The "Golden Years"...

[MamaNeedsTea]

Speaking with a friend about what age they've enjoyed DC the most.

I recall many moons ago whilst trying to put a tantruming 2yr old and screeching colicky newborn in the car a lady walking past with her two older DC looking over with the "Thank god we're out of that stage!" look. 🤣 (I feel like this now!)

I love primary school age. They're their own little people, independent with the basics but still very sweet and happy to have cuddles.

What are/have been your "Golden Years" and why?

Age 4-11. They sleep all night, make me laugh, can get dressed etc, still want to spend time with me.

For me, the best years have been the last few, and where we are now. DD is 16 and DS is nearly 14. They’ve been lovely teens so far (I’m well aware it could all change!) The baby, toddler and pre-school years were INTENSE and I was very grumpy and stressed a lot of the time. And tired. So very tired (I do of course feel nostalgic when I look back at photos though). Everything from 7/8 onwards has been really nice.

My boy is 20 months, and a friend said to me today, oh that’s the hard bit. Once they get to two...
She said that two to five was lovely. But now, her daughter is five & sassy with it.

I have a 2 year at old DS and we're thinking about trying for baby no2 soon (a bit nervous to be honest!) so watching this with interest 😅

I have a 4 year old and 6 month old and have been thinking that we are in the golden phase now, which I know probably sounds crazy.

Eldest is so funny and lovely, and the baby is too cute for words, they are both cuddly and adorable and think we are amazing, I love it!

I'm aware we're probably pretty lucky as they are both fairly easy going. And I'll certainly change my mind next winter when one starts school and the other nursery and both get virus after virus. That is the part of parenting I hate!

For now I wake up very grateful and excited every day!

I had a sabbatical from work and we travelled for an extended holiday with a 7 and 9 year old and they were absolutely golden. Literally, lovely, both of them. Able to be a bit independent, interested in things, funny, lively, and reliably asleep by 10pm for 8 hours +. So I think 7 through to about 10 is great.

There were dreary years both before and after . They are now 18 and 20, and actually both now quite nice*. It was DH’s birthday a couple of weeks ago and we had a lovely evening/dinner at home, with the older one dropping in back from university, and they both gave him really funny/thoughtful presents, we had cocktails and music and laughter and they both pitched in with cooking and clearing up.

*not consistently, and rarely both at the same time, to be fair!

Newborn. Without a doubt.

I felt like I was bouncing along in a cloud made of sugar, and my days and nights were filled with beautiful baby cuddles.

I love older babies and toddlers etc too (I've only reached the age of 5 so far) and every age has had its positives, but yeah, newborn was the only one that i found had only good sides, without anything I struggled with.

Mine are 2.5 and 6.

I'm always so surprised when people talk about 2 year old being an awful age,
me and DH were just saying how lovely an age 2-3 was for both of ours (although DS2 could still get difficult in the next few months!).

They can communicate what they want and are happy with relatively simple entertainment like bubbles or sitting on a bus and are happy to potter around the shops with you doing fairly mundane tasks. They are still cute and babyish without being helpless and very reliant. They are still having a nap so you get a rest in the middle of the day.

DS1 was definitely more difficult when he was 3 though so I guess I'd better make the most of it!

Ours are 27 and 19 and now is fantastic. We’re equals and enjoy each other.

I have 5 and 8 and really feel like I’m in the golden years. Can go anywhere with them, no worrying about snacks or naps! But also they are still cuddly and want to do stuff with us. I feel like the pandemic robbed us of some of this golden time so am determined to make the most of the next few years.

I only have experience of up to 7 but I just LOVE 2 year olds. My youngest is this age now and I wish I could just freeze time. He’s so hilarious, cute, cuddly, chatty, and he mostly sleeps through the night. His needs are so simple. He’s either tired or hungry or just ill. No massive friendships dramas or schoolwork anxiety to worry about.

I like toddlers where you just start seeing their personality
7-10 when they can basically look after themselves but still like you
I have a 17yo and love talking politics/world events with him too

Personally my least favourite was newborn.

Ds is 18 and I have absolutely loved the teenage years. I wouldn't say this out loud but ds is just solid gold. He's funny, level headed, a little bit shy but helpful, thoughtful, gently engaged with the world, just ridiculously clever. Also gorgeous. We lost dh when he was 14 so since then it's just the two of us and he's the easiest person in the world to live with.

Having said all that... I do occasionally miss the 18 month to 4 years but when you could say 'Let's go upstairs! Woohoo!' and they would bounce with excitement because we were going upstairs.

Whatever age they sleep right through until The Backchat Years are the best ime.

Now is always the best and the worst.