What's the hardest age?

[LittlemissMama67]

I'm curious to see what people say is the hardest age. I have 3

(8)(2.5)and 4 months.

for me I'd say 3 was pretty rough. But I'm curious what others think.

Yes, that about sums it up! There are glimpses of their old delightful selves and glimpses of the lovely adults they will become, but honestly, in general, we’ve found ages 14 to 18 years to be pretty hellish. Much better now though!

15/16 - they think they know everything and that you know nothing at all. You lose control and knowledge of what they’re doing and who they’re doing it with. You can watch them making mistakes but are fairly helpless to do anything about it.

Young children are physically tiring. Teenagers are mentally tiring.
Young adults are very mentally tiring as they don't want your advice but will want you to pick up the pieces when issues arise because they didn't listen to you!
It all does depend on the individual child (and parent) my sen dc are much harder to parent than my nt dc. My nt child has been a breeze. But sen brings along lots of different challenges that make parenting harder. I burst into tears last week when the consultant said to me your going to have to be that parent and stamp your feet at school, with the nhs and with social care I said I've been doing it for 18 years not sure I can do it any longer so probably as well as stage there's also accumulative time parenting which will have a knock on effect to how you manage parenting (3 teens is alot of accumulative parenting!)

Teenager - in m case not because of her behaviour but because of the behaviour of the kids at her school.
When she was little I could protect her.

Teens definitely. I'm just about out the other side now (youngest is 19, others are 21 and 23) and young adulthood is delightful! I mean, you're still the bank of mum and dad but at least they say thank you!

I would agree on Teenagers

12 but gearing up for worse 😞

I have teens and it is so unpredictable whether it will be a good or bad day/week/month/year.

I think all parents should get a sabbatical every 5 years. Your kid goes to PGL for a year and you get to live without worrying about them. That would make teen years easier. I am knackered but a lot is from cumulative worry rather than anything specific.

Urgh, is that you Mum?? 😂haha

I have - 3 yr & 21 months.

2 was really shit. Feeling it starting to happen now. Not sure when it got easier. By 3.5 is pretty good.

14yrs for girls and 15yrs for boys.

This is an unquestionable fact 😂

17.5 noooooo I though I'd be through this at 16.5

Teenagers, the only time I can actually say I've felt real dislike towards my own child, it's awful to admit but he's just really unlikable.

3 is f##k all. Wait till they are teenagers

Definitely teens

The moaning
The eating
The bad habits
The grunts
The not telling you who friends are
The drinking
The picking up at 2 in the morning.
The mate drama
Boyfriends girlfriends
Sex
Porn
Drug's potential
School
Life
School refusal
Not revising
Failing potential
Next choices
Mental health.

It's a minefield and I'm a naturally optimistic person who is now on antidepressants due to the stress.

I'd say 0-3 was hard due to being sleep deprived, having PND and adjusting to parenthood. If I'd had a child that slept I might have felt differently.

13-16ish also hard as your child rejects you and your ability to do anything (not just in their eyes) is restricted. But part of this stage is letting go and realising it's not your responsibility to solve every problem any more.

I know this is an old thread, and I'm sorry for resurrecting it but I can't tell you how thankful I am for your post. I, daily/nightly, Google whether life is worth living because of this "what is the worst age" stage of parenting. Funnily enough I was googling the same shit 16 years ago, which did actually end my first marriage (recently realised that the guilt isn't warranted and it was the only perk of birthing a child who was determined to make me pay for his dissatisfaction of being created). I regularly beat myself up for feeling these horrible non fluffy thoughts about my kids, to such severe degrees where I can't cope with the thoughts eating away at me, but hearing others go through the same shit literally helps keep me alive. Nothing will ever beat the feelings i felt with a newborn to age 2.5yr old who cried 24/7, but that same kid has peaked again to a marginally lesser extent between the ages of 15 to currently 16.5 and my GOD some of these children are really put on this earth to test you as a person. Which isn't ideal when you're a bit mentally fucked up yourself.

Basically, for some maybe slightly unhinged people with "testing" children, the ages of 0-2.5 and the ages of 15-17 (17 tbc please god) are the hardest for having bits. The years inbetween may be challenging, but might not be leaving you feeling like you need to leave this earth to cope.

Depends on what you find tough

Ds was extremely energetic at aged 3

Ds was moody and wouldn't walk at aged 3

We are currently in the golden ages of 8-11

God help the teenage years

Babies.
I don't do well when sleep deprived.

Teens are a dream.

But, as has already been said - so much depends on the individual child.
Also, it depends on what else is going on in your life.

We were skint when ours were babies. Life is easier when you are a bit more comfortable financially.
Lots of people will struggle when they are looking after elderly parents, as well as working, and looking after their own dc. So extra pressures like that make life trickier.

Teens but I loved the baby and toddler stage and didn’t find it hard

Without a doubt toddlers. Teenage years going well so far (half way through…..).

3-9 months due to lack of sleep

Constantly having to watch them is wearing great when they can do some independent play.

3-11 the golden years

13-15 say no more. But is child dependent to be fair. Worst issues at this age for us have been with other people’s vile offspring.

Can’t comment beyond 18.

Depends on the child and what you as a parent find stressful. I hated the newborn stage and lack of sleep. The toddler stage was very trying and could be frustrating. Primary age generally pretty good. Teenage horrendous for the worry and stress. My DC are autistic with mental health difficulties which have made this age very challenging for our family. At least when they are young you are much more in control and can protect them more.

I've found it easier at every step as they get older. I really don't do well on little sleep and I find DC more interesting the more you can communicate with them. There are ups and downs but not clustered at any one age. I have read that only children don't rebel as much as teens but he also had a great set of friends.

Teenagers definitely

I have a teenager and even though he isn’t super-easy in every way, I would still say that I found the age around 15-20 months by far the hardest.

agree with those saying that 5-10 is the golden age!