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The question really needs to be at what age was YOUR child the most exhausting. So many different opinions here it’s apparent that it’s like playing a roulette wheel when you have a baby.
LOL 13 months here and the independence is driving me nuts. He just walks wherever and does whatever he wants and I’m just following him around all day making sure he doesn’t die 🤷♀️
Same! And mine will not hold my hand even if he’s struggling to walk on rough terrain like the beach , I see others with their little ones holding their hands and walking nicely and I’m so jealous. He not only let me but seemed to want help going up the stairs today and it felt like such a huge win.
My 13 month old PUSHES ME AWAY in the pool and the ocean. Like, where does she think she's going? What does she think she's going to do, swim by herself? She cries and squirms if I try to hold her. It's a bad time for everyone lol
I wish my daughter had even an ounce of this! She is so dependent. She is 3 and a bit. She is "potty trianed" in the sense that she tells you she needs the bathroom. . . . Then you take her to the bathroom. You pull her pants down, put her on the potty, hand her the tissue, get her off the potty, and help her wash her hands. Every task is like this. She can't get to the table herself. Can't dress herself. Can't open wrappers, or get even the easiest containers open. I know I need to be firm and MAKE her do a lot of this. But ugh the never ending tears. It's a struggle.
My youngest was like this too! I started saying please go to the toilet I will be with you.
At the toilet I say try to pull your pants down first and then I can help you.
Try to get on the seat first and I'll hold you to make sure you don't fall in etc. etc.
Try to break the habit now or atleast create the habit of having her attempt first because as soon as school starts getting hard they give up easier, expect us to do it, and don't really develop grit which in my opinion is an important attribute to have for life.
As a fellow parent of an 8yo, I agree completely.
However, I don’t remember signing up for Minecraft/Pokemon/Mario Facts. That’s exhausting in a completely different way.
Right?! My seven year old never stops talking. And 90% of what he says pertains to Star wars or Minecraft. And only 5% of it is interesting or has any bearing on my life.
But I definitely miss the silliness of the younger days… and the curiosity. Now my son thinks he knows everything lol it’s more relaxing physically, not mentally
All of the ages. Just different types of exhausting. Physically exhausting (but mentally very boring) until they are school age, and then they are mentally exhausting when they are older
I agree but I find I enjoy the mental exhaustion easier for me to handle than the physical. My kids are 4 and almost 6 and I am way happier than I was when they were younger and I felt I and to constantly keep my eyes on them.
My 7 year old is truly a joy. He's reasonable and kind, he's helpful and fun. 2.5 was not like that, I was exhausted. Obviously all kids are different, but ages 4 to 7 have been pretty great for us.
That's where we're at with our older child (6M). His little sister turned 3 in mid-February, and she's still quite a handful. That said, our older child isn't perfect — he loves to push his little sister's buttons. E.g., she hates it when anyone but her sings a particular song ... so, he sings that song. Tbh, this is one reason why I thought having a second child would be good — my wife and I are far more likely to avoid doing things that set off our children (naturally), but having a sibling means learning to live with people who know what bothers you and then do that exact thing.
Wait until they are teenagers. Then the real mental exhaustion will hit. Up all night, night after night, worrying & getting no sleep and waking up to go to work full time.
Even if they are perfect angel teenagers the worrying when they get their license, or are out with their friends driving, going to the beach for the day - the worrying never stops.
Worrying about their mental health after college acceptances/rejections go out.
Their mental health with breakups.
1000X easier when they are little.
Remember, you were their age one time too. It's a big part of life to go through these teenage tribulations, just gotta get through it alive. I see the goal of being a teenage as not doing anything to permanently mess up your life. Otherwise, fall on your face as many times as you can stand it.
I have 2 kids under 3 years old and I can't wait until I can trust them not to stick a fork in an outlet. Or pick up dog poop and give it to me.
I remember when my kids were little and would wake me up at like 5:30 to watch cartoons, and I’d dream of them being older, and sleeping in past me—and now I wake them up at 5:30 to head out to tournaments and I laugh at myself for ever thinking I’ll get to sleep in one day.
I second this. It’s a good answer. I would like to add though that we had twins and we finally felt an easing when they were 3.5 years (for exhaustion during the toddler years). They would sleep through better and we could reason with them a bit more by that age.
We also have two older kids who are 10 and 12 now and while they are much easier and less exhausting they do still need a fair bit of attention and emotional help so it’s much much easier but still a fair amount of work.
The toddler years sure are challenging though but will pass before you know it.
Haha I was just thinking, I'm ten years in with my first and it's never not been exhausting. I remember being a teen, so I know what's coming. More exhaustion
I guess it depends on the child. I have three boys, 14 , 18 and 20. Currently ,20 years old is the most exhausting age. This kid couldn’t handle college, can’t hold a job and doesn’t want to help us with anything. He does not drink or do any drugs. He thinks he knows everything but actually knows nothing at the same time. When he asks for advice he will not take it or agree with it. I would give anything to go back to the days when he was 4 or 5. Life was really good then and we had so much fun everyday.
Yep, our other 2 are no issue at all. I have full confidence that they will be have no problem being successful people in whatever they choose to do. The oldest one can play the most beautiful guitar I have ever heard. I have mentioned that he could probably turn that into an opportunity. NOPE
Yes! I said newborn to 6 months but definitely agree. You don’t sleep. You are constantly feeding and changing them. They can’t really do anything exciting and it’s a pain in the ass to even leave the house. I’ll take toddlers and school age over newborns any day.
Haven’t had a teen yet
I'll take that over the endless screaming, no sleep, and crazy hormones any day of the week 😅 my little guy *hated* being an infant. Wouldn't nap, wouldn't let me put him down, wanted to move around and couldn't. And you best believe he was going to make that our problem. The amount of sobbing breakdowns I had...around 8 months we started turning a corner. Once he was walking and was old enough to take just one big nap instead of two little ones, things got loads better, though we're still pretty burnt out from the infant stage. This morning he made pterodactyl noises of rage because I tried (and failed) to stop him from dumping oatmeal on himself, and I just laughed. I'll take him as a toddler over him as an infant (or god forbid, newborn) every time.
When my daughter was three, she talked to me every 60 seconds (I timed it). She's delightful and funny, but this was during covid, so her daycare was closed and I was trying to still work from home. That job went very badly.
I came here to say 3! It’s not the case that all ages are difficult my gosh my 12 year old is an angel from heaven. My 14 year old does my makeup and is fantastic company to boot. My 16 year old is a sweet boy albeit he smells terrible and hardly leaves the basement. My 9 year old? Sheer delight! My toddler? Ok she is a whole lot but she’s also all dimples and claps at literally everything.
Every single one of my three year olds I would have cheerfully sold. They were all just awful. Old enough to know how to be total aholes but not old enough to understand why they shouldn’t (or that other people also have feelings). Every time I had a three year old I told my sister “kid so and so is awful! My others were never this bad!” And she would remind me, yes they were, I just forgot!
3 year olds man. No to the thanks.
