To think age 5-11 is the best age to enjoy parenting

[Flowers24]

In my experience, yes. Someone once said to me when mine were babies, 5-11 is the most perfect stage, they were right, we had the best times when our kids were in this range, family days out, weekends away, holidays, 2 smiling kids who wanted to be with mum & dad, past the early baby/ toddler bit and before the teen bit, is it just me or is that the best?
Im now in teen and young adult stage , I really miss those days of them being that age, the smiley photos round the house. Now it feels parenting is mainly difficult, with the odd nice bits thrown in :(

My 5 year old is great. My 9 year old is a handful, ways wants to be on a screen and is otherwise moody

Yes agree. A friend once referred to them as the goldilocks years.
Now things are easier in terms of childcare with tween/teen kids. So far teenage years have not been too bad (DD nearly 15) but they dont want to come out anywhere or do anything except sleep or go on phone I am so happy now that they can meet friends outside of school though as I feel their world has got so small.

I found birth - 5 quite hard with DD and probably birth to 2 with DS. Ds was just as challenging (if not more so - he was a WMD as a toddler!!) but I felt more able to cope as he slept and ate better!

I LOVED the toddler years, so much fun. 5-9, not for me. Either my own, or friends' children went through a baby voice, showy offy, whiny phase that was really unappealing. By 9 they come out of that and start being great company. Tween was good and teenage mostly fab.

Teenagers for me.
DD is 17, currently lying next to me on the bed. She's interesting, clever and funny.
Of course I've loved her unconditionally for all those 17 years, but I found the whole having to micromanage social lives when she was younger irritating. I don't find young children very interesting tbh. Cute sure, but interesting, nope.
Loved it when we got to the stage the her friend would come round and I'd leave them to it chucking a Jaffa cake through the door every so often, and now she's an independent teen it's great.

The Goldilocks years, love that. Don't get me wrong there are huge benefits to having older kids, no early morning wake ups, can go out whenever I / we want, can even go away overnight now and leave them, but, life was much easier and simpler in the primary years!!

I loved that age, was definitely the best age for me so far. Mine is now 13 and turning into a Neanderthal

Mine are six and ten and bloody fabulous ❤️

14 is the worst age. I'd happily give DS away at the moment. DD was horrible too at that age but it only lasted 6 months.

YANBU they're lovely at those ages...but it all depends on the circumstances you live in and are going through.

"Either my own, or friends' children went through a baby voice, showy offy, whiny phase that was really unappealing."

That's true. They all do that. A quick "stop talking like a baby" works with mine though

I loved ages 0-10. Found and finding ages 11-15 hard. Gets better after

Interesting thread. I cant comment on later years really as only have a 3 year old but can definitely say this is the age I've enjoyed most with her. Ahe is so much fun to be around, loves mummy and daddy ao much. Has such wonder for the world. Apart from still rather unreliable sleep I cant imagine it being better. However I do also have a niece and nephew who are 6 and 10 and they are absolutely lovely. I never want these years to end!

For me, I loved the baby stage, I had two less that a year and half apart. Loved all our days out, small hands in mine, carrying them up to bed etc. They are end of primary school age now and tbh I miss those days when they small and I can solve all of their problems.

However, it is nice having some time back for myself. Mine help out around the house, bath themselves and are fairly independent. I'm proud of their morals, they know right from wrong and not afraid to say. Which in turn makes me worry for their teen years, peer pressure and bullying .

I don't know, so far I've found 5 to be very whiny, the constant whinging does my head in. And the talking back and arguing everything

It's strange because I often look at other babies and toddlers and think they're unbelievably cute, and almost yearn for those days, but I know that in those moments it was literally so full on and all consuming that there almost wasnt time to appreciate how lovely they were, it was just relentless!

Totally agree.

Mine are just 5 and almost 9 but it's so much easier than when they were tiny. It's the little things that make your day easier - they can let themselves into the car and strap themselves in, they can get their own drinks and fruit from the fridge, they can turn the TV on and pick programmes themselves, they can play independently etc and they're still in that stage where they think you're the best thing since sliced bread. So much less paraphernalia- no organs, nappies, slings, no change of clothing in your handbag etc. What's not to love!

I suppose though it depends on what stage you find hardest and why. I hated having to do everything for them and the les so do the happier I am

*peaks not organs

I found that age range to be very fraught.
Endless falling out with friends, finding their voices and so on.

I am just leaving the pre school years with mine and both will be in infant school in September. This is a fabulous age and the first time I've understood people sad their children are growing older.

The sleepless nights and hyperactive toddler years have taken their toll on me. Although I think I will look back with rose tinted glasses!

I can’t comment as I only have a toddler (two in summer) but I’m glad to read your post. I absolutely love having a toddler but someone told me the other day that ‘this is the best bit, it’s all downhill from here’ which made me feel so sad!

From my very limited experience of parenting though, I hated the tiny baby phase. Just so relentless and boring.

5-11 is better than the baby/toddler stage, but as far as I can tell kids just get more interesting, more funny, and generally better company the older they get.

My oldest is nearly 12, so obviously that could change, but I take hope from the posters that have said how much they enjoy the company of their teens.

I’ve got a 12 year old and a 3 year old and I definitely find the younger ages easiest , everything is so much more simple, I’m hoping things get easier in a few years time because I’m finding 12 a very difficult age

My boys are 4 and 6 (nearly 5 and 7) and for the most part I am really enjoying them. I found the baby days very hard and would look forward to having time away from them! However they've now reached a stage where they are pretty independent and looking after them is less full on. I have loved spending the Easter holidays with them. Lots of days out and actually enjoying our time together.They are both settled at school and enjoy similar things in their free time which makes life easier. Definitely don't miss nappies and breast feeding 😂

YANBU most definitely. My DSD turned into a horror the moment she hit 11. My DS is 10 and is a joy but lately I'm seeing a bit more belligerence, eye rolling etc. Nah thanks! Dreading the teen years!