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

Having a 2 and 3 year old at the same time was not fun. My eldest is 4 now and getting much easier to bribe so I’d say age 2-4 has been the hardest for me.

0 to 18 months. No sleep, crying, nappies, ill a lot, need constant supervision. Cute but such hard work....so dull....repetitive. After that, marvellous!!!

Newborn - just awful. Body ruined, not much sleep and nappies. Ugh.

Teens. Cannot stand teens.

Age 3. Far too much energy at that age!

My oldest is only 13 so can’t comment on the teen years - but so far for me it has been 0-6 months (neither of mine were good sleepers) and around age 7 where they reinstate the tantrums and seem to reach peak food fussiness (or maybe that is just mine )

2.5-7 with DS1 was hard work.
DS2 has been a pretty chill kid.

They’re 9 (nearly 10) &7 now and legends who I want to spend all my time with. The golden age is real!

First 3 months were hideous but I try to block that out. 6-9 I don't like. I also don't like teaching that age. Whiny girls, cannot bear it.

Agree with pp that y9 was a bit of a fucker.

So far 4-6 months. Sleep regression and All DD wants to do is chew on toys while I mutter inane things like "yes the ball is red" or sing baa baa black sheep for the 10th time which is so so dull.

@wigglerose

So far 4-6 months. Sleep regression and All DD wants to do is chew on toys while I mutter inane things like "yes the ball is red" or sing baa baa black sheep for the 10th time which is so so dull.

Is singing that song a requirement? Just don't bother

2-4yo

0-6 and working full time. Just relentless. And having to do everything for them all the time. And the not sleeping.

They're tweens now and pretty much ready to move out. One xboxes all day, the other goes to the park with mates. They make their own lunch. I get to work in the garden, uninterrupted. Bliss.

I found/am finding age 8/9 quite hard, more so with DS2 who is that age now. They both became very silly - not answering me because it's sooo funny to wind me up, disagreeing with everything I said because it's sooo funny, talking gibberish because ... well, you get the idea. Everything just took forever as they questioned everything and discovered the power of having a better memory than me. DS1 grew out of it and is lovely at 13 (but waiting for full on teenager status to kick in!)

From about 14 months to 3.5

Basically as soon as they start walking and touching stuff and asking for stuff

It’s so draining.

Newborn is tiring but loved it as wee tiny babies can be put in bouncy seat and sleep loads and my house was always so perfectly clean . Also lots of freedom to still go to lunches or shops as they just sat nicely in the car seat.

As soon as they are on the move and talking and tantrumming then it’s TOUGH

It’s a hard slog

I much prefer mine all school age and self sufficient

The newborn non-sleeping bit was hideous. Parenting has got better every year since!

Those ages where you are constantly “on” so young toddler where they are mobile but zero sense and you can’t take your eye off them for a second. It’s exhausting and then there’s soft play. Primary years are lovely and am actually quite enjoying teens.

13 - 16. Hideous.

Loved all the other stages.

I can add to this one loved newborn -3 years old they were easy and great., now my boys are 4 and 5 years old and omg what a nightmare, it’s the fighting and unreasonableness with both. However at times they are lovely and play well and on their own are great 🙄 I’ve got an 8 year old and love it 😍 independent but also still need mum but reasonable we have moments but they soon pass but with the boys it’s just physically harder and Exhausting.

Two DS's aged 12 & 17

DS1 - hated the later young child age (7-10) he was a bloody nightmare. He's now 17 and generally is fine, I'm finding it harder now as he obviously is almost an adult, likes to do adult things, but I worry about him.

DS2 - nightmare toddler, lovely young child, currently lovely pre teen. Expecting him to be a nightmare teen as he's been the opposite of his brother so far

21 - years not months! Parenting adults is much harder than parenting children!

Newborn definitely. I can’t deal well with sleep deprivation. Both of mine were lovey babies from 3-8m. I have a 2 and 5 year old and enjoying them at the moment. My little one hasn’t reached toddler stoppyness yet and my older one has calmed down a lot.

Newborn up to toddler tantrum stage absolutely fine and lovely.
I’d have another newborn tomorrow (too old now, ha!)

After the terrible twos, we had the even more terrible threes until around age four.

Then from primary school age five to about 12, all ok again.

But the hormones kicked in from age 12 to around 17, absolute carnage.

With ds who is 11 now it was hard till he was 5.... Then hard again from 7 till 9...hes the easiest hes ever been at the moment.

Dd who is 6... Loved the baby stage iwrh her, she slept, but the toddler years were a nightmare cause she was so active. She's hard work and the last year is the best it's been!

No rhyme or reason it seems!

@Katedanielshasakitty

Newborns. Absolutely hated 0-4 months with mine. Or around 4 months.

Mine are 17 and 10 and never been as hard as they were when they were little. I like them more, they older they get.

I would say the exact opposite to this! 0-4 months was my favourite time and I’ve never felt so easily confident and relaxed about parenting since. I’ve enjoyed all the stages in different ways (though found the 18-24m stage the hardest) but my most favourite magical stage was the newborn one.

Just goes to show we’re all different!

Teens are awful! My favourite time was between about 5 and 10.