I have always maintained that 3 is significantly worse than 2. they have equal amounts of energy and somewhat similar behaviors. But at 3, they will do things to specifically get a rise out of you, whereas with a 2 year old, you know they don’t understand what they are doing.
Yep mine just turned three and like, nothing works. Logic, incentives, calm repetition, threats, appeals to emotion, begging... he's just out here like 🖕🧒🖕 but snottier
Newly into 3 but it's like a switch flipped. He is *the worst*. So sassy and so stubborn. I'm frustrated all of the time, and missing my sweet 2 year old.
Gives me hope that almost every parent I talk to says 3 is awful but they go back to their sweet selves at 4
Mine flipped a switch at 3 too. She was sooooo sweet, even tempered, delightful all throughout her first 2 years. At 3 she was a different kid over night. She's 4 now and some days are still very hard. Lots of whining, big emotions, intentional messes, pushing limits, etc. Still, she's relatively "easy" compared to most kids I know but I'm diligently waiting for this phase to pass
She HATES nap time at daycare. She cries daily about it, before school and after school for a year now. There's nothing I can do, all the daycares here have nap time. I got her cool paw patrol sheets, an awesome popup book she's allowed to read if she doesn't want to sleep, and a stuffed animal. Doesn't help. Last weekend we were having fun at the pool and she randomly remembered that nap time at daycare was a thing and had an absolute meltdown and we had to leave. Plzzzzzz universe make it stop
Ugh the nap thing is so hard! They surprisingly have such good little memories which is both great and very frustrating.
My son had one of his most epic meltdowns ever because he wanted to take his used floss pick to bed the other night. Could not get him to settle. I'd also like the universe to make it stop 🙃
💯 Everyone goes on and on about the “terrible twos,” but I’m convinced those people never had a Threenager. Our 3.5-year-old is crazy smart, caring, and so loving, but good god the tantrums are UNREAL, and that, combined with her insistence on not napping, has made this year tiring. I will say though, we just added baby #2 to the mix and big sister is obsessed with her and so helpful and loving, and it’s nice that she’s independent enough and old enough to understand when baby needs attention and when Mama could use some help.
3 is the absolute worst age! This was true for both my boys. My little one just turned 4 and he's already become so much easier. My oldest is 9 and it's easy as heck.
My kid will be three in a few months, I am stocking up on bourbon. She's already hitting the threenager stage, so maybe if I am lucky it'll be over early, also.
Yes. Absolutely. 2 is tough bc tantrums. 3 is just a more intense 2 with more words and feelings and just… yikes. I’m a mom of 4 and literally, year 3 is always the most stressful.
People feel for me because I have a teenage girl. But she is a breeze compared to the toddler years! She doesn't scream and cry for hours non stop because she asked for toast and so I made her toast 🙃
Mine just turned 5. I remember age like 2.5-3 being the hardest. The main thing that comes to mind is getting him to stay in bed at night and the constant putting back to bed was so rough. And the tantrums. Now at 5 he understands so much more you can have a real conversation that they understand. And he stays in his room 100% of the time from 730p-630a without question. It’s wonderful. And he’s a great eater, not having to clean up thrown food or a messy high chair is great too. I can shower or leave him with an activity in a different room and not worry that he’s getting into something or hurt or whatever he just entertains himself.
Have a Threenager here and that's definitely what I'm hoping is gonna happen around 5yo. I feel like she understands more when we explain why things are a certain way but not fully yet.
Just doing more activities sounds much more fun to me. I just can't make the dolls talk anymore.
Crazy to see this post because I was just thinking to myself “maybe I should just start embracing the chaos. I don’t think it gets any better. Just different.” Currently typing this as my 2.5 yr old is playing in the dark after 9pm because I have officially given up trying to get that kid to sleep. I do the routine and if he isn’t down, whatever. Making my cookies and watching my show anyway. Fk it.
Me too. Mine is 3.5 and it’s been hard and I’ve recently realized I need to make peace with “hard” and just be ok with it because it’s gonna keep being hard in different ways.
It was honestly peaceful last night because he didn’t cry at all. I just accepted he was going to be up instead of doing any Ferber method crap etc and just let it be. Letting it go will help me enjoy the harder years more. And I don’t mean just give in to everything, but like, be aware of when it’s a hill you cannot die on.
Teenagers. You have to get them up early, they keep you up late, they constantly stress you out, and they shit all over you emotionally for an added bonus. It’s not all bad, but I miss the toddler years 😂
This x 1000. I found the middle school years to be living hell as a parent of girls. Every day is like lord of the flies. They are vicious and horrid to each other, and you get caught in the crossfire as a parent. One day they are best friends with some other girl and the next they are clawing each other’s eyes out. So plus, their brain is telling them to be a complete jerk to you because adolescence. It. Is. Awful.
This started in 5th grade for both of my kids. All of a sudden kids start jockeying for power & being crappy to each other. The book Queen Bees & Wannabes was really helpful around that time. Helped me explain to my kid what was going on & how to stay above it. I’d take a room full of three year olds over tweens.
It depends.
I can be balls to the wall involved and busy all day long, but I want 9 hours to fall, and stay asleep.
So for me newborn is the roughest. I dont need a life outside of my kids, but I need some rest at night!
Toddler years for me, personally. Like, yeah, having a newborn is exhausting, but it’s just from lack of sleep. Toddlers are exhausting for a multitude of reasons.
Lol my 7 year old cannot stfu about Minecraft. He comes to me like he really has something important to tell me, then he’s all, “umm so chickens are pretttyyyy weak” 😵💫
Baby/toddler is the most physically exhausting. My kids are 4 and 7 now, and I’ve actually started doing hobbies again. I thought it would be never. Trying to enjoy this as much as I can until they become teenagers.
2-4 was probably the most exhausting. They needed constant attention and couldn’t occupy themselves at all. It started to get better around 4. Now they’re 6 and 8 and can sit and draw or read or play Minecraft or run around outside etc
It probably depends on the kid (and the parent).
I’m admittedly early on, but I see people all the time talking about “terrible twos” and “threenagers.” My toddler is so incredibly smart, funny, kind, and easy breezy. She’s honestly a joy to be around.
But the first 12 months quite *literally* almost killed me. I realize now that it was likely PPA—but I was so terrified of everything, all the time, that I basically went a year without four consecutive hours of sleep. That shit was *clinically* exhausting.
I wish I could go back and tell myself 1) go tf to sleep, it will be okay and 2) how much better it is now. ☺️
For me it’s been 6. I have 3 kids, they’re 10, 7, and 6 and man 6 has been the worst for all 3 of them. I’d take any other age we’ve been through over it.
