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?

The first year, particularly the first few months.
They can't tell you what they want / need, but, mostly the sleep deprivation.

When I get enough sleep, I can cope with most things, but when sleep deprived everything is so much more of a challenge.

In order of worst to best

13-15
16-18
2-3
10-12
0-1
4-6
7-9

That's after 3 children

Agree with this^
You can’t control them as babies and their issues are much bigger.
Yes, toddlers are difficult physically but teens are so exhausting emotionally and financially.

The early years are relentless and tiring but the late teen years are emotionally the hardest. You are trying to guide them through bigger decisions that you can't make for them, with bigger consequences and often when they think they don't need you anyway. My teens are amazing and I prefer this age to when they were younger but some days it would be nice to go back to being able to fix their problems.

I found 8 months to 3 years very challenging because it’s 24/7 parenting and very exhausting. But none of mine are teenagers yet. I can only imagine that these will be the most challenging years as you have less influence and they could potentially feck up their lives,

Teenagers. Hands down.
Neither went off the rails (in fact my DD is pretty much a model child) but my son had a disastrous pandemic. I was widowed when they were small and even getting through that with them doesn't compare.
They are becoming adults, have their own minds, experiencing huge hormonal changes, dealing with exam pressures, first sexual experiences, break ups, friendship trauma, forays into drinking and maybe drugs, constant 'what are your future plans' questions when they have no clue.. the psychological stress of parenting a teen is huge (when you get that shaky phone call from one of them or one of their friends that they've been in an accident/mugged/passed out - never forget it).
Primary school age was a breeze in comparison and babyhood was only physically tiring.

i think I was very lucky with my newborns and I found the baby stage so easy. As long as they were fed, loved and clean they were happy. I miss the days when a boob solved everything.

1-2 ish was hard for us - not necessarily because of the developmental stage (loved that) but because of the whole catching every fucking bug going and trying to balance that with working etc.

we never had terrible two’s - but threenagers were a thing. But they are so cute, i wouldn’t say it was really hard.

6 years olds are very annoying IMO!

i would say the teenage years are the most difficult we’ve experienced. They need you so much - but all they want is for you to leave them alone! Relationships become so much more complex and pressures of exams and stuff are hard to navigate. And hormones of course!

and then they leave home and that’s equal parts difficult and amazing too!

I think it very much depends on the child and what’s going on in your life in general.

DC1, all different kinds of hard from birth ‐brilliant child and incredibly challenging. Now 14 and I feel I've met my nemesis. Lucky for her, she's wildly charismatic and people will forgive her anything and stay mesmerised. The last 18 months have been dark.
DC2 (11) has never said boo to a goose and always been a delight, so I'm curious as to what teens may bring...