We Asked Parents To Reveal Their Least Favourite Age For Kids – And Things Got Real

Parenting is filled with highs and lows, as different stages of a child's life present unexpected challenges. When it comes to the joys and challenges of parenting, not all stages of a child’s life are created equal.“As a dad to two children, I’ve now had the full tour of early childhood,” author and Dope Black Dads founder Marvyn Harrison told HuffPost. “And while I’ve grown into the role, I’ll be honest: Some ages feel like warm Caribbean beaches … others feel like delayed Gatwick flights at Christmas.”With that in mind, we reached out to parents and caregivers to ask what their least favourite age is for kids. Read on for their honest responses (and check out their favourite ages here).The newborn phase“I really, really struggled with the newborn phase. The lack of sleep and lack of interaction (babies can’t socially smile until 6-7 weeks!) was tough for me. Fortunately, the newborn phase is short-lived!” ―Amanda DeLuca, founder and CEO of the parenting app Riley“I’m going to contradict myself here (which is the push and pull of motherhood in a nutshell), but probably the early newborn days. I see newborns now and get that pang, that longing (even though I don’t want another baby), I remember how tender and sacred mothering in the darkness of 2 a.m. was, learning about each other and the pain of that too. And yet – if I am honest – I felt so out of body during this time. I longed for some autonomy again, some routine, to spend 1:1 time with my other children, to sleep, to not worry so much about every cough, cry and skin rash. I felt like those days I was on the edge of motherhood, too worried that if I wasn’t I would sink completely. Coming out of the postpartum fog was when I was able to appreciate the beauty in those days, but also appreciate being in the next chapter even more.” ― Jessica Urlichs, author of “Beautiful Chaos: On Motherhood, Finding Yourself, and Overwhelming Love”The whole first year“Personally, my least favourite age was the entire first year for both of my children. I struggled immensely with postpartum depression, and I found this to be incredibly challenging. I know that many people love the newborn stage, but it honestly terrified me, and I found it to be incredibly overwhelming. I don’t think we talk often enough about how OK it is to not enjoy every moment of parenting. It is a tough job and an often thankless job. Yes, many of us signed up for this willingly, but it doesn’t mean that it all has to be all sunshine and rainbows! The good days are so good, but the bad days are exhausting. It’s OK to experience this dichotomy and still love being a parent while not loving every second of it.” ―Jillian Amodio, mental health advocate and social worker at Waypoint Wellness Center“It has to be the infant stages to be honest. It’s the time I knew the least and lost the most sleep. It’s a greater reflection of myself back then than the baby. Colic made us feel like we didn’t know how to soothe them. I’ve never thought deeply about a favourite stage age, because each one is necessary to get to the next. You fumble a lot as a newbie, but there’s also a pure excitement in being new. I was an infant at parenting the same time my kids were infants at life. We’ve been growing together, and I love growth the most!” ―La Guardia Cross, YouTube content creatorAge 6-18 months“Six months to 18 months. No debate. Newborns? That’s the honeymoon. You’re buzzing. Everyone’s dropping gifts at your door like Uber Eats. But once that wears off and your baby enters ‘mystery mode’ colic, sleep regression, zero communication, but a lot of side-eye wild. That’s the time where you’re Googling everything at 2 a.m.: ‘Can babies be petty?’ ‘Why won’t my children rate me?’“If I’m honest, the mum is front and centre. She’s the food, the comfort, the everything. Meanwhile, as dad, you’re trying to bond with someone who literally rolls their eyes at times when you walk in. I never mastered that stage. Two attempts, and both times I felt like a backup dancer in my own band.” ― HarrisonAge 9-12 months“The most physically gruelling stage for me was that brief but intense period when they are just learning to walk, around 9 to 12 months. They are so determined to be mobile but are incredibly unsteady. As a dad, I instinctively want to help, so I spend lots of time walking half-bent over, holding their tiny hands as they cruise around. My back was in constant pain! It’s a phase of pure physical sacrifice, but the moment they finally let go of your finger and take those first wobbly steps on their own, all the back pain is forgotten. It’s a beautiful, fleeting moment where your direct support helps them achieve their first real taste of independence.” ―Sergei Urban, founder of The Dad LabAge 7“My least favourite age is 7. Not because it isn’t beautiful, because it is, but it can be emotionally complex. Around this age, many children begin to lean into their autonomy in more intense ways. They’re more self-aware, more socially conscious and sometimes more sensitive. They want to do things on their own, but still very much need guidance. This creates a push-pull dynamic that can be hard to navigate as a parent. It’s the age where your child starts asking bigger questions and needing different kinds of support ― ones that often challenge you to grow right alongside them.“As both a parent and an early childhood professional, I think it’s important to name that no age is truly easy. Each stage has its joys and challenges, and each requires a different version of us as caregivers. What helps is understanding that our children are always evolving, and so are we.” ―Princess Owens, child care consultant, mindfulness facilitator and content creatorIf you’re a parent and would like to share your least favourite age, email us your thoughts at [email protected]. Your response might be included in an upcoming article.Related...We Asked Parents To Reveal Their Favourite Age When Raising KidsI'm A Therapist – Teen Rejection Is Hard. Here's What I Want Parents To KnowSweeteners Linked To Early Puberty In Kids. Here's What Parents Need To Know

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