What age has been the hardest and the easiest ?

[kevanjosh]

And why?

For me, anything between 0 and 6 months. Was the hardest. Although the potato stage has its benefits (no defiance, power struggles, tantrums, relatively immobile), the lack of sleep obliterated my mental health.

My oldest is only 2y9m but I’d say so far between 1y and 1 and a half has been pretty fun

Hardest probably the first year for me..
of course parenting is inherently hard and I think it kind of should be - but I’ve basically been blissed out on motherhood since then (but mine are both still under ten!)
I can FULLY imagine the teenage years being the hardest by a long long shot.. the hormones, learning to let go of them, the inevitable risk they will invite into their lives.. I was moved by the poster earlier saying you’d rather they were howling in bed next to you keeping you awake then out in the dark alone.

I’m late to this one, but my daughter go significantly easier once she turned 3, she’s nearly 5 now and is a pleasure to be around. She had her hard moments but all in all it’s enjoyable.
My son is nearly 2 and the last 6 months have been wild. I definitely think 18 months to around 2.5 years is the hardest, SO far.
yet to comment on any older ages

DD22 - Aged 1-3 were hardest

DS20 - Aged 14-16 were hardest

DS16 - Aged 11-12 were hardest

DD11 - not yet had a tricky stage.