Do younger parents have more energy?

[nikos]

O.K. I know there might seem to be an obvious answer to this. But I was chatting to a retired lady yesterday and she was criticizing her DIL for having children late in life (don't think she realised how old I was ) and saying she had children in her early 20's and she had so much more energy.
I've always wondered though - how does this extra energy translate into how you are as a parent. I can't think what more I would do with my children if I had them younger. Perhaps I wouldn't feel tired at the end of the day, but does anyone with young children NOT feel tired.
Would love to hear views on this. Any young mums want to comment?

I suspect this lady is looking back with rose-tinted glasses. I've blanked out much of the newborn sleep deprivation memories - doesn't mean I wasn't knackered at the time.

I had dd a month before my 21st and was, and have been since, bl**dy knackered! Don't think you can generalise like that - I'm trying to juggle being a single parent with studying for a degree and the normal 'stuff of life' - if I had less to do in my life, whatever age, I'd be less tired. Some people leave it later so that they get other things out of the way first.

Think it has far more to do with your life and how much you have to do with the energy you've got than your age - if her DIL can cope well then good luck to her.

Blimey, I hope so - I'd hate to think of someone in their 20s feeling as tired as I do!

Seriously though, I have noticeably less energy than when I was in my 20s (I think you are more physically resilient then) but I have more patience now, and have learned how to be a bit more sparing in how I use my physical energy.

I had my dcs at 34 and 37 respectively and have loads of energy. Far more than my 20 year old aupair.

I had dd at 43. I'm sure I had more energy at 23! But does that mean I would have been a better parent? I really don't think so. There are downsides to having children this late. But - there you go. It's all swings and roundabouts.

i am 23 and have 3dc - and i am tired!!!

I think I'm posing the question because I had three children in my late 30's and I can't imagine how I would be a different parent with more energy as we do loads of things as it is. Just interested in what having more energy would mean in day to day parenting.

For example, when my children are in bed I sit down and don't get up again. If I was in my 20's would I have the energy to get up and start tidying the house for example.

but if you had lots of energy you might want to go clubbing all night instead of having a night in, watching TV and looking after your children

Possibly. They can't possibly have less than I do

i had my children fairly young (21 and 24) and i am permenantly knackered

martianbishop

Don't know about younger mums having more energy but I do think older mums have more patience.

I had dd1 at 19 & dd2 at 21 (although there's only a 15 month age gap between them). I then had dd3 at 32 & ds at 33 (20 month age gap) & generally have far more patience with them that I did with their big sisters at the same age.

I also quite happily sing to dd3 & ds to keep them amused whether we're on the bus or going round the supermarket whereas I didn't do nursery rhymes even at home with dd1 & dd2 'cos I was too embarrassed to (sad but true).

I was a pillock when I was younger

I'm a young parent, and I may have more energy than someone ten years older, but that doesn't mean I actually use it up on parenting!

shit a brick, If older mums have more patience, I hate to think what I'd have been like as a younger mum. I'm tetchy enough as an older one!

tetchy and permanently knackered, that's me

I have an abundance of patience though, some people are more patient than others regardless of age, just like some people have more energy levels than others regardless of age.

I suppose it boils down to each individual and how they would cope as a younger parent or an older parent.

I don't think I had all that much energy when I was young come to think of it....

Seriously though I seem to remember sleeping a lot when I was younger. You know, massive lie ins at the weekend and afternoon sleeps to catch up on the night before.

I was a right slacker in my youth
Now I am a whirling multitasking dynamo of efficiency
So yes I guess I had more energy 20 years ago, but I use what I have now much more effectively
(WOTH f/t Monday-Friday. Today I ironed, washed two lots of clothes, assembled 14 activity packs, escorted 12 children and several adults across London by foot to educational fair at the British Museum, chased two small boys round said museum, looked after 14 x snacks, hoodies. clipboards etc and then herded them all home again. Tonight will make soup, sew on Cub badge, turn up trousers and then DRINK WINE)
20 years ago I would not have had the confidence to organise the outing nor the nous to put the washing on first...

Good grief Marina, just reading your post is enough to make me feel like having a lie down!

I do agree re the confidence and organisation aspect though (for me)

No, it's down to who you are. I'm a couch potator at the best of times and I never have any energy and I had my first at 20. I know Mums in their 40's who have more energy than me, and Mums in their 40's who have the same lack of energy as me..
Now I'm older I'm more organised and efficient and I know to allow myself to rest plenty, whereas when I was young I thought I had to prove something just because I was a young Mum.

by the time i had 2 kids i was only 21 and was full of energy with the next 2 i was 28 and 29 not so much energy but had time to enjoy them more

i'm 24, had dd before my 21st and ds 18 months later.

am BLOODY KNACKERED!

that women who had a baby at 63 is probably more energetic than i am pmsl

have always been lazy and unenergetic, if anything i'm getting better with age not worse