Which is the easiest part of parenting?

i think each stage of parenting has it stressful moments. like newborns who don't sleep thru the night and cry all the time. or toddlers who love to touch every damn thing in the house!!!. or then they are 5-11 and they are starting to get that fresh mouth, or when they are 12-39 and they think they know every damn thing in the world and you don't. but then there are some great moments! so it depends...

Oh been through all that. My baby turned 30 last year. I just look at my kids and laugh when they say "we never acted like that!" and I love the "mom, what do I do?" My youngest grandchild just turned 3 and the oldest one just turned 16 and I have to say I enjoy every minute of this!! Well, from birth to 5-7 you are teaching them. From 7-10 they are trying to please you. 12-14 they start testing 14-16 you have taught them all you can at this age. 16-18 you can only guide them now. If you haven't taught them by now this isn't the time to start!!! After 18, you did your job and you will see the fruits of your labor although from 18-22 you may say a lot of "You did WHAT???".. I just told my "baby" the other day...'that's why your the mommy now. You get to make the decisions' and I think her answer was something that I have heard a lot from her since she turned 18..."I don'nt like this!"....I think my favorite was when she said "I want to be little again and you can make the decisions!" Best of luck to you....I am sure you have been a wonderful mother and taught them well and they will be a blessing to you the rest of your life.

My oldest is 13 and the youngest is 2... with 3 more in between them. For me the teen is the easiest.. though frustrating when it comes to his grades and other stupid things like that because I know he knows better but he does this dumb stuff anyways, drives me crazy. But personally, I love that he's becoming more independent and doesn't need much of me anymore. He helps with chores, and if I'm really feeling cruddy he can do just about anything from dishes to making food for the little ones. I frequently have him help with dinner such as stirring when I want to walk away for a minute. He also helps keep an eye on the little ones to give me a break, and he can change diapers and give them drinks and snacks so I don't have to get up every 5 minutes to wait on them. Also he's better at entertaining himself. I don't need to feel bad for him when it's a rainy day and I can't get the kids outside, because he's perfectly happy sitting and playing his video games all day. The other kids, when they get bored they get loud and obnoxious, which stresses me out. Not sure if it's because I'm overwhelmed at the moment with so many little ones, or just drained from having to be their servant all the time.. or whatever.. but I truly enjoy the oldest and constantly look forward to the rest of them hitting that age!

I don't think it has ever gotten easier for me. I used to think it would as they grew up but my son is 21 now and he is more a handfull than my younger ones. I wish he would do better so I could sleep at night but what can you do when they are of age? I hope it does get easier for you. It does for some people.

In December my youngest will be thirteen. Then, I will be the mother of four teens also. I agree with you totally. The teen years are confusing enough for the kids themselves, let alone us parents. I have to constantly remind myself that at the ages they are now, they need much guidence to do the right thing in life. I pray that they listen to just 10% of what I say. The rest is mainly trusting they will make the right decisions and not mess it up.

I have yet to learn, I am expecting my first child in September. I do though have 9 nieces and nephews that I have helped look after - I reckon that the baby stage was the easiest!!

i have to agree with you. while the kids are young, the parent gets physically tired from chasing after them, etc. but as teens, the parents gets exhausted in other ways from playing mind games with their teens! i think the easiest time of parenting is when they have moved out!

Karen I think your right that the teenage years are the worst.It is the fact that they go out and have fun , while you wait nervously at home hoping they come home safely. They are adults and you still can not forget that they are your babies. Sometimes it not your children who create problems. it can be others that cause them problems. For example my daughter is going through am assault case where a 13 year old girl punched her in the face,simply because this girl has a fatal attraction crush on my daughters boyfriend. So who do they come running to for help,us of course. Sometimes I wish they were still toddlers and we can tuck them in safe and sound each night.

Hi, karen1969. I think that it is more easier when the child is a baby that can't walk yet. If the baby is very quiet all it needs is food and sleep. I also think that it is easier when they get into middle school too. By now they can do for themselves. All of my kids are young so I have not had the experience of dealing with them when they are a teenager just yet. I know what I may be up against. I have an four year old daughter right now that thinks that she is a grown woman. I have to constantly remind her that she isn't. She talks back and is nasty sometimes to me. And to her father. I can imagine what she will be like when she is a teenager. All rebellious and anxious! I prefer to deal with a baby. It is more easier. That is the most easiest parenting stage that I think goes by smoothly.

