To so what’s your least favourite age to parent?

[SheABitSpicyToday]

My sister hates the newborn and toddler phase.

I loved it and now have a nearly 7 year old and am ashamed to admit I hate it. Have another own due in a few months and am worried about giving both enough time as the 7 year old seems to need me so much more than I anticipated.

Anyone else feel the same way? My dad said I was horrid from 6 till about 21 so that’s a long time

10-11 year old girl. Ds is 14 and has been a pleasure the whole way along but my hormonal preteen dd is something else!

I found the primary school years the easiest.

1-3. I love the newborn phase and the preschool age but find the toddler years so hard.

14 months- 3.5 years is the absolute pits. Tantrums, potty training, constant illnesses brought home from pre-school, needing to have eyes in the back of your head so they don't climb and fling themselves head-first off the nearest available surface...just awful.

Well ds1 is only 4yo so I don't have a wealth of experience but with him it was hands down the terrible twos. He could tantrum like no other! Ds2 is a lot more chilled out but then...he isn't 2 yet!! Also dreading the teenage years. I'm a secondary teacher and teenagers can be hard bloody work!

LOVE the newborns stage and the toddler stage.

I found age 5-7 a real real struggle with 1 of my DDS but a breeze with the other.

13 onwards. He's an adult now but still very trying. I was fortunate to have a very easy baby/toddler/child but the teenage years? Awful.

My parents aged 73 & 74. Moved to the back of beyond to an unsuitable house with no public transport nearby. DM is 90 on Wednesday so that’s 24 years of trying to help. DD died six years ago, DM in care home all without PoA. Parenting children lots easier.

The first year was the hardest (no sleep!) but I haven't hated any part. DD now a teen and still fabulous company and great to be around.

Actually 16 years. 😎

A few years ago I would have said newborns for sure but teens are emotionally draining. All the drama and defiance is exhausting! Plus I'm pushing 50 now and don't have as much energy.

I have a teen, the whole baby stage was the worst by a million miles. I hated almost all of the first year.

0-9 months
11-12 years - tiredness from starting a new school, pushing boundaries, hormone surges and preteen tantrums

Love newborn up to walking age

Primary years are the easiest and loveliest

Toddlers and teenagers are absolutely hellish imo

Mine are 13, 10 and 1 so I’ve had a toe in most age ranges so to speak. I think so far
toddler hood has been the most challenging particularly with my now 10 year old -oh my god- the tantrums! I still have literal scars on my arms from dealing with the biting and scratching!

My DS2 had the most incredibly scary fits of anger. He used to lash out at me mostly but also other kids. Made us almost hermits for about a year as I dreaded him attacking some poor innocent victim on the slide. I had to hover over him constantly but he was so quick and still managed to get a few slaps/ scratches in some of the time. He was diagnosed with mild SN at 3 and is now lovely but his anger issues stemmed from not being able to express himself verbally but I’m dreading history repeating itself with DD.

Our teen, DS1, is currently challenging but in a different way - it’s less physical but he does get mouthy and rude to the point I have to walk away from him to calm down. The most irritating thing is when he point blank refuses to apologise for something he’s clearly in the wrong for - being overly rough when playing with the baby and making her cry for example or getting round parental permissions online then lying about it. When I can’t sleep at night he’s the one I worry about most as he is bright but doesn’t work very hard and always takes the easy option. I’m worried he’ll end up as an unemployed gamer living on junk food 😳

I liked from about 5-10.

I am hating the teenage years - it’s like arguing with a stroppy, greasier but ultimately smarter version of my self. She’s a girl so possibly worse than boys of the same age but most of my parent friends also dislike them a lot right now 😬

Toddler years. Never again.

This is very heartening!

I've got a 4yo starting school in Sept and a 15m old.

I'm at the point where i'm enjoying the eldest's company now and he isn't trying to kill himself all the time. Still in the trenches with the youngest though. For me so far I think under 2 is the hardest. Fingers crossed.

I found newborn to about 13 months hell on earth. From 13 months to now (three next week) has still been awful but I'm seeing light at the end of the tunnel now. She can verbally tell me what she wants, has a proper developed personality with clear interests, is cuddly and affectionate, funny...and she'll be going to nursery soon! (which I am mostly dreading tbf).
I vividly remember 13 months being the absolute worst time ever because she was whiny all the time and started waking during the night crying. A lot harder to deal with when you're no longer on mat leave.

14-18 was pretty hard with DS1.

DS2 has been nothing but a joy his whole life.

I adored the newborn stage. Just adorable. If I could have a permanent baby in the house, I would.

Under 4s.
Felt nothing but joy every time they grew out of their clothes and needed the next size up!
Loving it all after that... so far! Still teens to go.

I have a teenage ds...he's utterly vile most of the time (love him to bits) but seriously, just vile. On the plus side,you can hide from them. Currently hiding in my room while he is on his xbox. Toddlers are less likely to tell you to fuck off but you can't take your eyes off them for a moment which is completely exhausting

Loved newborn - around 12 months. 18 months - 4 - urgh - nearly finished me off. Mine are now 6 and 9 and loving it!

Toddlers for sure! Mobile enough to get into trouble, but not yet able to understand / communicate properly. And potty training! Youngest is now 14, and I’m loving parenting teens.. it’s challenging on an emotional / intellectual level at times, but they’re genuinely interesting (and very different) people, and there just isn’t the hard physical slog of the early days.

DS1 and DS2 - 18m to 2yo - very mobile and unable to reason with them
DD - suddenly became tricky around 3yo

Teens are easy so far (eldest is 15).