree that there is far less support for parents in the teenage years though.

Nooo. The teenage years are the worst. By far
I’d love to go back to those toddler meltdowns
Teenage tantrums are something else!

I agree that teens are tiring in a different way. Mine are well-behaved so far but their lives are complicated and I'm exhausted with trying to get them organised and encourage them. This morning I had to write out a timetable to work out if I could get everyone to all the places they needed to go at the times they needed to be there...Still, there are glimpses of independence which makes me feel like there's light at the end of the tunnel

Nothing could be as hard as newborn to 2 years old for me. I had 3 of them close together and worked from home full time with no childcare. I don't know how I survived.
I look at the toddler parents in the park with their horrible pushchairs, tense faces and boring clothes and thank god that is not me any more.
Now have 2 teens & a pre-teen and they are lovely - funny, kind and self-sufficient. This is the best bit for me.

Can’t find it to link it but I once read an article that said parental contentment is at its peak when children are aged 6-12 years.

I remember the zombie dead tiredness of early mothering - teen parenting is awful. Vile, selfish, rebellious behaviour

There was a spell 10/11 when it eased off a bit with the now teen. 2-born is generally more affable but has all the potential to descend into vile teen. Meanwhile I am in descent into Menopause so we're frankly all a delight of surging and plunging hormones.

The cat copes with the ensuing stress by overeating and is now obese

ArnoldWhatshisknickers Dd wasn't a difficult teenager. The problems were external - a break up with a boyfriend, online nastiness and really nasty bullying from a girl who used to be her best friend which resulted in low self esteem, depression, self harming and borderline anorexia.

It’s the way you can’t reason with them and how vile they can be. 2 year olds are a picnic in comparison.

Ugh. I hate the thought of living with teenage me and I wasn’t even that bad, despite what my mum told her friends to join in with the teen-bashing. Dreading this stage. Mine wasn’t an easy new born, never slept. but she’s quite nice at the moment (8 months). What have I got myself into!?

I have almost teenagers. It's awful. I've threatened to walk out. Can't though can I, lone bloody parent.

Toddlers to 10 was nice.

I’m absolutely loving my eldest being a teen. He gets that school is important but is doing well with the balance of work and having fun. Has some brilliant friends and they’re all so funny and lovely. He’s very mature for 14, but then his dad was the same apparently. He just gets what he needs to do and goes with it.

DS 2 on the other hand is 10 and a stroppy drama queen! Doesn’t take after me, oh no, not at all

My two are exactly 2 years apart now 8 and 10, so far my perfect age was 4 and 6.
Because they still had the magic of life, understood the word no and more importantly I was in charge.
Now I just feel like I am winging it and trying to answer lots of life questions honestly and age appropriately without scaring the bejesus out of them.

Anything under 14 months is hell. Although DD screamed non stop for almost a whole year and was the most ridiculously hyperactive unhappy baby imaginable.

At 16 month old she actually led down on the changing mat today so I could change her nappy. I can’t even tell you how much of a turning point this is. She also gave me a kiss for the first time.

Pretty sure I can handle anything she throws at us now...

My eldest is 8 and for us the newborn stage was far, far harder than anything else we have had to deal with. We shall wait to see how the teenage stage goes!

I have a 2 year old & 4 month old. Love both these ages, hard work yes. But they are at there most innocent, they love mummy & daddy and life is just a joy for them. Dreading them going to school, first time someone says something mean to them that really sticks, picking up on the pressures of society & no doubt sexism (both girls.) I want to keep them in this little family bubble forever!

& yes, I am dreading the teenager years.. DREAD I TELL YOU.

Great list weary, make me think. thanks.

As soon as I read the title I thought teenagers!!

It’s not physically hard like it was when they were little. My back doesn’t hurt from carrying them, I’m not exhausted from the cleaning and washing and They aren’t waking a few times in the night.

It’s the emotional support that they need that’s hard. I’m constantly second guessing myself - are they eating ok?, Are they in a good group of friends? Do they spend too much time online? And so on. Friendship issues are deeper and harder. They turn 17 and go to parties and festivals and you just have to hope to goodness that you’ve taught them everything you can about drugs and they make the right choices. Then they start getting in to cars with people who have just passed their driving tests and they pass there driving test and go out in the car on their own and you don’t really take a breath properly until you get back. Then they turn 18 and start going clubbing and you don’t sleep until you here them come in at 3am.