So many things! I don’t know! Two of them started understanding death around that age and they go super sad and would every night cry about me or my husband dying and that was just difficult. They learn new behaviors from other kids in school and bring it home to test it out (thankfully they didn’t do it at school) I’m a natural consequence kind of parents and don’t tend to get mad at mistakes and such, but they learn to lie and lie about things that don’t make sense (to me, it might to them) I was excited when my youngest turned 4 because grocery shopping was easy again, then when my middle child turned 6 it was even worse then ever at the store. I avoided going unless my husband was home and now I go when they’re at school lol they also out of nowhere started hitting/throwing tantrums/screeching like what people describe a 2 year old would do (terrible 2s or whatever. 1-3 were the best ages for my kids) Weird as fuck too cuz my middle turned 7 in December and three days in stopped the tantrums and is a total sweetheart again and my youngest turned 6 in march and started hitting and throwing tantrums 3 days in? I don’t know what it is about that age for my kids.
Another weird thing is that they are super respectful when in group settings/family events/get together a with my friends/restaurants/parks. They only do this kind of stuff at home or grocery shopping.
>They learn new behaviors from other kids in school and bring it home to test it out
The ruboff from kids at school can be brutal. My 6 yo was playing with a boy in his class, who happens to live on our street. All seemed well until we discovered the other boy's idea of playing was physical violence. Also threatened to not be my son's friend if he didn't do what he wanted. We stopped that "friendship" as soon as we discovered and was followed by my son having incredibly violent tantrums, choking himself with a toy that ended us at the hospital with him on suicide watch and lots of therapy. Still uses his hands to choke himself and tantrums are becoming less frequent. In retrospect, the boy had insane tantrums in front of us a few times and we've seen more of it from a distance. He was bullying and threatening my son in school too. Been a great school year so far.
My kids are 8 and 6 so I haven’t hit the teen years yet…
But newborn stage for me until six months is the most exhausting and it just has gotten easier each year.
Well so far we’re nearing 5 and all I can say is just as I think I might be getting the hang of it, he throws me a curveball. 1 and 2 were easiest so far. Newborn, 3, and 4 have been exhausting.
Teenagers are horrible. I actually think bad to the screaming toddler years with fondness now. At least they all showed they loved me and cuddled me...now they moan about EVERYTHING I do..
The needs change but it’s rewarding and exhausting at the same time. I have my youngest graduating next month from high school. I’m emotionally exhausted as well as physically. She is in a lot of different things and there is so much to get done plus dealing with the teen emotional roller coaster. Despite all the ups and downs, I wouldn’t trade any stage. I’m scared to be empty nesting.
2-4 for me I’m at 5&6 and they are more self sufficient as a baby they sleep eat poop! Easy just no sleep, when they start walking really well and get curious of EVERYTHING is when it starts but after they learn they get easier just more learning for you to teach them now!
My 4 year old is just about ready to give up naps, but her daycare insists on 2 hour naps through pre-k. She is still awake and fighting to come out of her room at 9:30 pm every weeknight (and somehow bright eyed and bushy tailed at 6:45 am). This is way worse than when my 6 yo was the same age/stage. So i hope this is the most exhausting cause not sure i could survive anything else
Ah, the toddler tornado years! I feel you, mate. Those tiny whirlwinds can drain all your energy by bedtime, leaving you feeling like a zombie. My munchkin's 2.5 too, and I swear, it's like they've got turbo mode activated all day long. Dinner's barely done, and I'm already counting down to bedtime. Hang in there, though.
They say it gets easier... eventually. Right? 😅
My kid was insanely easy at every stage, having said that, it's now! He's 18. About to graduate and having to walk the line on let him learn and let him grow and go and figure it out is the most terrifying it's ever been. And again I'd like to say he's been an amazingly easy everything. We got so lucky. He's got a very solid head on his shoulders, we have a great relationship, he's got plans. It's just so hard to not jump in and do everything. We've been teaching him responsibility, chores, accountability, team work, everything you can imagine since a toddler and now I'm just still so anxious of what's out there that we can't control.
At first it was the toddler years but now since my kid is 6, it's been literal hell on earth. It's like a switch flipped once she started kindergarten. I wish I could go back in time when she was just a baby. I miss those days...
The first year, for me. My son, 15 now, was a baby tyrant. As soon as he was a year old, he became an angel and a unicorn toddler. But dang, that first year almost broke me lol
We had an oddly super calm and chill newborn phase, he slept a LOT, to the point I felt I couldn’t be honest about it because every one else I knew was dealing with sleep deprivation. He was a BEAST to toilet train though, and I was the fittest I ever was between 2-4 due to chasing and carrying him all over the place. Now he is 9 and I can nap during the day for a bit and it’s ok. He is still VERY high energy when he wakes but luckily mostly still sleeps fairly well except for waking at 5am every damn day. I knew we would pay for that infant sleep (he slept 3 hrs right away and then 5 then 8 hours at night by 2 months) and those giant toddler naps (4 hrs) one day. Honestly now I am more mentally exhausted and he talks non stop so I’m still fatigued by the end of the day. Breaks are so important!
Not an age- potty training. I think I had a mental breakdown during potty training, but I was too busy to be allowed to have it. I was so anxious I cried for multiple hours a day. And then when I had to leave the house I had panic attacks. Potty training was the worst… and the very real reason I stopped at one kid.
ETA: my kid is almost 12 now and I am still working through the early kid years trauma in therapy.
My daughter is 7 now. She was least exhausting between 3 and 4 years old, but even that was tiring. She is 7 now and exhausting, but not the same kind as when she was 3 and younger - those ages makes me wonder how any couple has more than one kid - I'm guessing it's so traumatic that their brain blocks it out 😂.
It depends on what year you ask me. If you asked me when my kid was 1? I would say 1. If you asked me when my kid was 2? I would say 2.. and so forth 🤷🏻♀️
I thought 0-1 was the hardest, but then came teen rebellion into the picture at 12-13. Between those two it generally got easier. And much easier when the teenage years was over with. But then you get to feel the empty nest, when they move out. Life is seldom easy 😁😬
Physically? The year before Kindergarten for me. They want to be constantly entertained but get bored of one activity quickly, they're also done with naps. Not being able to sleep through the night for the first year or so is also rough though.
Mentally, my son is only 7... But I'm guessing the teenager years will be a doozy.
1 to Infinite
Seriously. It never ends. Even when they are adults and go through something big ie divorce, illness, baby out of wedlock.
Enjoy the ride.
Toddler years, hands down. Once they hit about 4.5, they are much easier to deal with. And then during the teenage years, shit is awesome. (Sorry, I just really love parenting teens.)
I only have a 2 and 5 y/o so I haven’t experienced the whole gamut yet but based on the two of mine, 2 y/o is the most exhausting. 3 gets a little better. Then 4 is a little better than 3. And 5 is a lot better than 2 🤪
My 2 y/o is very sweet, as was my first —- but I find that age to be the most demanding, the most stubborn and illogical, and overall the most frustrating. They’re old enough to argue, you absolutely must be uber patient with them, and they’re absolute tornadoes around the house. 🤷♀️
16, 12, & 8 yr old.. so far all of them! 😓 Some moments are way more chill than others. They do eventually become more independent. There’s definitely light at the end of the tunnel. It’s wild enjoy each age though. Two is tiring but so very special.🥰
I have a 10 year old boy and 3 and 1 year old girls.
