What’s your favourite stage/age of parenting?

[Heyehg]

I have a 1yo DS. He doesn’t walk yet (lots of standing some hand held steps) he’s reached the phase of “I will spend my whole day trying to put myself in danger” lol. For someone who doesn’t walk he sure is everywhere!
he doesn’t sleep through yet

i feel bad saying it, I am looking forward to him being a bit older so he’s walking/toddling and hopefully sleeping longer stretches haha! I love this stage he’s at he’s really such a character I just can’t wait to see it more and more

hes my first and currently only child so I just wonder what’s everyone’s favourite stage/ages so far I don’t have anything to compare to :)

I like 18 months - 3 years. That's my absolute favourite.

@NuffSaidSam Yea I’m excited for when he’s a bit more sturdy hopefully 18 months!! And his personality shines through more

5-8 is amazing! Independent enough to be left to play alone for a bit and go on more interesting outings, intelligent conversation but still loving and snuggly!

My daughter is 3.5 and I love this age. She walks everywhere so no need for a pram, is a fantastic talker and amazes me every day (yesterday she was telling me rhyming couplets she had learnt at preschool) she's toilet trained and reliably sleeps 12 hours straight through.

I have found 8 and 9 absolutely incredible! (So far!!)

And the toys are quieter 🤣

My son is nearly 6 now and this is my favourite age so far. He is very funny and we can sit and chat for hours and go on nice day trips at weekends easily. I was not a big fan of the baby/toddler stage.

Mine are 34 and 25 and it’s so much easier now 🤣

Probably the first year, especially the first couple of months. Best time of my life ever.

Wait till they get divorced 😂

And 8-10 years olds are brilliant!

Every stage I've got to has been "the best so far". DS is 7 now and I love how he's got his own personality and opinions and seems so grown up at times and then at others he curls up in my lap for cuddles and it's almost like having a (huge) toddler again.

It's lovely to see the person they'll end up being emerging at each stage and I like the person he's becoming.

All those early years.

She's 9 and I'm just failing so much now and can't see how it's going to get better 😓

Mine are now 7 and 9 and I'm loving their ages now. They're more chilled, I'm really liking that we can have more intelligent conversations, we find more of the same things funny and they can understand sarcasm, find more things to watch we can all enjoy and go on nice trips. They still love cuddles aswell.

I also wasn't a fan of the baby toddler stage. It's really exciting watching them grow up.

18months -3 years also. He was vocal, mobile and would sleep better once I weaned him from breast milk. Life became so much easier then. And no more nappies joyous joys! I do think it varies though as I despised the newborn phase with him, it wasn't easy at all. Now with baby no.2 I love the newborn phase, he's an absolute dream baby. So I think it'll probably be different with each child.

I seem to think I like each stage more the older DD 2.5 gets. Although I love and pine over her baby photos, I think it was easier when you wanted to start walking.

When he bought his own home and moved out 🤣.

I feel less guilty for looking forward to the future a bit more now!

ive felt guilt like I need to cherish him as he’ll never be this little again

but I am looking forward to like I say more steady walking, being able to do more with him, more sleep and also I can’t wait until naps are optional and I don’t need to schedule my day round his nap so he has the perfectly timed on and isn’t cranky bechade we’ve missed it or shuffled it!

I 100% get what you mean about the "guilt", I felt that too. Although we obviously love our children, parenting is no easy feat! There's no shame in looking forward to an "easier" stage.

Other than newborn, I enjoyed every stage, although 12-15 was very trying at times. I loved the toddler years and randomly 9 was a great age, although one of my least favourite ages to teach.

it is crazy like I do love the age he’s at now but like I say, naps not being obligatory and determining most of the day, walking more steadily (and less falling which has my heart in my arse !!!) and him being able to show love more :) I’m excited

he does show love now but I really can’t wait to hear the words mummy I love you and hold hands going on a walk!

I think all of it up to now! I loved the newborn/baby stage because he was such a good sleeper/eater etc that he was never really any bother.

Hes 12 this year and He's always been a well behaved kid too but I am finding things getting increasingly different and 'difficult'. Again, not because he misbehaves because he doesn't, he's no trouble at all. But he's changing, he has quiet moods now, where I think there is something bothering him and I get concerned about him, but I think really it's just him getting older and becoming more emotionally independent and I hate it! We still talk about everything, no topic is off limits and he's not awkward in any way. He's just different and he's no longer a young boy!

Teens.

My nearly 4 year old is at his easiest age right now . He’s my oldest so I’m a bit limited with ages .

I also have a two year old and he’s exhausting! My oldest was exhausting at two as well. TWO is though !!!

Personally I find the baby stage the hardest overall but weirdly also a favourite stage too! They nap a lot though which is nice hahaha!

Aged one was the worst time! Got better around 15 months then the joy came back

DS is only 3, but the toddler years, 18 months to now, have been amazing. It’s obviously changed
in that time - 18 month olds are exceptionally cute and mine was generally quite amenable. He’s become less amenable 2 onwards, but equally he’s really funny, a lot more independent, still deliciously cute and he SLEEPS!

Worst would probably be where you are now or
newborn. If I had to pick I’d say circa age 1 though. So much frustration from DS, so much food throwing, so little sleep. That not quite a toddler but not quite a baby stage is so tricky!

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