Have you found this age to be your favorite?

[Anonymous]

Babies are precious, toddlers are cute, little kids are adorable, but they’re all a lot of work and not at all relatable.

My DC is now 13 and I’m finding 12-13 (and still going!) has been the most fun I’ve had parenting. Things are still a lot of work and hard sometimes, for different reasons, but this little person with their budding personality is so much fun! We relate to so many things together; can enjoy many of the same shows and movies, can enjoy shopping and going out to eat, can easily enjoy new crafts or games, can discuss things.

Last night I let DD stay up with me and we ate popcorn and watched a reality show and I just thought, this is awesome. Anyone else find this to be true?

[Anonymous]

So weird to start a thread on this.

[Anonymous]

I definitely hated the elementary school years with my first kid. It felt like all she talked about was cheap plastic toys from China and was kind of all over the place. She really pulled herself together in 6th grade and I started enjoying her more. Her younger sister? I didn't like her until she was about ... almost 4 and then I've enjoyed her ever since.

[Anonymous]

OP sounds immature.

[Anonymous]

I have always enjoyed my kids. They are in their teens and twenties and they are still so much fun.

[Anonymous]

JFC no. Amazing daughter turned into a monster at 13. Became a little better around 16/17, amd now, at 18, I am silently counting the days until she leaves for college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:JFC no. Amazing daughter turned into a monster at 13. Became a little better around 16/17, amd now, at 18, I am silently counting the days until she leaves for college.

Terrible.

[Anonymous]

I have enjoyed my kids at all of the ages for a variety of reasons. They are now 17y and I think this age is really fun. We can have intellectual/sarcastic/somewhat crude conversations. They can manage themselves (homework/daily life skills.) And I can start to see the adults they will become which is fun.

[Anonymous]

I hear you, OP. Mine are 13 and 9 and such a delight right now.

[Anonymous]

Mine are 12 and 15 and we are on vacation. I am promising myself that I will never do this again. All of the nonstop complaining and whining and teen temper tantrums. It is worse than the toddler years. I wish we didn’t go. Right now we are sitting in the Airbnb because both refuse to go to dinner and I’m trying to decide if I should leave them or pack and drive home.

[Anonymous]

I hear you, OP. This age has been easy for us and we know we're lucky. I loved the younger ages too, but they were so much more work. I also love seeing DD13 mature in her interests, and I enjoy having conversations where she can actually teach me something.

[Anonymous]

You must be kidding. Mine is 13 and I’m in hell. I would zoom right through middle school and go to junior year high school with zero regrets. ZERO

[Anonymous]

Mine are 12 and 14 and I’m finally in my element. I love this part so much.

[Anonymous]

Yep - mine are 12 and 15 and I enjoy them a lot more. I mean this age is hard but not in ways that are hard for me. Babies and little kids are grinding work and i wasn’t in my element.

[Anonymous]

So you haven't gotten to the attitude and moodiness yet? Hold tight.

I prefer older teens/young adults more. I love being around my 18 and 20 year olds *most* days. The 13 year old not so much.