Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh for Pete's sake. All stages of parenting are difficult and hard. And rewarding and amazing. All at the same time.

Can we stop the contest? We're all winners and losers, simultaneously.

Nothing compares to the challenges of the postpartum, sleep deprivation newborn months.

I might agree with you if we were only talking about my second. She never, ever slept due to insane GERD. My first... slept through the night by 3 weeks! Had to wake him up to feed him, and then not even that. He was gaining weight fast and pediatrician said... nah, let him sleep.

Anonymous wrote:Oh for Pete's sake. All stages of parenting are difficult and hard. And rewarding and amazing. All at the same time.

Can we stop the contest? We're all winners and losers, simultaneously.

Nothing compares to the challenges of the postpartum, sleep deprivation newborn months.

Anonymous wrote:You really need a 10-12 year old.

But ho ahead and dream.

Exactly right! Your dream world exists for a few short years, and it truly is awesome.

I have a 6 year old, 5 year old and 1.5 year old - I LOVE it. I would never complain to parents with teenagers. Having teens (as demonstrated on this thread) sounds horrible.

My kids all sleep around 12 hours a night and one of them still takes a 2 hour nap during the middle of the day. I don't have to worry about them sneaking out or doing drugs or having sex. They love me and cuddle with me and wake up in the mornings saying "Good morning mama! I love you!"

I am soaking this all in so I can play it in my mind when they are older and refuse to talk to me.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hahaha. You may have seriously just set some karma in motion…. bc toddlers are a cakewalk to teens.

Some teens maybe. But I was just talking to a mom of 3 this week whose kids are all college+ aged (except one HS senior) and she was telling me all about how it gets so much better and more fun when the kids are teens. She could travel and do fun stuff with them. Plus make her own plans to go out with her DH because the kids were independent. Vs. being in the midst of the young elementary/toddler/baby stage.

Another coworker with two HS aged kids has said similar things to me (her kids are pretty into advanced classes/band so probably not partners).

I know some teens are rough. I imagine dealing with a teen with mental illness, addiction issues, poor grades, etc. is harder than a toddler. But I also think there’s a decent chance to have some good ones who are fun to be around. I have all boys who are pretty sporty/laid back so I hope they stay that way!

This! I love my teen and he is great. Sure we have some of the usual issues, but he is independent, thoughtful fun to talk to and I would not in a million years go back to the toddler/baby/single digit years. This is so much easier and joyful.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want a teen now, I will loan you mine!

When you wake up at 5:45am to pee, you might discover
A. they actually haven’t come home yet and haven’t texted you to say where they are
B. They texted you at 1am to let you know “FYI” that a new girlfriend stayed overnight with them, and presumably is still in their bedroom
C. They texted you at 3am to say the car battery died, can you pick them up? Then lots more “?” texts but no actual update on what happened or where they are

I could go on and on….😭

I can't even imagine the ass-whooping I would have gotten if I had done any of those things.

there is literally a 0% change my kids will ever do A, B, or C. ZERO

+1000. That’s not a teen problem, that’s a parenting problem. DP with a 17 year old DS.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want a teen now, I will loan you mine!

When you wake up at 5:45am to pee, you might discover
A. they actually haven’t come home yet and haven’t texted you to say where they are
B. They texted you at 1am to let you know “FYI” that a new girlfriend stayed overnight with them, and presumably is still in their bedroom
C. They texted you at 3am to say the car battery died, can you pick them up? Then lots more “?” texts but no actual update on what happened or where they are

I could go on and on….😭

I can't even imagine the ass-whooping I would have gotten if I had done any of those things.

there is literally a 0% change my kids will ever do A, B, or C. ZERO

Absolutely. Privileges are earned. No freedom without responsibility. If I missed the bus I missed school and got detention and missed after school activities. No cell phones back in my day so if you forget gear or a form, it's on you not your parent. Scream at me for 15 minutes??? I do not do things for people who treat me badly, you're showing your kid how to let people treat them if you allow them to treat you like garbage.

