Which age of parenting was hardest for you?

[tulipsandteacups]

Interested to know... and why?

Newborn, because of the recovery from childbirth and the interrupted sleep. It's been fine since tbh (they are 15 and 18 now)!

She's just turned three and it got better and better from 9 months when her sleep improved and her beautiful character emerged 🥰

18 months to 4 years old by a country mile

Teens. So hard and emotional. Complete minefield.

O-3

Just got easier the older she got. She's an adult now.

I would say 2-3 but I'm really worried about the teenage years to come

Have an 18 year old, loving the teen years. 0-2 was the hardest by a million miles, 2-3 was next hardest.

If it helps I honestly think we just all find different things hard. So it's not like it's just a hellish conveyor belt from one awful age to the next!

I would do all the ages other people have mentioned over 3-4 times in order to avoid the bit I didn't like! And some like 1.5 - 3 and (early) teens have been my absolute favourite bits so far!

However honestly it is easier doing it the second time around. I've learned how to handle it a bit better :D

Almost teenage

Y8-9 boys 😡🤯🤦🏼‍♀️ (12-14-ish)

I'm not a teacher but I'm sure they'll know what I'm talking about. I think it's the hormones but... just so aggressive and annoying and immature and show-offy. Ds is in Y10 now (just 15) and has improved dramatically.

1-2.5years. Gives me the shudders😂

I'd say from birth to 17 was the hardest part

Would generally say 1-3 and 13-17

1-3 as they need constant supervision, very accident prone, stubborn, very difficult to entertain, can sleep worse than newborns plus usually back juggling with work by then just to make it even worse

13-17 the start conflict between still being responsible for them but they’re trying to forge their own independence

I’ve had toddlers and teenagers at the same time and toddler’s definitely the easier of the 2

0-6 months is lovely, 4-12 and 18+

Agree, age 14 😩

The baby/toddler years, definitely! DD1 never slept through the night until she was 5! 🙄

My dd is 17yo and the hardest age by a mile has been 13-17.

The teenage years have blown all the other stages out of the water and my dd was not an easy baby!!

14 yo DS. Most stressed I have been in my life; it’s relentless

those who are saying baby stage, would be really interested to know if you’ve had a 14 yo boy …

I have 3 age 12-17 and for me the hardest was 0-4 months on the first. Horrendous constant crying and we had no idea what to do. He's a fab 17 year old now though.

Second worse - 13-14 year old girl.

Third worst 14 year old boy - hardly spoke for a whole year during covid.

Newborn - the first few months. Mainly just the sleep deprivation, the colicky crying, etc. That was a baptism of fire, makes everything since feel like a walk in the park.

That said, I don't have teens yet!

Depends on the child.

DD1 - every single stage

DD2 - not yet been challenging

16-18.. Dealing with usual teenage emotions, Breakups/friendship changes turning 18 all in the middle of a lockdown and halfway through a four year apprenticeship that he was continuously worrying about losing due to covid. (It didn't thank god.)
I miss the days of having a cute little 2 year old but am probably remembering it with rose tinted glasses.

One of each, teenage years went fine, 0-3 not so much.

Teenagers/pre teens. Although the nurse giving me my covid jab yesterday cheerfully told me that it's worse when your dc start having dc of their own. My dc1 is 17 so I've got all that to come.

I think it's all hard, parenting ends around age 25 still some way to go.

8-12 was lovely though