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Original poster

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

213 replies

SheABitSpicyToday · 26/07/2021 15:44

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 Grin

OP posts:
JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 26/07/2021 21:47

I love it all but especially newborn to 4 - when they're all yours and think you're amazing.

PerciphonePuma · 26/07/2021 22:52

2

JungleBeats · 26/07/2021 23:08

New born till about 13 (YEARS).

Love teenagers.

TheLovelinessOfDemons · 26/07/2021 23:10

I have a DS with ADHD, so I don't expect it to stop being horrendous anytime soon.

whenwillthemadnessend · 26/07/2021 23:20

At least toddlers are cute

Teens are awful
Moaning
Selfishness
Back chat
Eat crap and leave wrappers all over house
Burn through cash
Mental health thrown in
Endless worry about school adulthood

Jesus I'm at my wits end

I love them but the worry now is huge compared to when they were little. At least you get nice cuddles off toddlers

Teens give sod all back

They are the cats of the childhood world

Scratchy yowly and our for themselves

Grin

It's Been a bad day can you tell ?

lillylemons · 26/07/2021 23:36

I'd say the hardest years have so far been between 11-13 girls are stroppy at this age.

ds is 4 and he has been a pleasure to parent so far.

Maarso88 · 27/07/2021 01:53

I really think it depends on the child. My first from 0-3 years was difficult!! Severe colic, didn't sleep through until 3 years. Second child was a poorly baby so lack of sleep in the 3-12 months was hard and then her tantrums started full on from 2 years plus up until now (6 yrs) as well as obsessive behaviours, repetitiveness etc. 3rd child has been my easiest by far. Slept through from 6 weeks and now at 16 months is still such an easy toddler.

Maarso88 · 27/07/2021 01:55

First born is pre teen..I'm now dreading teen years 😄

GeorgeAnneAndTimmytoo · 27/07/2021 05:38

14 years old when puberty hit. Both DS spent 6 months simply grunting and being rude when they deemed to speak.

Then boom they turned in to lovely kids / young adults ❤️

But those 6 months were hard.

I have sincerely loved every other age. Adored having young kids and newborns but love having grown up (almost) kids. It is really easy :)

JeanneDoe · 27/07/2021 06:34

0-2 very tough. Never again.
3-4 better
4-7 an absolute joy. Never want it to end.

ohthatbloodycat · 27/07/2021 06:44

I have 3 girls who are more or less all teens.
To say they are emotionally draining would be understating it quite significantly.
My sister has 3 boys and they are easier to parent.

sailmeaway · 27/07/2021 06:49

So far - 8 and 11 - it's been difficult at times but mostly lovely, and I;ve enjoyed most of it. Which i know means they're probably going to be jeffing AWFUL teenagers!

BigGreenOlives · 27/07/2021 06:49

Teens definitely harder than when they were younger. I’d wanted another child when they were little but DH said no, when DS was a teen I was so pleased we hadn’t had an extra as another child like him would have destroyed me. DS is 21 and is now LC.

Seasidemumma77 · 27/07/2021 07:07

Loathed newborn to 6month stage, and found 7yrs to 11yrs really hardwork

ladygindiva · 27/07/2021 07:08

Another for newborn. Loved it after about 4/5 months.

Whattodonow5 · 27/07/2021 07:20

Hated the toddler age so from about 1-3.
Oldest dc I have is almost 15 and I'd still say toddlerhood is just exhausting and boring.

starbrightstarlight8888 · 27/07/2021 07:27

9m to 3 years was pretty bad. Why is your 7 year old having tantrums? 7 is a bit old for tantrums.

VanGoSunflowers · 27/07/2021 07:30

Definitely since he turned 3. He was a dream up until then! The tantrums and the moaning and the constantly playing up when you’re trying to get him ready just really grind me down! I didn’t mind the baby months.

junebirthdaygirl · 27/07/2021 07:32

Mine are grown up. Loved it all including now except ds was a desperate teen especially between 15 to 17. Hell! Challenged my tolerance to the last but came around although l couldn't have imagined it at the time. Others fine at that stage. At least with teens you can go out and leave them at home alone so you get a break though.

Siameasy · 27/07/2021 07:40

9mths-reception. Which is why I never had a second. She barely slept until she started year one it was awful

Imapotato · 27/07/2021 07:42

I think it actually depends on the child. Dd2 has more or less always been a joy. Don’t get me wrong, she has her moments and when she was say 3-6 she was full of mischief and your toiletries were never safe, but she’s never been really hard work.

Dd1 one the other hand has had some miserable stages where being her parent really wasn’t much fun at all. For her the worst times were aged 3-7, 9-11 and then 15. The rest of the time she’s not been so bad. She’s now 16.5 and nicer than she was at 15, but still more high maintenance than dd2.

I did love the toddler stage. They were both pretty nice then, cute and funny. Though thinking about dd2 actually never slept, so that was a bit of a killer. All stages have their good points and their bad.

Roseinbloom20 · 27/07/2021 07:50

Loved 0-6m as I had two pretty chilled and easy newborns but once they start crawling it's a whole new ball game. I hated ages 1-3.5 with DS1 but he's now 4.5 and an utter joy - so funny!

DS2 is now 16m and I remember why I hate this age, he's constantly climbing, opening doors, putting things in his mouth and still not sleeping through and we're only at the beginning! Still have potty training to get through 😩 I adore him but it's such hard, exhausting work constantly because you just can't take your eyes off him. He also hates the pram and high chair and does that arching back thing and he's so strong! It's the piercing screaming I can't stand as well when he wants attention but can't quite communicate what he wants. Honestly I can't wait until I have a 4 and 8 year old.

It's definitely made me realise I'm absolutely done at just two children, cannot do the toddler years ever again 😳

ballroompink · 27/07/2021 07:54

Mine are 9 and almost 4 right now. My least favourite age with both was 1-2.5. Exhausting, can't be left unwatched, tantrums, can't communicate very well, always some drama. Both of mine are early risers and we had phases of brutal 5am starts where they would then be having exhausted meltdowns by 9am.

Quite like the pre-school phase. DS1 was very hard work from 5-7 but has mellowed.

RevolvingPivot · 27/07/2021 07:58

1-6 I thought but now dd is 11 and wanting to go out and be more independent id also say 11-14 ish as they think they're old enough to do what they like but they are still kids.

Bella43 · 27/07/2021 08:12

Newborn and toddler phase were the worst. Exhausting and mentally draining. Seeing your child throw a tantrum on the floor in the supermarket when you just needed some milk is soul destroying.

Fast forward a few years and I love it. They're company, they're funny, they can do a lot for themselves and they tell me what's wrong now rather than tantrums. I'm even enjoying the teenage years. The older they get, the easier they get I find.