Admittedly, my kids are 7,7 and 10 but if they whine about setting the table then they have to also sweep the floor, whine about that and you mop the kitchen. My 10 yr old is starting with friend drama and I got her Judy Blume books to show her that, although the pain is real, it's a part of life and growing up and becoming someone who can solve problems and, really, all kids go through this. It's my job to help her become a functioning adult and the amount of autotomy she has is directionally proportional to the sense she shows.

You have no self awareness or reflection, do you? You sound so sure of everything... Me, me, me... Newsflash, you are not your kids!
You have not raised teens, and if you had an ounce of reasoning, you would be aware of that, and admit that you do not know how you will handle it as you never did handle it, but you hope this is how you would handle it.
Only stupid people know everything and are certain that other people are morons.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want a teen now, I will loan you mine!

When you wake up at 5:45am to pee, you might discover
A. they actually haven’t come home yet and haven’t texted you to say where they are
B. They texted you at 1am to let you know “FYI” that a new girlfriend stayed overnight with them, and presumably is still in their bedroom
C. They texted you at 3am to say the car battery died, can you pick them up? Then lots more “?” texts but no actual update on what happened or where they are

I could go on and on….😭

I can't even imagine the ass-whooping I would have gotten if I had done any of those things.

there is literally a 0% change my kids will ever do A, B, or C. ZERO

Absolutely. Privileges are earned. No freedom without responsibility. If I missed the bus I missed school and got detention and missed after school activities. No cell phones back in my day so if you forget gear or a form, it's on you not your parent. Scream at me for 15 minutes??? I do not do things for people who treat me badly, you're showing your kid how to let people treat them if you allow them to treat you like garbage.

Admittedly, my kids are 7,7 and 10 but if they whine about setting the table then they have to also sweep the floor, whine about that and you mop the kitchen. My 10 yr old is starting with friend drama and I got her Judy Blume books to show her that, although the pain is real, it's a part of life and growing up and becoming someone who can solve problems and, really, all kids go through this. It's my job to help her become a functioning adult and the amount of autotomy she has is directionally proportional to the sense she shows.

We have a large family with children ranging from 3-17 and I can tell you that the teens are so much more difficult then the little ones at it house.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ummm parents of teens can sleep….so I can’t can’t can’t freaking wait!!!!! To have teens!! Imagine going to bed and waking up not at 6 am! And wow, no potty breaks or bad dreams or wondering if it’s a 5 wake-up night or 1 wake up night or none.

Everything else everyone wrote I am ignoring, you all forget how it is to not sleep. Nothing else matters.

Yes, teens sleep in. But you won't be able to sleep once they get a license. I haven't slept well in months since my teen got his license.

Eh I don’t know Im still not convinced by any of these stories, with sleep I could take any of this stuff on. Meanwhile last night was a 3 wake-up night (potty, blanket, stuffy nose) and our day started at 5:17 AM. I would trade you any type of teen with boyfriend or grilfriend or grunting or license or leaving lights on just so I can go to bed at 10 and not wake up and sleep “in” until 7. That’s all I want and I can’t have it. You all must have forgotten that. Sleep deprivation is a torture technique. Grumpy teens with problems are not.

You miss the point that unless you are taking a sleeping pill after drinking a bottle of wine, you aren't getting good sleep with teens. So you've got the same issue with not enough sleep but instead of nighttime potty visits and lost blankies, you are dealing with teens sneaking out at night, drug use, having sex, and other major things that have big consequences.

This may be a teen-specific issue so it’s weird that you would generalize. Most teens are not sneaking out or doing drugs or having sex.

Haha, yes they are. Maybe not every night and not every teen but most are doing all of that.

Stats don’t bear this out. Maybe 1/3 are. Sorry you happen to raise and know the crappy 1/3.

I have 2 teens and a toddler. They are all difficult but in a different way.

Oh for Pete's sake. All stages of parenting are difficult and hard. And rewarding and amazing. All at the same time.

Can we stop the contest? We're all winners and losers, simultaneously.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ummm parents of teens can sleep….so I can’t can’t can’t freaking wait!!!!! To have teens!! Imagine going to bed and waking up not at 6 am! And wow, no potty breaks or bad dreams or wondering if it’s a 5 wake-up night or 1 wake up night or none.

Everything else everyone wrote I am ignoring, you all forget how it is to not sleep. Nothing else matters.

