To suddenly be enjoying parenting?

[boughtacurrantbun]

Had my first in lockdown. Loved the baby, hated parenting him (sorry DS) - hated the sleep deprivation and the looong days and not being able to do anything. Found terrible twos, well, terrible, and was pregnant during a lot of that too!

Second baby much easier but found meeting both their needs stressful as hell and days out would often end in tears, bedtime routine would be enough to kill a stronger woman than me.

Youngest is now 18 months and suddenly I’ve realised my days with them are enjoyable and not an endurance test. I put her in her cot and she goes to sleep. I am suddenly finding my groove and I love it.

So - I just thought I’d tell you! 😅 And HANG IN THERE!

Of course YANBU.

We all enjoy different parts of the parenting journey.
IMO, it just gets better and better from where you are for the next 20 something years. (Other opinions are often expressed on here).

But it is pretty normal to not enjoy being sleep deprived. They do use that as a torture after all.

Lovely thread OP 😊

How lovely. I’m happy for you!

It took me 10 years to enjoy it but yes! It's great when it happens :)
(I'm still enjoying it, they're 14 and 12)

I hated the first few years, but once my DDs were around 2 and 3, I started to enjoy parenthood. Now, as each new age dawns I think "Now this is my favourite age!", so for me it just keeps getting better! My girls are 16 and 17 now, and I just find them endlessly fascinating, and am so excited for their futures and grateful I get to be along for the ride to see what they do with their lives!