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!

Any age but newborn. Tedious as just eat, sleep, poo repeat.

Currently enjoying 9 months. He crawls over to something and pulls himself up on it, gets really pleased with himself then squats down and crawls off somewhere else to do it again. Hes also realises when hes being funny! I found newborn hard, then around 4-6months when he wanted to move but couldnt quite hard too. Its all hard on the bad days and all great on the good days really

DS is 16 now and i’m actually really enjoying it now. We have some really good chats and he’s very cuddly as long as no-one is around 😂😂 I did also love the much younger stage and sometime think back wistfully to when he had gorgeous blonde curls and would snuggle up to me in bed but those days are long gone.

Teenage years!!

Every age has its good and bad bits but for me 4 plus. They start to understand more, if you get the discipline levels right they become less tricky and understand consequences.

However enjoy every stage would be my advice no one is perfect including children

Every bit I've liked more than the previous. She's 22 now and I wouldn't want to go back. She's perfect now.

I loved the newborn stage, so little and helpless and the smell. Ages 5 - 10 also, they are polite, helpful and dont leg it when you are in the supermarket.. Cant comment on older as oldest is 10, the worst stage for me was 18 months to 4 years, just hard work, i needed eyes in the back of my head when we went out, they are just constant and seem to need far more attention.

Any stage but the newborn stage!

Downhill from crawling

Definitely the primary years. I love babies and toddlers but it was such hard work - I had 3 under 4, so I guess I only had myself to blame! At age 5 to 11 they are much more independent, but still very chatty and cuddly.

My eldest is now into teenage grunt mode!

Every bit I've liked more than the previous. She's 22 now and I wouldn't want to go back. She's perfect now.

I was going to say something along these lines. Each stage has been my favourite so far, pleased to see that it can continue through the teen years and into adulthood.

My 12 month old!

She’s just started saying Mummy- best feeling in the whole world.

She comes to give me a cuddle and a kiss. She says bye bye to the dog and gives everyone high fives. She’s walking now and so so much happier. We can go to the park together now and just hang out. I wish I was a SAHM I love spending time with her.

A few months ago I was pulling my hair out and we had no life so DH are really happy with how things are atm (despite many tantrums). She’s hard work but the baby stage was torture some days.

4 is a good 'un. They are absorbing information like sponges, and witter on all day about dinosaurs. They can be reasoned with and have learnt to control themselves a bit. They can trot off to the loo on their own. They sleep well. They eat OK. They can dress themselves and put on their own shoes and jacket. They love to be busy and have jobs to do.

But they're still impressed by absolutely everything. Yesterday I "juggled" 2 balls really really badly and DS went "WWWWOOOOOOWWWW!" like I was some sort of superhero. It was awesome.

I'm loving being mum to a teenager (14)
I've really enjoyed the last 3 years or so although I appreciate I've had it 'easy' when I speak to other parents, my son is very easy going.
We have proper conversations, my opinion counts and we can go out and do things together, not just me watching while he does an activity.

I quite liked the newborn phase (sleepless nights aside). So tiny and cuddley and I loved the little noises she made when she was sleeping.

My LO is now just over 1 year and this is quite a fun age so far. More of her personality is coming out and she's learning so much at the moment. I also feel like I'm starting to 'see the light' just a little bit when it comes to not getting anxious about getting out the house with her and not losing my head quite so much. I'm sure that will change once she's walking!

I've honestly loved and hated each phase in equal measure. Oh except 3.5-4years where he briefly became incredibly badly behaved and difficult.
He was a very easy and snuggly newborn so I adored this stage..... would go back to it in a heartbeat.
And now I think (almost 7) he is starting to become more independent and have his own opinions and the things he comes out with make me laugh all the time.

Did not enjoy the baby stage post newborn, yes she was cute however she was a horrific sleeper and ex worked nights (I back at work ft when she was 3 months old).

I didn't mind the toddler years but it did help she didn't walk until she was 19months old (although tbf there was a bit of worry there, not helped they thought she had speech delay too). She was a pretty chill toddler, and I loved seeing reaching her long awaited milestones.

Loved her when she became about 3 and all through primary years.Very chatty and I had great fun watching her nativities, dress up days etc and seeing them grow independence..

Worst time when she was 11-13, hormones went crazy, just a real PITA and difficult to deal with, she pushed boundaries massively. But when she calmed down I really loved the teen years, she was extremely opinionated teenager (and still is at 21!) so definitely some in-depth discussion. Had great fun teaching her to drive!

I think it heavily depends on the personality of your child and the type of person you are.

My ds is 3 months and my dd is 2.4. Ds is a dream baby (very chilled) so I've been really enjoying the newborn bit.

My dd was an absolute nightmare from the moment I pushed her out lol. She's been hard work through every stage but the terrible 2s are definitely the worst and best altogether if that makes sense. Such an infuriating but happy time. Waiting for the easier stage to appear with her (I'll keep you posted 😂).

Pretty much all of it but especially teenagers. Love watching them become independent, develop opinions, make decisions.. and get themselves around . (V rural) The first one getting her driving test at 17 was my heroine...

My DD is currently 3 and a half and I’m loving it. Newborn? Horrific.

The bit when they left home!

newborn to 18 months. I loved just being able to cuddle her all the time! Breastfeeding was easy for both of us, and I never really minded nappies or being up at night. I could sleep in the day when she did.
Then about 18 months the tantrums arrived, along with a phase of only wanting Daddy. Now at just 5 the tantrums are fading but can still be epic and recently very clingy to me having gone back to wanting us equally after a year or so of wanting Daddy.
So that hasn't been great but she is still the most amazing baby there ever was! 😍

I think 18 months to about 2 and a 1/2 or 2 and 3/4. My DS didn't start walking until 18 months and once he was off it was so much fun just doing simple things, park etc. He was an absolute delight until he turned 2 and a 1/2 then steadily became more stroppy. Since 2 and 3/4 he's been, as PP have said, just needlessly arsey and bratty! Threenager is the worst I think. He's 3.7 almost and does seem to have chilled out/is easier to reason with, so I hope we've got a nice stage ahead of us.

I did quite enjoy 6+ months with my DS too, as he slept well, and we had a nice little routine on my maternity leave, classes, meeting up with friends etc. 9 months was horrible as he was whingey cutting his first set of teeth.

2 and a half year olds are the most crazy fun little people on the planet.

I've found every stage has its challenges I try to enjoy the moments and not worry about stages or phases.

I loved the tiny newborn phase, that was honestly the best for me.

In fact, I loved from newborn all the way up until 3.
I'm struggling a bit at the moment with nearly 4yo DD because of the constant noise and need to do something right now and lack of sleep.

But I'm sure I'll look back fondly though.