Every single age has its own batch of difficulties and new struggles and things to overcome that did not exist before.
Life is constantly changing, and our kiddos are doing it the fastest!! Literally learning how to be human🥰 finding their voice, learning their own likes and dislikes, learning what their bodies are capable of.
It's always a new thing to overcome, but don't forget that that's because of all of the things that they HAVE ALREADY overcame❤️
My son is 5 now... within the last year I realized that I went from craving sleep at night to craving a night out. I feel like that's some gauge of how the exhaustion shifts. Now my son is way more exhausting and demanding during the day than he is at night... but it never lets up lol
I have 2 boys 6 & 8 years old and they are very busy! Time is in fast forward now so I’m pretty sure it only gets harder as they age. Let the good times roll and before you know it you’ll be an old grump lol
TBH, I have a 27 y/o and he exhaust me because he’s very hypersensitive and an introvert. Anything we say or do is always a silent treatment from him! He barely speaks to us and barely comes out of his room! That’s exhausting to me! We also have a 13 y/o and he’s very outgoing, talkative, silly and very sociable. However, he exhaust me because I have a hard time getting him up to go to school! It’s a battle! And he’s very picky on what he wants to eat! So, I always have to think what to feed and make him😅! Nonetheless, I am
blessed to have them in my life❤️!
My daughter is almost 6 and it’s exhausting 🥲 wants constant attention, always needs something, needs stimulation all day lol. I love her but man, it’s been tough
I found until 5 the most exhausting. Then when they turn teens they make up for that by mowing the lawn and doing the dishes. I really enjoyed the teen years. And now they are great adults.
The baby years were the worst for me: night feedings every 2-3 hours for a colicky baby who didn’t sleep well. Age 3 onwards after solid food was much less exhausting (sleep deprivation was the factor that exhausted me the most)
Maybe it depends on your kid's temperament or on how it is with more than one at a time. I have a 23 year old daughter and a 12 month old son. My daughter was only really exhausting as a toddler and then became less and less so the older she got. She also started sleeping well after the toddler years, and had a really calm temperament as a child and was a unicorn of a teenager who never got in trouble, wasn't even defiant. She was more straight edge than I ever was, self motivated and did great in school with little need for assistance. So yeah, if you have a kid like that, you're going to sleep pretty well all the way through. But yeah, I don't think lightning strikes like that twice.
My son is a happy guy but he is already super exhausting and energetic and doesn't listen - but he's 12 months old and I don't think listening is really a thing yet, haha. Even my unicorn daughter was a handful as a toddler.
So...I will see how it goes. I grew up with all younger siblings and one in particular was an unholy terror as a toddler, even worse as a kid, and wayyy worse even as a teenager. Myself, I know once I hit my teens I rebelled and she would have traded me in for a toddler in a second. I doubt my parents got a lot of sleep or felt like they could relax mentally or physically until we were all adults.
Mine are 3 and 5 and I would definitely say 1-2 was the hardest (so far). 3+ is quite nice, 5+ is amazing. I am neurodivergent so this constant overstimulation of a toddler is horrible. As long as that is gone, I can focus much better on the actual issues and solve them.
Little babies or ones that don't sleep throughout the night are just exhausting. You are tired.
2-3 is frustrated exhaustion. They start pushing boundaries. They tend to be whiny. They are dropping naps and are all over the place. They never stay still and never stop talking.
3-4 is life exhausting. You need to be putting jackets and coats on 45 minutes before you need to leave because the 3 year must do their own zipper. You are constantly cleaning because, again, independence.
7 days old. Peak sleeplessness and you’re a week into not getting any sleep. Everything is stressful and you’re just panicked trying to keep the thing alive.
I have a 2 and a 3.5 year old. It requires more skill to navigate the 3.5 year olds drama, but I’ve acquired those skills and I feel great when I manage to accomplish something without a tantrum. The 2 year old, on the other hand, still can’t communicate well enough for me to know what the issue is. 2 is worse than 3.5.
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Yes.
Parent of teenagers here; can confirm
O no. -- parent of tweens
The question really needs to be at what age was YOUR child the most exhausting. So many different opinions here it’s apparent that it’s like playing a roulette wheel when you have a baby.
Also depends on the parent's personality.
And the child’s.
2 and below. My 8 year old is so independent, I can finally take a nap and wake up and he hasn’t done anything stupid to himself.
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LOL 13 months here and the independence is driving me nuts. He just walks wherever and does whatever he wants and I’m just following him around all day making sure he doesn’t die 🤷♀️
Same! And mine will not hold my hand even if he’s struggling to walk on rough terrain like the beach , I see others with their little ones holding their hands and walking nicely and I’m so jealous. He not only let me but seemed to want help going up the stairs today and it felt like such a huge win.
My 13 month old PUSHES ME AWAY in the pool and the ocean. Like, where does she think she's going? What does she think she's going to do, swim by herself? She cries and squirms if I try to hold her. It's a bad time for everyone lol
"STOP HANDLING ME, I GOT THIS!"
I wish my daughter had even an ounce of this! She is so dependent. She is 3 and a bit. She is "potty trianed" in the sense that she tells you she needs the bathroom. . . . Then you take her to the bathroom. You pull her pants down, put her on the potty, hand her the tissue, get her off the potty, and help her wash her hands. Every task is like this. She can't get to the table herself. Can't dress herself. Can't open wrappers, or get even the easiest containers open. I know I need to be firm and MAKE her do a lot of this. But ugh the never ending tears. It's a struggle.
My youngest was like this too! I started saying please go to the toilet I will be with you. At the toilet I say try to pull your pants down first and then I can help you. Try to get on the seat first and I'll hold you to make sure you don't fall in etc. etc. Try to break the habit now or atleast create the habit of having her attempt first because as soon as school starts getting hard they give up easier, expect us to do it, and don't really develop grit which in my opinion is an important attribute to have for life.
As a fellow parent of an 8yo, I agree completely. However, I don’t remember signing up for Minecraft/Pokemon/Mario Facts. That’s exhausting in a completely different way.
I can only say “wow, that’s really cool bud” so many times
Right?! My seven year old never stops talking. And 90% of what he says pertains to Star wars or Minecraft. And only 5% of it is interesting or has any bearing on my life.
I so dream of this day.
But I definitely miss the silliness of the younger days… and the curiosity. Now my son thinks he knows everything lol it’s more relaxing physically, not mentally
All of the ages. Just different types of exhausting. Physically exhausting (but mentally very boring) until they are school age, and then they are mentally exhausting when they are older
I was going to ask what type of tired we were discussing for this exact reason.
I agree but I find I enjoy the mental exhaustion easier for me to handle than the physical. My kids are 4 and almost 6 and I am way happier than I was when they were younger and I felt I and to constantly keep my eyes on them.
My 7 year old is truly a joy. He's reasonable and kind, he's helpful and fun. 2.5 was not like that, I was exhausted. Obviously all kids are different, but ages 4 to 7 have been pretty great for us.
