do you still enjoy your kids when they're not 'cute' anymore?

[lucylala]

this sounds a bit of a daft question but I am a bit worried about it.

I recently went on holiday with my 2 nieces aged 6 and 3. Now when 6yr old was born, I adored her, bought her loads of clothes, had photos of her everywhere etc etc. However, when we went on holiday, although I still love her, I found myself wanting to be around 3yr old cos she's just so cute and funny and the 6yr old was just a bit....er,dare I say it, boring. She's not cute anymore and although she's very good and sweet I found I wanted the company of the 3yr old more.

I've found the same thing with my friends kids, a little boy who was just the cutest and funny little baby and toddler is now 6 and i don't really know how to play/talk with him anymore.

I'm a bit concerned when my daughter is between the ages of 6-13, I'm going to find her 'boring'.

Am I horrible or is this a concern anyone else has?

i didn't like my children when they were younger ( opposite to you) i liked them when they had developed their own identity and were more self sufficient - i think the age you outline below is a wonderful age.

i have 3 points

1. sometimes you can just not like your own children

2. i think you like them younger becuase other people give you attention via them.

3)be careful not to show your older children your dislike and work - actually work to build a better relationship with the child who is most difficult for you to engage with. find a common ground.

DS1 is nearly 12.

I still find him cute.

AND he sleeps through the night,
he doesn't post toast into the DVD player,
he can go to the bathroom without showering the entire place in urine,
he can watch a film alone, and without waking up with night terrors about Cruella De Vil,
and he makes breakfast for me every weekend.

So, a result all round!

i think this is posted twice

Are our answers better than the ones on the other thread, though?

damned straight they are

of course!!

I'm a greedy girl!

lol

Well I am in the unusual place of actually agreeing with Custardo in a way.

Also you are talking about your nieces not your own children they will always be wonderful to you. There are stages that are more your favourite than others and like custardo sais there are going to be times you don't like your children but you can never ever show them that and you have to really work at keeping your relationship with them at those tmes because if you don't there will be a time you like them again and the will nt be arsed about it.

You are not horrible I suppose it is no different to being pregnant and wondering if you will love the new baby as much as you PFB. You will love your dd at every age and i'll be toyu still find her cute at 6.

I still find my 5yo cute, and TBH probably more interesting and fun to be with than when she was tiny. Now we do proper stuff together and have a real laugh.

I adore my 6yo. Of course, he is not always cute in quite the same way as my 3yo but he is great and cute and funny. I love to lay in bed with him and have a chat about his day. His take on on life is so interesting to me. He was telling me about his football match and it was like a mini-commentary "and it was Gxxx Wxxx to the rescue and he scored so it was 2-1" etc. And we love reading together, me to him and him to me, now we have got past the learning stage and have books with an actual plot. And I don't have to wipe his bottom which I still do with the 3yo.

Your own children are always more fascinating than other peoples so I wouldn't worry too much.