Are the teenage years REALLY worse than the toddler years?

[itmustbewineoclock]

Really....really. People with teens keep on doing the shaking head knowingly thing when I talk about how hard toddlers can be. My theory is that they have forgotten as it's so long ago.

[alysonpeaches]

Of course its dependent on the individuals, but as I am raising my grandchildren, I have to admit that toddlers are the hardest physically, especially when they dont sleep well. I actually had a life when I had teenagers. I could have a night out when I wanted. I could have an afternoon kip when I wanted. I could send one of them to the shop or ask them for the odd bit of help (OK so they didnt do much). The house wasnt constantly untidy, smelly and full of plastic crap either. I didnt have to fasten them into their car seats or take them to nursery and school or fetch them back. They made their own drinks and snacks and bathed and dressed themselves.

I admit that one of my two teenagers gave me sleepless nights sometimes with worry, but so do the toddlers in more ways than one.

However, Im not looking forward to having 4 hormonal teenagers in the house, especially when the 3 girls hit puberty.

[Goblinchild]

Love my two teens, I'd happily houseshare with them by choice.
I found toddlers much harder, and mine are now big enough to survive most scrapes without needing all that helicopter parenting.
Physically they are bigger, but their toys and stuff take up so much less space, And the colours are more muted.
Their friends are lovely as well. So it's a vote for teens here.

[GirlWiththeMouseyHair]

I am seriously appreciating my easy 18mo before he turns into a difficult toddler and/or teenager after reading this thread, and am reconsidering having any more children

DON'T GROW UP
(sobs)

[MrsForgetful]

YESSSSSSSS!!!!!

Oh YESSSSSS!!!!

I'd give ANYTHING to go back and appreciate my 3 sons early years...rather than wish every day away.

[NotanOtter]

my thoughts exactly itmustbewineoclock!

[itmustbewineoclock]

dolphin13 - I have 3 of them! ( DD's) Right, I'm off to a Kibbutz. ( Do they still exist?)
Notans otter - do you actually have 6 kids? 3 toddlers and 3 teens - you need some serious TLC. Or medication.
Minda I think you've probably summed it all up.

[NotanOtter]

just to clarify - my first teen (now 17.5) a doddle

the next two 15 and 13 ...... I have been known to hide when i hear them coming home from school !

[NotanOtter]

thescondcoming - chill it will be fine!

[NotanOtter]

it must be winoclock

oooh no no no

I have three teens

i have three babs 7,4,1

teens are ten times harder - seriously - they mess with your head.

[Ivykaty44]

Oooooooooh yes I had such an adorable well behaved delightful child before year 7 and now....she is nearly 18 and a nightmare.

Seriously I have had more sleepless night this end than the other, that is the truth....

[dolphin13]

oh god a million times yes.
In my experience girls are the worst as well.

D

[unietoonie]

I agree teens are a total nightmare made worse by them being girls I had 4 teenage girls in the house and then to add to that a son who was really good as a toddler and a great guy to have about as a teenager so take your own deduction from this to many hormones....

[waterdogpuppy]

Having three boys I am being prepared for being eaten out of house and home, as well as strops and smelly trainers when we reach the teenage years.

However, surely nothing can compare to having three children age 4, 2 and newborn (none at school) with the demands of breastfeeding, two children in nappies plus eczema and reflux to deal with! Teenagers may be up in the evening, but at least you can go to bed yourself and not get woken up by the baby needing a feed or a toddler coming into your bed.

[TheArsenicCupCake]

Very interesting question op.

Both are:

funny
fun to be with
stroppy
finding out where the boundries are and pshing lie hell
gaining independance

toddlers sleep at a better time leaving adult time in the evening, though may wake up in the night

teens pee on the thought of a reasonable bedtime but will then sleep till midday, but you still loose sleep if they are out with friends incase they do something really stupid

teen risks are much much higher but teens are very cool beings

[drloves8]

congratulations thesecondcoming !

[drloves8]

TEENAGERS ARE WORSE !
toddlers have temper tantrums - you pick them up and put them ina quiet place to calm down.
Teenagers have temper tantrums -they run out of the front door and stay out until god knows when and ignore your calls and txts then phone you at stupid o clock to come and get them, then tell you they have lost their keys so you have to take the following day off work to get the locks changed.
Toddlers come home from parties covered in chocolate and excited.
teenagers come home from parties drunk.
pity there isnt a fast forward button on kids , then we could just skip the difficult bits !

[DeborahDevonshire]

Agree with Quattro - I really am loving my dd being a teen.

There is no tedium like there was when she was younger.

I also don't have masses of bad behaviour - just a bit of stroppiness, but nothing severe. She is certainly not defiant.

The only thing that gets up my nose is her untidiness, but I have learnt to just count to 10 at the state of her room, and just make her gut it weekly.

You DO need to be there more emotionally. Ity was easier in one respect when she was younger. Now she has moments of self analysis and self doubt, and I need to give more advice.

One major downside - teenagers are VERY expensive.

But I wouldn't go back to when she was 2, dear god no.

[mumblechum]

I know, Orm, ds can not only pick me up he can pick his (rather chunky) dad up as well!

[OrmRenewed]

The difference between the two is whilst toddlers are hard work they never say 'I hate you, I wish I'd never been born' so at least you feel appreciated. Mind you no-one has said that to me....yet. But I seem to remember saying it a few times when I was a lass

I like teenagers by and large but from my experience with the children of friends they are very trying, expensive and can be just as unreasonable as toddlers. And you can't grab them and carry them up to bed.