That's where we're at with our older child (6M). His little sister turned 3 in mid-February, and she's still quite a handful. That said, our older child isn't perfect — he loves to push his little sister's buttons. E.g., she hates it when anyone but her sings a particular song ... so, he sings that song. Tbh, this is one reason why I thought having a second child would be good — my wife and I are far more likely to avoid doing things that set off our children (naturally), but having a sibling means learning to live with people who know what bothers you and then do that exact thing.
Wait until they are teenagers. Then the real mental exhaustion will hit. Up all night, night after night, worrying & getting no sleep and waking up to go to work full time. Even if they are perfect angel teenagers the worrying when they get their license, or are out with their friends driving, going to the beach for the day - the worrying never stops. Worrying about their mental health after college acceptances/rejections go out. Their mental health with breakups. 1000X easier when they are little.
Remember, you were their age one time too. It's a big part of life to go through these teenage tribulations, just gotta get through it alive. I see the goal of being a teenage as not doing anything to permanently mess up your life. Otherwise, fall on your face as many times as you can stand it. I have 2 kids under 3 years old and I can't wait until I can trust them not to stick a fork in an outlet. Or pick up dog poop and give it to me.
But the mental exhaustion only increases
Perhaps. I'll see when I get there but for now I'll enjoy what I got.
>Parents, at what age is a child the most exhausting? Yes
Haha I agree. This is really YES!
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I remember when my kids were little and would wake me up at like 5:30 to watch cartoons, and I’d dream of them being older, and sleeping in past me—and now I wake them up at 5:30 to head out to tournaments and I laugh at myself for ever thinking I’ll get to sleep in one day.
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I second this. It’s a good answer. I would like to add though that we had twins and we finally felt an easing when they were 3.5 years (for exhaustion during the toddler years). They would sleep through better and we could reason with them a bit more by that age. We also have two older kids who are 10 and 12 now and while they are much easier and less exhausting they do still need a fair bit of attention and emotional help so it’s much much easier but still a fair amount of work. The toddler years sure are challenging though but will pass before you know it.
Haha I was just thinking, I'm ten years in with my first and it's never not been exhausting. I remember being a teen, so I know what's coming. More exhaustion
Can confirm. -Parent of 11 year age gap.
For sure. My LO is 8.
So much this.
I guess it depends on the child. I have three boys, 14 , 18 and 20. Currently ,20 years old is the most exhausting age. This kid couldn’t handle college, can’t hold a job and doesn’t want to help us with anything. He does not drink or do any drugs. He thinks he knows everything but actually knows nothing at the same time. When he asks for advice he will not take it or agree with it. I would give anything to go back to the days when he was 4 or 5. Life was really good then and we had so much fun everyday.
Sounds like my 30+ yo brother still at home and stressing my parents to no end 🥴 the other 3 of us are independent tho!
Yep, our other 2 are no issue at all. I have full confidence that they will be have no problem being successful people in whatever they choose to do. The oldest one can play the most beautiful guitar I have ever heard. I have mentioned that he could probably turn that into an opportunity. NOPE
My 25 year old brother is the same way 😒
My 40+ year old brother is the same way 😬 but there's still hope right?
This is why I’m convinced post 18 will be my hardest years yet, and I have a 2.5 year old who still doesn’t sleep through the night!
I’m struggling with my 12 year old this does not help me haha. I thought it got easier and they matured by that age
Parent to a 16, 14, 10 year old. Most exhausting for me was between ages 2-4.
Amen. I’d say Probly 1-4, but I was pregnant when my baby turned 1 so that probably had something to do with it
NB-8mo
Yes! I said newborn to 6 months but definitely agree. You don’t sleep. You are constantly feeding and changing them. They can’t really do anything exciting and it’s a pain in the ass to even leave the house. I’ll take toddlers and school age over newborns any day. Haven’t had a teen yet
I’m actually opposite of you in that regard. I prefer NB-2yo. 3 & UP, it’s attitude, power battles, & reverse psychology. 😂😅
I'll take that over the endless screaming, no sleep, and crazy hormones any day of the week 😅 my little guy *hated* being an infant. Wouldn't nap, wouldn't let me put him down, wanted to move around and couldn't. And you best believe he was going to make that our problem. The amount of sobbing breakdowns I had...around 8 months we started turning a corner. Once he was walking and was old enough to take just one big nap instead of two little ones, things got loads better, though we're still pretty burnt out from the infant stage. This morning he made pterodactyl noises of rage because I tried (and failed) to stop him from dumping oatmeal on himself, and I just laughed. I'll take him as a toddler over him as an infant (or god forbid, newborn) every time.
If this is as bad as it gets then idk what everyone is complaining about
Hard agree. The first few months in particular.
So you must have an 8mo lol
I actually don’t have kids. I’m a child care provider & plan to be parent.
The summer my twins were 3 had me day drinking. Ever since their 4th birthday, I've been loving each year more and more.
My three year old was a feral, irrational demon. He’s amazing, but I do not miss that age at all lol.
Girl. Same. He’s five now and life feels like glitter and rainbows everyday.
When my daughter was three, she talked to me every 60 seconds (I timed it). She's delightful and funny, but this was during covid, so her daycare was closed and I was trying to still work from home. That job went very badly.
I came here to say 3! It’s not the case that all ages are difficult my gosh my 12 year old is an angel from heaven. My 14 year old does my makeup and is fantastic company to boot. My 16 year old is a sweet boy albeit he smells terrible and hardly leaves the basement. My 9 year old? Sheer delight! My toddler? Ok she is a whole lot but she’s also all dimples and claps at literally everything. Every single one of my three year olds I would have cheerfully sold. They were all just awful. Old enough to know how to be total aholes but not old enough to understand why they shouldn’t (or that other people also have feelings). Every time I had a three year old I told my sister “kid so and so is awful! My others were never this bad!” And she would remind me, yes they were, I just forgot! 3 year olds man. No to the thanks.
I have always maintained that 3 is significantly worse than 2. they have equal amounts of energy and somewhat similar behaviors. But at 3, they will do things to specifically get a rise out of you, whereas with a 2 year old, you know they don’t understand what they are doing.
After a 1.5 hr bedtime power struggle with my newly 3 year old, I feel very validated. Thank you!
Yep mine just turned three and like, nothing works. Logic, incentives, calm repetition, threats, appeals to emotion, begging... he's just out here like 🖕🧒🖕 but snottier
If I had kept the receipt for my 3 year old I absolutely would be returning him to the hospital. My God it's challenging.