My daughter is eight and although she has always been a good kid I am already starting to get a bit of attitude from her so I am not looking forward to the teenage years. One of my friends has a twelve year old boy who is going through a stage where he is very lazy and he has told her on numerous occasions that he hates her; now that’s got to hurt! I used to think that toilet training was the hardest stage I had with my daughter, ha! Wait until the teenage years! I figured that I may move out on her thirteenth birthday and return when she’s turned twenty-two!

For me the easiest part is when they girls are in bed !! LOL! To be honest I don't think there is an easy part to parenting, especially for someone like me who worries all of the time. The thing is you don't ever stop being a parent and I know for a fact that my mother still worries about me even though I am in my thirties. I know I won't ever stop worrying about my girls I just hope I teach them well and that they continue to make the right decisions in life and enjoy being the people that they are.

Hi karen, I think your experience to care for your children tells the right answer. You said at the primary school years (age 5-11) are the easiest, and you are right. So the hardest stage would be from infant to toddler stage. child care at toddler stage is very important because this is the stage of the child's development that the philosopher John Locke said in his famous theory "tabula rasa" where the child mind is likened to a blank slate (tablet)where nothing is on it until parental upbringing and the child's interaction with the surrounding influence the child's mind.

I think the best part of parenting is when they get to around 22 years old, thye calm down meet their patners, they are grown up can make their own mistakes and sort them out and they are independant. My three are 30 /28 and 22 and these are the best years I have with my children. When they were babies it was hard work, then the teenage years I thought I'd never get through them in one piece and am shocked I have not gone grey with all the worry they caused. Now it is a calm time, they have all left home but visit me every few days, we are all the best of friends sometimes they all arrive at once wtih their children and it is a mad house again but I love it now. I can really enjoy the later years with them.

Parenting is a very tough job. I used to do that to my nephew and niece, when their parents was away. I woke up early in the morning to make breakfast for them and send them to school vice versa. I also attend their meetings, check their assignments and taught them as far as i could every night. Now i understand how hard to be parent just like you.

no, because then they don't come home at night, so you never know if they got home safely...

I have to agree with you. When my sons were toddlers, I was so exhausted all the time. I remember asking a neighbor, who had a teenager, if it ever gets any easier and her answer was, "No, it gets worse!" Sure enough, when they each reached the grand old age of 14, it was like someone flipped a switch and they became these alien creatures that I had never seen before! When they reached around 18 years of age, I began to recognize them again. I'd have to say that grade school (primary school) age is the easiest and for all the reasons you mentioned. I'm just thankful that my sons are both adults now and on their own. Whew! There were times when I didn't think I'd make it!

I agree with you totally the teen years are the worse especially dealing with daughters. The easiest I think is the few years before they go to school. Once they are in school you have to deal with school clothes, lunches, homework, school projects, book reports. Then on top of all that is getting them to go to sleep at a good time. I have now a 29 and almost 32 year old and its alot easier. You will still worry about them but that is about all.

I have a 5 year old daughter and a 7-1/2 month old son. Oh, I didn't know there was an "easiest" part in parenting - ha ha. Certain things get easier, and then other things get harder . . . it's always another phase or issue. I find that some things are easier with my oldest because she is more independent than ever before . . . at the same time she can take advantage of her independence and that drive us nuts to make it harder on us - hee hee. And with my young son, he's always been a go with the flow type of baby . . . but now that he is getting more mobile, he's trying his best to call the shots - hee hee. Like I said, some things easier, some things harder. Gosh, I can't even imagine them as teenagers!!

Well I have a 9 year old, and a 16 month old, and I have to say they are both hard work... Justin my toddler, well as you say.... I get exhausted lol, because he is just on the go all day long, and he gets into everything, I don't just need eyes in the back of my head lol, but eyes everywhere! Jason, well he was ok between the ages of 5 and 7, I guess that part was pretty easy, but there were still some difficulties, like not doing as he is told, or he got in a stress, I am sure as a mother of 4 you understand exactly what I am saying! But he is 9 now, and well, I actually feel like I have a teenager, because he has gotten so mouthy, honestly he answers back, he has spoken to me in a way that my own parents would have smacked me for if I had spoken to them like that. A lot of people say it is the school, you know mixing with other boys, and trying to be like them, and some say it is hormones. Well I don't know what it is, but all I do know is it is very hard work at the moment, and I really am not looking forward to him hitting teenage years! I shall be coming to you for advice, so watch out!!!

Each age has its beautiful side and hard side. Nothing is easy. Worry,not to get sick,school,exams... A mother always cares. I think the hardest part is communication and respect their personality