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Parenting

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Original poster

Is five the optimum age?

24 replies

Whirliwig72 · 08/04/2012 22:16

Ive heard rumours that 5 years is the absolute utopian age as far as children go: toilet trained, capable of having funny conversations with you that make you think, more or less over tantrum stage, in school for some if not all of the day! What do you reckon what is the golden age of childhood as far as parenting is concerned and why?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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fivegomadindorset · 08/04/2012 22:17

I would quite like my 6 year old to be toilet trained, so I have a while for utopia I think.

Original poster

Whirliwig72 · 08/04/2012 22:18

Apologies for appalling lack of grammar typing in teeny tiny screen - should be what do you think? What is the optimum age?

OP posts:

TunipTheVegemal · 08/04/2012 22:19

more or less over tantrum stage? I wish!

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Original poster

Whirliwig72 · 08/04/2012 22:21

Five - wouldn't be surprised if my eldest is the same actually he's 3.5 and nowhere near potty trained yet much to my exasperation

OP posts:

fivegomadindorset · 08/04/2012 22:21

Oh yes beyond tantrum stage.

Hissboo · 08/04/2012 22:24

Ds is 7. I reckon his golden age will be when I drop him off at university aged 18 [bugrin]

bytheMoonlight · 08/04/2012 22:24

DD1 was at optimum age at 3yo I think. She was a delight to be around.

She is now at the 'fucking four' stage and seems to have hit prime tantrum stage

Original poster

Whirliwig72 · 08/04/2012 22:57

Hear that? That's the sound of my hopes an illusions shattering into smithereens! Please please don't tell me it's downhill from 3 !

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BackforGood · 08/04/2012 23:03

Well, my eldest is 15, and it's the nicest phase so far.

Tranquilidade · 08/04/2012 23:06

Every age is the optimum until they abandon you and leave home (where's the obsessive mother guilt-tripping bunny gone?!)

Eggsits · 08/04/2012 23:07

I think it is probably the age that has just gone. [buwink]

Original poster

Whirliwig72 · 08/04/2012 23:08

Hurrah BFG - that's more like it! Does bad toddlerhood = smooth adolescence since they have already got their naughtiest behaviour out the way. If not there is no fairness in the world, none at all

OP posts:

BackforGood · 08/04/2012 23:11

erm..... well ds has been my {ahem} shall we say 'most challenging' dc as a baby, as a toddler, as a small child, as a bigger child, and as a teen (so far). My dd's have both been a piece of cake compared with him at each stage, so I can't really back up that theory I'm afraid (although older dd is still only 13 so I've got time for it to all go seriously downhil from here on in, I suppose )

bytheMoonlight · 08/04/2012 23:13

No don't talk about them leaving home .. I cannot even read the words let alone comprehend them!

Onetwothreeoops · 08/04/2012 23:14

Between 6 and 12 months is my favourite age. IMO its the only stage where the very bad bits like talking dont outweigh the very good bits like cuddles [bugrin]

Original poster

Whirliwig72 · 08/04/2012 23:20

I agree I have a 6 mo who is divine. Simple, easily pleased and hysterically funny. His brother is desperately trying to teach him annoying habits though like shrieking loudly for the hell of it and dropping things on the floor (over and over) so I doubt he'll be angelic for much longer sigh!

OP posts:

QED · 08/04/2012 23:22

My DC are 8 and 6 and I think it's a pretty good age so far. They are relatively self sufficient, we can just leave the house without taking loads of stuff we have genuinely interesting conversations sometimes and I still get (some) cuddles :)

joanofarchitrave · 08/04/2012 23:26

DS is 8 and I think it's a fantastic age. I'm looking forward to 50 when he worries about my toilet training tbh.

MrsLetchlady · 08/04/2012 23:26

I find I love my DDs ages as they get older...

My eldest is 8 now and we get the odd attitude, but I love the fact that I'm able to have proper grown up conversations with her. She watches newsround, is interested in the world around her and loves horrible histories. She's always telling me little facts that I didn't know. But we're not yet at the teenage hormonal stage. The strops and attitude is not great, but thankfully they are few and far between.

My youngest is now 5, and yes that is a very cute age too. She's funny and witty and loves making the other children laugh. But she does get tired and whines a fair bit. She's starting to be able to have proper conversations.

notforlong · 08/04/2012 23:31

My DS is 11 and has always been lovely and easy going, never had a tantrum. I have a horrible sense of dread as we approach the teenage years.

rubyrubyruby · 08/04/2012 23:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

leftmysociallifeatthedoor · 08/04/2012 23:40

Ds is 5. Its a nice age BUT its the first age where I've really noticed himk growing up if that makes sense and whilst I know its a good thing its also a very scary think iyswim. I loved 2 + 3. 4 was fucking awful. 5 ok.

Dd is 18 months. She is a fucking nightmare handful.

leftmysociallifeatthedoor · 08/04/2012 23:41

Rubyrubyruby - my mum still says I'm a pain in the arse at 30 (and I don't even live near her)

CogitoErgoSometimes · 09/04/2012 09:27

Mine's nearly 12 and he's a pleasure to live with. Not only is he toilet-trained and past the tantrums, he's also capable of boiling a kettle operating the washing machine, and his jokes are getting extremely clever rather than just 'cute'.

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