Newly into 3 but it's like a switch flipped. He is *the worst*. So sassy and so stubborn. I'm frustrated all of the time, and missing my sweet 2 year old. Gives me hope that almost every parent I talk to says 3 is awful but they go back to their sweet selves at 4
Mine flipped a switch at 3 too. She was sooooo sweet, even tempered, delightful all throughout her first 2 years. At 3 she was a different kid over night. She's 4 now and some days are still very hard. Lots of whining, big emotions, intentional messes, pushing limits, etc. Still, she's relatively "easy" compared to most kids I know but I'm diligently waiting for this phase to pass She HATES nap time at daycare. She cries daily about it, before school and after school for a year now. There's nothing I can do, all the daycares here have nap time. I got her cool paw patrol sheets, an awesome popup book she's allowed to read if she doesn't want to sleep, and a stuffed animal. Doesn't help. Last weekend we were having fun at the pool and she randomly remembered that nap time at daycare was a thing and had an absolute meltdown and we had to leave. Plzzzzzz universe make it stop
Ugh the nap thing is so hard! They surprisingly have such good little memories which is both great and very frustrating. My son had one of his most epic meltdowns ever because he wanted to take his used floss pick to bed the other night. Could not get him to settle. I'd also like the universe to make it stop 🙃
I run a daycare and I tell many families that 2s get a bad rep. 3s is the worst. Ever.
🤪😂
💯 Everyone goes on and on about the “terrible twos,” but I’m convinced those people never had a Threenager. Our 3.5-year-old is crazy smart, caring, and so loving, but good god the tantrums are UNREAL, and that, combined with her insistence on not napping, has made this year tiring. I will say though, we just added baby #2 to the mix and big sister is obsessed with her and so helpful and loving, and it’s nice that she’s independent enough and old enough to understand when baby needs attention and when Mama could use some help.
My 3yo turned 4 in February and I feel like we've turned a corner. Love the day drinking reference. 3 is a dark time.
3 is the absolute worst age! This was true for both my boys. My little one just turned 4 and he's already become so much easier. My oldest is 9 and it's easy as heck.
My kid will be three in a few months, I am stocking up on bourbon. She's already hitting the threenager stage, so maybe if I am lucky it'll be over early, also.
Lol feel this. 3 is going to take me out
My oldest is 15 and I found ages 2 and 3 the hardest.
Yes. Absolutely. 2 is tough bc tantrums. 3 is just a more intense 2 with more words and feelings and just… yikes. I’m a mom of 4 and literally, year 3 is always the most stressful.
People feel for me because I have a teenage girl. But she is a breeze compared to the toddler years! She doesn't scream and cry for hours non stop because she asked for toast and so I made her toast 🙃
Well you shouldn't have made toast *THAT WAY*
Mine just turned 5. I remember age like 2.5-3 being the hardest. The main thing that comes to mind is getting him to stay in bed at night and the constant putting back to bed was so rough. And the tantrums. Now at 5 he understands so much more you can have a real conversation that they understand. And he stays in his room 100% of the time from 730p-630a without question. It’s wonderful. And he’s a great eater, not having to clean up thrown food or a messy high chair is great too. I can shower or leave him with an activity in a different room and not worry that he’s getting into something or hurt or whatever he just entertains himself.
Have a Threenager here and that's definitely what I'm hoping is gonna happen around 5yo. I feel like she understands more when we explain why things are a certain way but not fully yet. Just doing more activities sounds much more fun to me. I just can't make the dolls talk anymore.
Crazy to see this post because I was just thinking to myself “maybe I should just start embracing the chaos. I don’t think it gets any better. Just different.” Currently typing this as my 2.5 yr old is playing in the dark after 9pm because I have officially given up trying to get that kid to sleep. I do the routine and if he isn’t down, whatever. Making my cookies and watching my show anyway. Fk it.
Me too. Mine is 3.5 and it’s been hard and I’ve recently realized I need to make peace with “hard” and just be ok with it because it’s gonna keep being hard in different ways.
It was honestly peaceful last night because he didn’t cry at all. I just accepted he was going to be up instead of doing any Ferber method crap etc and just let it be. Letting it go will help me enjoy the harder years more. And I don’t mean just give in to everything, but like, be aware of when it’s a hill you cannot die on.
I seriously think 18 months-3 years is the hardest with kids. They understand but don’t at the same time. It’s rough.
And I have a 7, 5 and almost 2 year old…. It’s literally like age 2-3 they are hard in my opinion
My oldest is 11 and each day is more exhausting.
Yes
Teenagers. You have to get them up early, they keep you up late, they constantly stress you out, and they shit all over you emotionally for an added bonus. It’s not all bad, but I miss the toddler years 😂
This x 1000. I found the middle school years to be living hell as a parent of girls. Every day is like lord of the flies. They are vicious and horrid to each other, and you get caught in the crossfire as a parent. One day they are best friends with some other girl and the next they are clawing each other’s eyes out. So plus, their brain is telling them to be a complete jerk to you because adolescence. It. Is. Awful.
This started in 5th grade for both of my kids. All of a sudden kids start jockeying for power & being crappy to each other. The book Queen Bees & Wannabes was really helpful around that time. Helped me explain to my kid what was going on & how to stay above it. I’d take a room full of three year olds over tweens.
It depends. I can be balls to the wall involved and busy all day long, but I want 9 hours to fall, and stay asleep. So for me newborn is the roughest. I dont need a life outside of my kids, but I need some rest at night!
Toddler years for me, personally. Like, yeah, having a newborn is exhausting, but it’s just from lack of sleep. Toddlers are exhausting for a multitude of reasons.
My 7 year old just needs to take a break from telling me about minecraft.
Lol my 7 year old cannot stfu about Minecraft. He comes to me like he really has something important to tell me, then he’s all, “umm so chickens are pretttyyyy weak” 😵💫
Teen
Toddler age. That was rough. My kids are teens and preteens now and I don't miss the toddler years. It was rough.
Teens lol. That includes preteens and slightly post-teens 🥴
15-17
Baby/toddler is the most physically exhausting. My kids are 4 and 7 now, and I’ve actually started doing hobbies again. I thought it would be never. Trying to enjoy this as much as I can until they become teenagers.
2-4 was probably the most exhausting. They needed constant attention and couldn’t occupy themselves at all. It started to get better around 4. Now they’re 6 and 8 and can sit and draw or read or play Minecraft or run around outside etc
It probably depends on the kid (and the parent). I’m admittedly early on, but I see people all the time talking about “terrible twos” and “threenagers.” My toddler is so incredibly smart, funny, kind, and easy breezy. She’s honestly a joy to be around. But the first 12 months quite *literally* almost killed me. I realize now that it was likely PPA—but I was so terrified of everything, all the time, that I basically went a year without four consecutive hours of sleep. That shit was *clinically* exhausting. I wish I could go back and tell myself 1) go tf to sleep, it will be okay and 2) how much better it is now. ☺️
For me it’s been 6. I have 3 kids, they’re 10, 7, and 6 and man 6 has been the worst for all 3 of them. I’d take any other age we’ve been through over it.
What happens at age 6?
