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Parenting

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Original poster

which age is the most difficult?

45 replies

thewomanwhothoughtshewasahat · 26/02/2006 20:16

Due to the fact that I seem to persistently think that anyone with younger kids than me has got it easy and they ought to wait til they're the same age as mine and then they'll know what difficult is, I am beginning to wonder how long this will last. Obviously we can only judge what we have so far experienced but what stage do people think is the most challenging? (and anyone who says just you wait til they're teenagers think carefully - you may be responsible for making dds homeless)

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Katemum · 26/02/2006 20:17

all of them!

Milliways · 26/02/2006 20:19

Pre-school.
Once at school other people are helping.

I have a teenager, we have our moments, but she is delightful & becoming a real friend. Just hope I can support her properly through GCSE's (next year), and somehow finance the Grand Uni plans she is developing whilst DS hits teens!

dramaqueen72 · 26/02/2006 20:21

14, is pretty horrible IMO. not wanting to make your dd's homeless but!!!! my 2yr old and 9wk old are a breeze compared to my 11 and 14 yr old!

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Posey · 26/02/2006 20:21

This age, 3 years and 2 months
But thats my ds.
Dd, the first 6 months. She's now almost 9 and no time has been as bloody difficult as those first months.

chipkid · 26/02/2006 20:23

I guess the age that you are at!!!!-the past always seems easier but at the time it wasn't!

crazydazy · 26/02/2006 20:23

I have found the under 3's difficult really. DS is 4 in May, DD is 6 and tbh I am enjoying it more and more as they are getting older.

This year is the first holiday abroad that I'm actually looking forward to and see it as a rest as they are quite confident in water and will probably want to join a kid's club together - am hoping .

Just found the whole "watching every move/running around after a toddler bit" very limiting.

crazydazy · 26/02/2006 20:24

Just read my post and I realised I am sooooooo selfish

milward · 26/02/2006 20:25

Age 16 months to age 4!! - after this they can play with with other kids just fine.

MerlinsBeard · 26/02/2006 20:26

first few weeks/months with ur first are V hard, then the twos/threes then first few weeks months of having 2 babies!!

Can't help beyond that eldest is nearly 3!

TinyGang · 26/02/2006 20:32

I don't think you're selfish Crazydazy - I agree with what you have said totally

I find the 'careering about in a wobbly fashion' phase terrifying. I thought I'd collapse from the worry of it all at one point.

Mine can still bolt off, but they're getting much better at following safety rules and seem much more stable on their feet. Big sigh of relief all round I say.

crazydazy · 26/02/2006 20:35

Thanks Tinygang I was a nervous wreck too, I still watch DS' every move now and he is 4 in May!! He's still very clumsy and trips up at least once a day.

Elibean · 26/02/2006 20:37

I don't think you're selfish either, Crazydazy - just honest about which bits you find hard. I only have one, and she's only 2.2, so am watching this thread with interest (and trepidation!) but have to agree that the first six months were the hardest so far...I was just so knackered. For me, parenting is getting more and more interesting, and I love dd more and more all the time.
Not sure if its getting easier exactly - but I'm less anxious, and less tired, and enjoying it more!

FrayedKnot · 26/02/2006 20:42

Looking through the rose tinted glass of part time parenting (I have 2 step children), I really liked middle school age (from about 8-11/12).

They can amuse themselves for longish periods and are relatively self sufficient but you can do so much with them that is fun, and they really have loads of enthusiasm for life.

FrayedKnot · 26/02/2006 20:43

Agree about the first year though (I felt rubbish throughout) but have found the second year with DS loads easier.

brimfull · 26/02/2006 20:43

I'm finding 3yr old ds very trying

14 yr old dd no problem at all,lovely to have around,when she is around!

Posey · 26/02/2006 20:46

I asked my mum this question. She didn't like tiny babyhood (first 6 months), liked us best as teenagers
My dad liked us, or should I say found us the easiest to understand in junior school.
Interestingly, my mum was a secondary school teacher, dad a junior teacher!

Eowyn · 26/02/2006 20:46

I'm finding it gets better & better, but I hated it at first, dd is nearly 6 now & brilliant (mostly). Really good to read teenagers aren't all nightmares.

crazydazy · 26/02/2006 20:52

Yes I found babies hard......I was always anxious and worried when they were off colour as they couldn't tell you how they felt. Mind you, DD is 6 now and tells me she has "tummy ache" every single night!!!

It was lovely though when people used to look into the pram and admire my little bouncing baby though, loved that part

fennel · 26/02/2006 20:56

so far, toddlers have been the hardest. age about 20 months - 3.5 years.

am currently luxuriating in the NO TODDLERS phase - dds are 5, 4 and 1. Bliss. have found babies easy and 4 years plus has so far been very sweet and less hassly. it's definitely easier with the 5 and 4 year old than a couple of years ago. no question about it.

am looking forward to teenage years actually. i like teenagers.

crazydazy · 26/02/2006 21:04

I'm not looking forward to 8 plus cos then DS won't want to shower his Mum with kisses anymore

Think I will really miss the physical closeness you have with little children, they love nothing more than a hug from Mummy.

TinyGang · 26/02/2006 21:08

Once again I'm with you Crazydazy! Babies scare the life out of me (and I've had 3!)

Too much guesswork and hovering about seeing if they're breathing and worrying about people near them with cups of tea and colds.

Also all the equipment that goes with them! I'm surprised my children's first words weren't 'bloody straps!!' as I wrestled with straps on prams, carseats, highchairs etc.

I ended up wound up like a spring. Now mine are 7 and 4 I'm finding I'm tentatively starting to exhale and enjoy them at last instead of worrying all the time. Fantastic little people!

soapbox · 26/02/2006 21:09

I'd say 18mths to 3 years for girls and 3 - 4 years for boys!

But that is based on my extensive sample of ... 2!!!!

morningpaper · 26/02/2006 21:10

first 12 weeks

awful beyond words

crazydazy · 26/02/2006 21:18

Exactly Tinygang

Was in awe Mum's who home made their baby dinners. As I was not very much use in the kitchen (lack imagination and skills) Heinz and Cow and Gate were my life savers.

My Mum was never good with the baby thing either - I noticed that when I had mine!!!

Bozza · 26/02/2006 21:19

I really think it depends on the child. There is 3.3 years between my two and they seem to enjoy taking it in turns to be "the most difficult". DS was a difficult small baby, DD was easier. When DD was a baby DS was going through a difficult patch. DS started school in September and he was tired, grumpy and cocky - bad combination. Now he has settled down and is sometimes tired, grumpy and cocky but more often cheerful, enthusiastic and interesting. Whereas DD at 21 months is really trying our patience, in her current bid for independence and boundary testing. DS at 21 months was a lovely, easy going boy with only occasional strops.

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