What stage of parenting have you enjoyed most so far?

[YellowsAndPinks]

DD is 6 months and is mostly enjoyable but still obviously very demanding and hard work. She can be quite whingy and has a short attention span so I can't go to a coffee shop and have her with me for too long etc, everything is done in short bursts which is fine but I'm looking forward to stages where we can play together a bit more. She is starting to try and crawl but can't yet so is quite frustrated on her play mat.

I'd be interested to know which stages you enjoyed the most and which you found the most difficult? Feel guilty that sometimes I'm counting down to bedtime!

The newborn bit - just so special the way that everything else seems to stop for a bit and they are just so tiny and wondrous and perfect. You don't need to worry about routines or habits etc you just go with the flow.

Toddlers, when they start to walk and talk right up until about 3 when they become really arsey for no apparent reason. Just gorgeous and so funny and amazing watching them figure things out.

I am really enjoying my older one as well at the moment, preteen I suppose, just moving up to secondary, he's fairly self sufficient and we can have conversations on surprisingly adult topics but we haven't hit any proper teenage narkiness or mass amounts of attitude yet. I worry about him but I'm also seeing the young person he'll become which is incredible too.

It's been different with both my kids. With DS1 I absolutely hated the newborn phase. He screamed constantly. I really enjoyed it though with DS2. I really enjoyed the time DS1 was 2, but my youngest was really hard at 2. I really like where they both are now (6 and 4). They're independent, have their own thoughts and opinions, but really enjoy still spending time as a family.

Hardest has been age 3-5 which I just found a constant battle and struggle over the most pointless ridiculous things - but my eldest has ADHD which in hindsight is probably why his behaviour was so extreme, it was not just me being crap

Also the parts of the first year when they are quite whiny because what they want is impossible, e.g. want to play but can't sit, want to move but can't yet. Got huge swathes of this with my first. DS2 doesn't seem to be quite as bad, he was able to sit much earlier and while mobile is fairly independent and will be happy just pottering about exploring things. But I admit to looking forward to the toddler stage again even though I don't want to rush these last few months of his babyhood.

Newborn and then 11-14 I'm enjoying a lot 🙂

I think my favourite parenting stage was the pre-parenting bit...

Not enjoying the terrible twos right now

I've enjoyed most ages over 1 tbh! Didn't like baby stage. DD is 23, so I've got a lot of years to trawl through, but I wasn't keen on moments between 8 and 10 I don't think and then again at 15/16. 23 is bloody marvellous though. She's my rock. We're gong through some pretty rough times at the moment and she's bloody hilarious and supportive and ditsy all at the same time.

As the old bird on this I'm sure, just remember every age has its moments and whereever you're at, you'll come out the other side and look back fondly.

Basically, being a parent is wicked!

3 - 18 months.

The first 3 months were difficult, getting BFing established and generally not feeling back to normal yet.

Post 18 months has just got increasingly difficult as her very wilful personality (and potentially hfa) started to emerge! She's 8 now and parenting her is hard.

That in between stage looking back was so easy.

Newborn and teens.

Now, without a shadow of a doubt.

13 & 15 yo.

I adore teens. Can start having really meaningful conversations with them, listening to their opinions and becoming excited at the person they are becoming.

I think the key is not to be fazed or take personally the hormonal grump stuff.

I hated baby stage, pre school was all hard work and monotonous routine which I'm not good with.

Now is really interesting.

Best, best, best stage is 2- 3years.
Such pure hearted little beasties. They love you more than life itself and just run at you for cuddles.
Nothing is more life affirming than a toddler flinging their little arms around your neck.

@newroundhere
Your comment made me laugh out loud

Newborn was too scary and repetitive for me (I had easy babies but lack of sleep was very hard for me due to health issues).

Best bits so far:

1. Baby about 4 months old. In a routine, no faffing with weaning yet, starting to interact a bit, still portable and not on the move.

1. Age 2, funnily enough... No terrible 2s here, we had terrible 3s. 2 was a lovely age. Very cute, still napping after lunch, sleeping through the night, able to play a lot more.

1. Age 4-8. Current stage- absolutely marvellous. They can dress themselves, operate the remote control, play together, sleep 12 hours straight, are doing well at school, have proper conversations, enjoy watching films and sitting still, can do fun activities.

Bad bits of age 4-8: not cooperating getting ready for school, not listening to me, niggling with each other. But on the whole they are easy, interesting and still cuddly.

Now, I think. 22 months. Exploring and learning new things daily, starting to show her interest in particular things and people, understands loads and generally complies, very clear routine with a big fat 2 hour nap in the middle of the day. This phase is my karmic return on every (every) nap from 3.5 to 5 months having to take place outside, in the sling, while bouncing up and down. In winter.

When my DCs stopped their 2 hour naps I was bereft! DS still had one until he started school. I used to sleep too. Loved those naps.

12 yr olds are my favourites.

DS is now 2 and a half, and honestly, I'm loving this stage. The wide eyed innocence and mummy love is just something else, plus he is bloody hilarious. My elder two were close in age, so I think I was just too bloody exhausted to enjoy this stage properly with them.

Oh yes chocolate I used to love daytime naps with DD!

My DD is 3 and it's such an amazing age, frustrating a lot of the time but I love this age!

Dds are 8 and 9. I’ll let you know when it happens...

Haha some of these comments!

Mine are only 4 and 2 but love they think I’m an utter hero!!

I didn’t love the baby stage. I prefer now that we can walk to parks and be out and about

I’ve liked most of it but man is it demanding. Different demands for different ages.

I loved the newborn stage but I did have very easy babies, slept and fed beautifully. Hated terrible twos, had one very determined daughter! Really loved teenaged stage, lots of interesting conversations. Loving the age they are now, mid twenties but still living at home. They are truly amazing young people and I’m so proud of them.

The bit when they left home!

I honestly don't know, as I am not very maternal and found lots of parts of it a struggle. A lot of that was due to DD1's health issues. I am enjoying them as adults, and I enjoy DGD, because I can hand her back. She's at the 'why' stage, which drove me bonkers as a mother, but doesn't bother me now. She's almost 4.

18 months has been truly amazing. She's got her own personality, jokes and preferences. I could watch her all day.

I found the newborn phase hard.

16 and 13.

2 under 5 was the worst 3 years.

The bit before I became a parent was the best
I loved the 8 month stage-they could sit up but not move around so I could pee in peace
Then the 7-9
Then adult stage is the best bit
Seeing the wonderful adults they have grown up to be