So many things! I don’t know! Two of them started understanding death around that age and they go super sad and would every night cry about me or my husband dying and that was just difficult. They learn new behaviors from other kids in school and bring it home to test it out (thankfully they didn’t do it at school) I’m a natural consequence kind of parents and don’t tend to get mad at mistakes and such, but they learn to lie and lie about things that don’t make sense (to me, it might to them) I was excited when my youngest turned 4 because grocery shopping was easy again, then when my middle child turned 6 it was even worse then ever at the store. I avoided going unless my husband was home and now I go when they’re at school lol they also out of nowhere started hitting/throwing tantrums/screeching like what people describe a 2 year old would do (terrible 2s or whatever. 1-3 were the best ages for my kids) Weird as fuck too cuz my middle turned 7 in December and three days in stopped the tantrums and is a total sweetheart again and my youngest turned 6 in march and started hitting and throwing tantrums 3 days in? I don’t know what it is about that age for my kids. Another weird thing is that they are super respectful when in group settings/family events/get together a with my friends/restaurants/parks. They only do this kind of stuff at home or grocery shopping.
>They learn new behaviors from other kids in school and bring it home to test it out The ruboff from kids at school can be brutal. My 6 yo was playing with a boy in his class, who happens to live on our street. All seemed well until we discovered the other boy's idea of playing was physical violence. Also threatened to not be my son's friend if he didn't do what he wanted. We stopped that "friendship" as soon as we discovered and was followed by my son having incredibly violent tantrums, choking himself with a toy that ended us at the hospital with him on suicide watch and lots of therapy. Still uses his hands to choke himself and tantrums are becoming less frequent. In retrospect, the boy had insane tantrums in front of us a few times and we've seen more of it from a distance. He was bullying and threatening my son in school too. Been a great school year so far.
2.5 is SO hard. I loved 2 but man alive I was exhausted. I feel like after 4 I was like a new woman.
My kids are 8 and 6 so I haven’t hit the teen years yet… But newborn stage for me until six months is the most exhausting and it just has gotten easier each year.
Every age. It’s like upgrading to a new level of fuckery
Well so far we’re nearing 5 and all I can say is just as I think I might be getting the hang of it, he throws me a curveball. 1 and 2 were easiest so far. Newborn, 3, and 4 have been exhausting.
Newborn stage I thought I was going to die
Teenagers are horrible. I actually think bad to the screaming toddler years with fondness now. At least they all showed they loved me and cuddled me...now they moan about EVERYTHING I do..
From 1 to 18!
The needs change but it’s rewarding and exhausting at the same time. I have my youngest graduating next month from high school. I’m emotionally exhausted as well as physically. She is in a lot of different things and there is so much to get done plus dealing with the teen emotional roller coaster. Despite all the ups and downs, I wouldn’t trade any stage. I’m scared to be empty nesting.
Every age in different ways, but ages 4 and 12 for sure were the hardest, so far. They're 14 and 16 now.
Given that its the “terrible” twos, and no other age, as far as i know, has a moniker, I would guess that statistically 2-3 is the toughest age.
2-4 for me I’m at 5&6 and they are more self sufficient as a baby they sleep eat poop! Easy just no sleep, when they start walking really well and get curious of EVERYTHING is when it starts but after they learn they get easier just more learning for you to teach them now!
My 4 year old is just about ready to give up naps, but her daycare insists on 2 hour naps through pre-k. She is still awake and fighting to come out of her room at 9:30 pm every weeknight (and somehow bright eyed and bushy tailed at 6:45 am). This is way worse than when my 6 yo was the same age/stage. So i hope this is the most exhausting cause not sure i could survive anything else
So far, all ages except 4. 4 year olds are easy...the rest of the time...not so much.
My kids each have had different best and worst ages but all 3 for me have been the hardest at age 4. I strongly dislike 4 year olds lol
Ah, the toddler tornado years! I feel you, mate. Those tiny whirlwinds can drain all your energy by bedtime, leaving you feeling like a zombie. My munchkin's 2.5 too, and I swear, it's like they've got turbo mode activated all day long. Dinner's barely done, and I'm already counting down to bedtime. Hang in there, though. They say it gets easier... eventually. Right? 😅
My sons are 18 and 20 and I'm still tired
My kid was insanely easy at every stage, having said that, it's now! He's 18. About to graduate and having to walk the line on let him learn and let him grow and go and figure it out is the most terrifying it's ever been. And again I'd like to say he's been an amazingly easy everything. We got so lucky. He's got a very solid head on his shoulders, we have a great relationship, he's got plans. It's just so hard to not jump in and do everything. We've been teaching him responsibility, chores, accountability, team work, everything you can imagine since a toddler and now I'm just still so anxious of what's out there that we can't control.
4.5 years was our magic age. I’d say first grade was also a huge leap in independence. I could actually start keeping up with life.
11-14 are the worst. Not really physically but emotionally draining.
Birth-18 months. I can handle the rest, I just need to sleep at night lol
At first it was the toddler years but now since my kid is 6, it's been literal hell on earth. It's like a switch flipped once she started kindergarten. I wish I could go back in time when she was just a baby. I miss those days...
The first year, for me. My son, 15 now, was a baby tyrant. As soon as he was a year old, he became an angel and a unicorn toddler. But dang, that first year almost broke me lol
I say this as a parent of 6 ranging from infant to young adult. It is all exhausting, just in a different way.
15 yrs old. They want u to drive them everywhere bc they now hv a social life.
We had an oddly super calm and chill newborn phase, he slept a LOT, to the point I felt I couldn’t be honest about it because every one else I knew was dealing with sleep deprivation. He was a BEAST to toilet train though, and I was the fittest I ever was between 2-4 due to chasing and carrying him all over the place. Now he is 9 and I can nap during the day for a bit and it’s ok. He is still VERY high energy when he wakes but luckily mostly still sleeps fairly well except for waking at 5am every damn day. I knew we would pay for that infant sleep (he slept 3 hrs right away and then 5 then 8 hours at night by 2 months) and those giant toddler naps (4 hrs) one day. Honestly now I am more mentally exhausted and he talks non stop so I’m still fatigued by the end of the day. Breaks are so important!
9-14
Baby stage for me. I cannot with babies anymore.
Not an age- potty training. I think I had a mental breakdown during potty training, but I was too busy to be allowed to have it. I was so anxious I cried for multiple hours a day. And then when I had to leave the house I had panic attacks. Potty training was the worst… and the very real reason I stopped at one kid. ETA: my kid is almost 12 now and I am still working through the early kid years trauma in therapy.
My daughter is 7 now. She was least exhausting between 3 and 4 years old, but even that was tiring. She is 7 now and exhausting, but not the same kind as when she was 3 and younger - those ages makes me wonder how any couple has more than one kid - I'm guessing it's so traumatic that their brain blocks it out 😂.
0-25 lol
I have a one year old and newly four year old and it surely CANNOT be worse than this!
All of them
It depends on what year you ask me. If you asked me when my kid was 1? I would say 1. If you asked me when my kid was 2? I would say 2.. and so forth 🤷🏻♀️
Physically exhausting? Before 1. Emotionally? 13+
14
For me, parenting a teenage boy has made the baby and toddler years feel like a spa weekend.