Yes, teens sleep in. But you won't be able to sleep once they get a license. I haven't slept well in months since my teen got his license.

Eh I don’t know Im still not convinced by any of these stories, with sleep I could take any of this stuff on. Meanwhile last night was a 3 wake-up night (potty, blanket, stuffy nose) and our day started at 5:17 AM. I would trade you any type of teen with boyfriend or grilfriend or grunting or license or leaving lights on just so I can go to bed at 10 and not wake up and sleep “in” until 7. That’s all I want and I can’t have it. You all must have forgotten that. Sleep deprivation is a torture technique. Grumpy teens with problems are not.

You miss the point that unless you are taking a sleeping pill after drinking a bottle of wine, you aren't getting good sleep with teens. So you've got the same issue with not enough sleep but instead of nighttime potty visits and lost blankies, you are dealing with teens sneaking out at night, drug use, having sex, and other major things that have big consequences.

This may be a teen-specific issue so it’s weird that you would generalize. Most teens are not sneaking out or doing drugs or having sex.

Haha, yes they are. Maybe not every night and not every teen but most are doing all of that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ummm parents of teens can sleep….so I can’t can’t can’t freaking wait!!!!! To have teens!! Imagine going to bed and waking up not at 6 am! And wow, no potty breaks or bad dreams or wondering if it’s a 5 wake-up night or 1 wake up night or none.

Everything else everyone wrote I am ignoring, you all forget how it is to not sleep. Nothing else matters.

Yes, teens sleep in. But you won't be able to sleep once they get a license. I haven't slept well in months since my teen got his license.

Eh I don’t know Im still not convinced by any of these stories, with sleep I could take any of this stuff on. Meanwhile last night was a 3 wake-up night (potty, blanket, stuffy nose) and our day started at 5:17 AM. I would trade you any type of teen with boyfriend or grilfriend or grunting or license or leaving lights on just so I can go to bed at 10 and not wake up and sleep “in” until 7. That’s all I want and I can’t have it. You all must have forgotten that. Sleep deprivation is a torture technique. Grumpy teens with problems are not.

You miss the point that unless you are taking a sleeping pill after drinking a bottle of wine, you aren't getting good sleep with teens. So you've got the same issue with not enough sleep but instead of nighttime potty visits and lost blankies, you are dealing with teens sneaking out at night, drug use, having sex, and other major things that have big consequences.

Parent of now two adults and I slept great! Yes I would be up sometimes waiting for them but y’all make it sound like you are living in an asylum run by teens. Heck I went to bed before my kids and no they didn’t sneak out and do drugs and have sex. I did but they didn’t. It helps to have dogs who let you know what’s going on. If your kid is sneaking out - get an alarm system. Babies are the worst. For most parents having teens is a cycle of ups and downs just like with toddlers. There are amazing things that happen that fills your heart with love and joy and pride and there is worry and disappointment and struggle. Those things also happen between husband and wife in a marriage. Be open to them. Meet them where they are. Give them the benefit of the doubt and remember that becoming a person is a really hard thing to do. But yes most of us got a lot more sleep just not on Friday and Saturday but we could sleep in on those mornings. Stop being so gloom and doom folks!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ummm parents of teens can sleep….so I can’t can’t can’t freaking wait!!!!! To have teens!! Imagine going to bed and waking up not at 6 am! And wow, no potty breaks or bad dreams or wondering if it’s a 5 wake-up night or 1 wake up night or none.

Everything else everyone wrote I am ignoring, you all forget how it is to not sleep. Nothing else matters.

Yes, teens sleep in. But you won't be able to sleep once they get a license. I haven't slept well in months since my teen got his license.

Eh I don’t know Im still not convinced by any of these stories, with sleep I could take any of this stuff on. Meanwhile last night was a 3 wake-up night (potty, blanket, stuffy nose) and our day started at 5:17 AM. I would trade you any type of teen with boyfriend or grilfriend or grunting or license or leaving lights on just so I can go to bed at 10 and not wake up and sleep “in” until 7. That’s all I want and I can’t have it. You all must have forgotten that. Sleep deprivation is a torture technique. