At what age does parenting become easier?

[Lois345]

At what age does parenting become easier? If your answer is never please say it quietly to yourself or just lie in your comment

It's never. Honestly The problems just change.

I have a five and a half year old and he's pretty easy. He does a lot for himself.

The meltdowns are still epic and he sometimes point blank refuses to do what he's told and will argue black is white, but it's easier to negotiate than the toddler years.

How old is yours?

Mine are grown up - I'll let you know when I find out

How old are your DCs?
I found it for easier when they could put on their own seat belts. We can get around so much quicker. But in general once they gain a bit of independence, as in can get themselves an easy snack, dress themselves, play unsupervised etc.

I think it depends what you find hard; for me the sleep deprivation was a real killer and just the constant needs so I find my 4 year old so much easy than even a year ago. She still needs lots of looking after obviously but she sleeps through and I can get away with doing stuff while she plays and alternate doing an activity where she gets attention with doing something I need to do. I would say as they get older it requires more thought though based on my experiences with my teenage DSD and I worry more if we’re getting it right and about her in general

@HoseMeDownWithHolyWater DS is 3

@C8H10N4O2

@Lois345 I fucking hated 3. He was horrible! Nicer again by 4.

I've found it easier and easier as the years go past. Up to 2 was tough. My dd is 9 now and it's a really lovely age.

I've just landed back at the baby/toddler stage after a large age gap btw, so I know what the above poster means when she says the problems just change, but it is definitely less full on and easier to cope as they get older.

It depends which part of it you find hard(est). I ask myself this question most days.

@HoseMeDownWithHolyWater Bless you. This is exactly what I needed to hear

DS is 5.5 and life has felt a lot easier in the last six months or so.

However, I am expecting the issues and problems getting more complex as he gets older, eg school issues, friendship issues. While they're little it can be easy to 'solve' their problems. As he's getting older some of it isn't as easy to fix.

3 year olds are brutal. I didn't really enjoy that age at all. After 3 is easier! My eldest is 9, so far none of the ages have been as hard as 3. You have my sympathy!

Three was awful for us too. Hang in there! Gets a lot better at 4 IME

Sleep deprivation is still a killer, I miss having a conversation with DH without being interrupted, DS wants me ALL the time at the moment (which is both really lovely and claustrophobic)... yes yes I know it is just a phase... but it is a bloody long one

Mine are 9, 10 & 12.

I found toddler years the easiest, their current ages are really tough because they just dont stop bloody fighting it's easier in that they can feed themselves, shower themselves etc, but they take up more mental energy now than when they were toddlers and easily entertained with the telly & a pack of raisins

@EmilyEmmabob @Miriam101 Thank you - this is what i need to hear! Meanwhile will arm myself with and

Have a 7 and 3 year old who fight from they wake up until they go to sleep.

Both difficult in different ways.

I don't think it will ever be easier.

Which is why I have stopped at 2 children.

Personally I think it gets easier every year.

My oldest two are 13 and 11 now. Yes they can still be hard work - homework wrangling, teenage angst, expecting me to be their personal taxi. It's not 'easy'. Plus they cost a bloody fortune to feed, clothe and entertain.

But I sleep now ☺️ I don't have to be present with them every second like when they were 3 and 1. I don't panic about every temperature and illness like when they were babies. I don't have any childcare to worry about for them (in terms of practicalities or cost). They help around the house. They go out on their own meaning more free time for me.

So yes, age 13 and 11 are dramatically 'easier' than ten years ago imo. The thought of waking up tomorrow with a 3 and 1 year old and all that beings makes me feel exhausted just at the thought!

I also have a 4 year old so I'm not totally out of the child stage yet! But for the purposes of this comparison just relied on the older ones.

@Gin4thewin4 you have my sympathy

I think it gets easier in the sense of day to day routines getting a bit easier but mentally it never gets easier because you always worry about them.

It gets a lot easier when they are over 4.

They are ok now, 20&22 at university!

4 year old a million times easier compared to the horror of babyhood. 3 was the pits.