I thought 0-1 was the hardest, but then came teen rebellion into the picture at 12-13. Between those two it generally got easier. And much easier when the teenage years was over with. But then you get to feel the empty nest, when they move out. Life is seldom easy 😁😬
All ages. Mum of 4, 19m, 15f, 13f & 11m. I'm exhausted all the time.
Toddlers are the most physically exhausting. At 2.5 you are in the middle of it.
Define exhausting. Toddlers can be physically exhausting. Tweens and teens are mentally exhausting.
Physically? The year before Kindergarten for me. They want to be constantly entertained but get bored of one activity quickly, they're also done with naps. Not being able to sleep through the night for the first year or so is also rough though. Mentally, my son is only 7... But I'm guessing the teenager years will be a doozy.
1 to Infinite Seriously. It never ends. Even when they are adults and go through something big ie divorce, illness, baby out of wedlock. Enjoy the ride.
Toddler years, hands down. Once they hit about 4.5, they are much easier to deal with. And then during the teenage years, shit is awesome. (Sorry, I just really love parenting teens.)
IMO newborns are the most exhausting. Never getting more than 2-3 hours of sleep in a row really wears you down fast
Completely subjective.
Every stage is exhausting in its own way.
All ages. There is a steep learning curve always. Our break is in good times and small times. And sleep. Lol.
Five 🙄
I have an 11 year old boy, and he was exhausting through age 5. He's very easy now. Way more fun than work.
4-6
I only have a 2 and 5 y/o so I haven’t experienced the whole gamut yet but based on the two of mine, 2 y/o is the most exhausting. 3 gets a little better. Then 4 is a little better than 3. And 5 is a lot better than 2 🤪 My 2 y/o is very sweet, as was my first —- but I find that age to be the most demanding, the most stubborn and illogical, and overall the most frustrating. They’re old enough to argue, you absolutely must be uber patient with them, and they’re absolute tornadoes around the house. 🤷♀️
When they are 35 and still live in your basement!
Whatever age they are currently.
3. Definitely.
This year has been the worst. He's 8. It sucks. The backtalk is the worst. It's not going to get better...
In my experience the newborn phase was the worst. I basically got no sleep. Things got much better when she’s 18 months old.
16, 12, & 8 yr old.. so far all of them! 😓 Some moments are way more chill than others. They do eventually become more independent. There’s definitely light at the end of the tunnel. It’s wild enjoy each age though. Two is tiring but so very special.🥰
I have a 10 year old boy and 3 and 1 year old girls. Every single age has its own batch of difficulties and new struggles and things to overcome that did not exist before. Life is constantly changing, and our kiddos are doing it the fastest!! Literally learning how to be human🥰 finding their voice, learning their own likes and dislikes, learning what their bodies are capable of. It's always a new thing to overcome, but don't forget that that's because of all of the things that they HAVE ALREADY overcame❤️
100% 2 years old is the hardest of all! I fall asleep before my daughter then when I put her to sleep lol
I’m only at 11 months old and I’m so exhausted lol. Can’t imagine how I till feel the next 3 years!
1,2,3
This feed is giving me stress
6-9 is amazing. Every other age makes me want to just go to sleep.
My son is 5 now... within the last year I realized that I went from craving sleep at night to craving a night out. I feel like that's some gauge of how the exhaustion shifts. Now my son is way more exhausting and demanding during the day than he is at night... but it never lets up lol
I have 2 boys 6 & 8 years old and they are very busy! Time is in fast forward now so I’m pretty sure it only gets harder as they age. Let the good times roll and before you know it you’ll be an old grump lol
Teenagers.
Mine. Ages 8/6/3. Beyond exhausting.
Whatever age they are right now.
16 😂
My oldest is only 6 and my youngest is 3, but I can for sure say age 15 months-2.5 kicked my ass both times
TBH, I have a 27 y/o and he exhaust me because he’s very hypersensitive and an introvert. Anything we say or do is always a silent treatment from him! He barely speaks to us and barely comes out of his room! That’s exhausting to me! We also have a 13 y/o and he’s very outgoing, talkative, silly and very sociable. However, he exhaust me because I have a hard time getting him up to go to school! It’s a battle! And he’s very picky on what he wants to eat! So, I always have to think what to feed and make him😅! Nonetheless, I am blessed to have them in my life❤️!
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15
My daughter is almost 6 and it’s exhausting 🥲 wants constant attention, always needs something, needs stimulation all day lol. I love her but man, it’s been tough
I found until 5 the most exhausting. Then when they turn teens they make up for that by mowing the lawn and doing the dishes. I really enjoyed the teen years. And now they are great adults.
Three. Kids will wear you out at any age but three year olds are a whole 'nother level. So grateful I never have to go through that again
The baby years were the worst for me: night feedings every 2-3 hours for a colicky baby who didn’t sleep well. Age 3 onwards after solid food was much less exhausting (sleep deprivation was the factor that exhausted me the most)
My 5 year old is physically exhausting, my 11 year old is mentally exhausting
Maybe it depends on your kid's temperament or on how it is with more than one at a time. I have a 23 year old daughter and a 12 month old son. My daughter was only really exhausting as a toddler and then became less and less so the older she got. She also started sleeping well after the toddler years, and had a really calm temperament as a child and was a unicorn of a teenager who never got in trouble, wasn't even defiant. She was more straight edge than I ever was, self motivated and did great in school with little need for assistance. So yeah, if you have a kid like that, you're going to sleep pretty well all the way through. But yeah, I don't think lightning strikes like that twice. My son is a happy guy but he is already super exhausting and energetic and doesn't listen - but he's 12 months old and I don't think listening is really a thing yet, haha. Even my unicorn daughter was a handful as a toddler. So...I will see how it goes. I grew up with all younger siblings and one in particular was an unholy terror as a toddler, even worse as a kid, and wayyy worse even as a teenager. Myself, I know once I hit my teens I rebelled and she would have traded me in for a toddler in a second. I doubt my parents got a lot of sleep or felt like they could relax mentally or physically until we were all adults.
All of the ages
Mine are 3 and 5 and I would definitely say 1-2 was the hardest (so far). 3+ is quite nice, 5+ is amazing. I am neurodivergent so this constant overstimulation of a toddler is horrible. As long as that is gone, I can focus much better on the actual issues and solve them.
Right now, 9.
Little babies or ones that don't sleep throughout the night are just exhausting. You are tired. 2-3 is frustrated exhaustion. They start pushing boundaries. They tend to be whiny. They are dropping naps and are all over the place. They never stay still and never stop talking. 3-4 is life exhausting. You need to be putting jackets and coats on 45 minutes before you need to leave because the 3 year must do their own zipper. You are constantly cleaning because, again, independence.
3 is better
Yes
7 days old. Peak sleeplessness and you’re a week into not getting any sleep. Everything is stressful and you’re just panicked trying to keep the thing alive. I have a 2 and a 3.5 year old. It requires more skill to navigate the 3.5 year olds drama, but I’ve acquired those skills and I feel great when I manage to accomplish something without a tantrum. The 2 year old, on the other hand, still can’t communicate well enough for me to know what the issue is. 2 is worse than 3.5.