Most difficult age to parent

[bomi]

What is the most difficult age to parent?

My kids are 4 & 6, and I would probably say anything before aged 3 was pretty difficult, but 4-6 is waaaay easier.

I read online that ages 8 is particularly difficult but I just can't imagine it?

What age did you find the most difficult?

Definitely towards the end of age 2, turning 3. My daughter was so defiant! She's approaching 5 now and although behaviour has very much improved, she's a determined little soul. Very much an 'easy' baby in terms of babies. My son in now 15 months and following the 'easy' route so far. Pray for me next year 🤞🏼

0 to around 10 months was very hard and now teens is very very very hard, but that is because there are MH issues at play.

I found everything else in between pretty wonderful! Once we were out of the baby phase I can't remeber any particular age being harder than another, it's more down to personality I think.

My DD has been easy the whole 17 years tbh.

My son is 12 and a different kettle of fish, although good on the whole. I have found 10-12 hard with him, but we are similar personality wise, so it's just that. He's less mature than his sister was at the same age so I worry about him being out with friends etc in a way I never did with her.

Late 20s

Age 16-17. I have 2 DS and they were pretty laid back and delightful until suddenly they knew everything, I knew nothing, and they wanted to be treated as adults and yet did not take responsibility for schoolwork, keeping a diary, communicating, picking pants off floor etc. Exhausting. But at 19 DS 1 is really lovely (helps that he's now at uni and we actually miss each other so we try not to fall out when he's home) and Ds 2 at 17 is .... getting there.
All this probably happens a bit earlier and is possibly more painful with girls!
OP, 8 is a lovely age, don't worry!

DS always easy
DDs a walk in the park until 14

So far 13. Those early years seem decidedly pleasant looking back.

Mine are now 19 16 and 12. Far hardest were 1 to 3.5 by a huge margin.

30

18+ because I miss her so much when she isn't here!

Agree - 20-30 when they are still finding their feet in relationships, work and property.

The late teenage years for us. Any issues tend to be bigger, potentially life changing ones (especially re: education) and as they’re older you have less control and ability to fix things for them. Between 17 and 19 I genuinely think that DD caused me more stress than she had in her entire life before that

Pre teen is by far the most testing for mine so far.

Out of all the years, age 14-17 have been the worst as this is where your power wanes, and they bloody know it!

Hopefully coming out of the other side now.

Newborn. Probably because of PND. It's been mostly wonderful ever since. She's only 3 so who knows what's in store!

14 onwards. And he’s only 15. Up until then: absolute walk in the park in retrospect (not that I realised it at the time)

DD 13 generally easy so far. The baby and toddler years were the hardest just because it’s a bit relentless looking after young children.
DS 10 hardest as a toddler pretty easy now. Not quite as easy as his sister though.

Teenage years can be HARD. Made the hard slog of raising them as babies and toddlers feel like an easy walk in the park...

Mine are 18, 16 and 13 but I think definitely 0-3. It’s just so relentless! Although the teen years can be emotionally hard. I still wouldn’t swap.

5-10 was a lovely time and they are cute and fun and still giggle lots. But I love chats with my older boys in the kitchen now and we have a different kind of laugh together.

So far 12-14! But my eldest is 14 so sure there is more to come
The hardest part of younger children is meeting the practical needs and when they get older it's about supporting them through their emotional needs and that is tough

Mine are 11 &13 and lovely, preschool years hardest here.

Broadly, I found 0-1 really easy, both times, possibly because I was on mat leave, so not having to juggle work as well as parenting. Best time of my life tbh.

Toddler years were tough and tiring, but full of fun and very rewarding.

4-13 were a dream.

13-17 were the hardest, by a county mile. Interspersed with real loveliness, but my God, the stakes are so high if it all goes wrong at this age.

18/19 onwards, they're absolutely delightful, and my reward for making through the teenage years!

0-3 was the hardest for me

Different for everyone surely? Most people say the baby / toddler ages was the hardest but I loved them! Definitely found mine harder now they are older

Preschool because of lack of sleep and the normal tantrums. The easiest and most enjoyable was their teenage years but then it was an age group I was most comfortable with as a secondary teacher. They were sensibly making their own way in life and I loved every minute of it.