Do you miss your children being little?

[Sarahjane789]

Do you think about your adult children now and really wish you could turn back time to when they were small and cute? Or are you happy that that part of your life is over?

The waves of nostalgia I feel when I think of my two boys who have left home even when not looking at old photos. If only I could go back in time and have one day with them when they were little.Strangely enough recently I have dreamt about them being little again, waking up is a bitter sweet moment.

I couldn’t enjoy the time when they were little as was with their abusive dad.. would love to have had that time replacing him with my lovely dh.. their now step dad.

When I became a granny at 50 , my youngest was still at school .... then number 2 and 3 grandchildren came along...so I went from doing stuff with my kids to doing stuff with my grandkids....right now my 6 year old granddaughter is tucked up in bed next to me ....just like her mum used to do...BUT tomorrow I will hand her back and my times my own again .....and my house tidy again....
ts the circle of life.....

Sounds idyllic. Look forward to that one day.

Everyday . Especially this time of year . I was helping out with Santa sleigh and I saw a little boy who looked so much like my son when he was small . He was wearing pjs with feet in and my heart cried . Unfortunately they grow but think if it this way . They grow up and you will always have them but this time they bring alcohol and they pay for dinner . Be ok when grandchildren come along . Life is just slightly different xx

Not at all. I love being able to work and have my own life now.

But if I could travel back in time for an hour and cuddle their warm soft little children bodies, I’d do it in a shot.

Only an hour, mind….

Occasionally, yes. Obviously photos and such things as seeing small children doing a nativity can make me wistful but I had 4 under 7 years old at one point and my dh was often away and it was hard work! I do wish my adult children were a little more fun and wanted to join in more, as they did when they were children, but I wouldn't particularly want to go through that stage of parenthood again.

Loved them when they were little, loved each stage (even the rebellious times), love them now. Now get the baby/toddler stage again only this time as gran.

Mine are still young, my youngest is 2. I know that I am going to miss this stage in my life so much. My children bring me so much joy. I just love our days together. The snuggles and giggles. Watching them play and laugh together. I feel sad that I probably won’t ever have another baby. I hope my life won’t feel empty when they grow up and leave home.

I get picture reminders from x years ago today. Just this morning I was thinking how shattered I look. So no, I don't!!

I miss it so much! I know it's easier now they do their own things now (the youngest are tweens) but I miss scooping them up and making them giggle. I miss their innocence.

Yes! Sometimes it's almost like a craving, I don't want to relive the years and I love the people they are now just as much, but I'd love the opportunity to go back and be with them for a while again.

Ah gosh, I love the honesty. I feel so anxious now. I already know I will miss it dreadfully. Is it all consuming, like grief? Or do you only miss it with flashes (like seeing a photo etc).

A picture of my dd ageed 8 popped up on the phone photo memories.

Her little front teeth were still growing. I wish she was that age now.😔

Teens are hard work

Even miss the daft things, tidying up toys, dh chasing them around giggling and laughing, general noise and untidiness. Arguments and silly questions. Even miss them singing in the car (drove me nuts at the time).

I would love to go back to that time, but with their incredible stepdad with us instead of their abusive dad.

I miss their unquestioned love and lack of judgement.

It never goes away entirely I've learnt. As much as empty nest hit me hard last year, they're still your babies, just bigger lol. I had a lovely moment last week which took me back years..., just before dropping ds back to university, he cuddled up next to me and then fell asleep with his head on my lap. I couldn't move, this tall strapping, bearded young man, softly snoring away on top of me. I felt so emosh and full of love and gratitude for this boy, who is still my baby, still the same boy he always was. Despite their adult size, I'm lucky they all still love a cuddle, it just happens alot less due to logistics and distance.

Yes. Christmas isn't the same and the worries are greater when you don't have control over where they are or their actions
But the freedom is wonderful , also the relationship shifts and you gain friends Instead of children. It's nice

Every now and then, for a few moments. What I'd like is the impossible - to go back and see what they were like at 2, 4, 8, 12 - whatever. You forget, no matter how much you think you won't.

But generally speaking I am content with the freedoms I take for granted now that I have older children. I was just thinking the other day when I went to Zumba that there was a time when I would have had to negotiate this one hour a week with DH or find childcare to do it. That seems like a massive ball-ache now!

Im 😭😭 at this and mine are only 2 and 3.

I would literally give my life to go back.

Mine are 18 and 19, so not entirely left home yet but not "little" either. No, I don't miss it at all really! I find them more interesting and enjoyable company now most of the time. And really, really enjoy my freedom.

I wish i could live my life an loop from late pregnancy to dd being 6... Whereas I would very happily skip exactly those years!
I have two children and would have quite liked more older/teen/adult children. And would happily be pregnant again. But not the 0-6!!!

I would do it all again if I could. Happy days, but exhausting & demanding too of course. Mine are 20 and nearly 19 now.

I miss the primary school years, they were wonderful. I wouldn’t want the baby, toddler, teen stages again but I wouldn’t mind a nostalgic trip back to the primary school years, they were the most lovely and uncomplicated stage. But not permanently - having adult children is great too and DH enjoy being the two of us again.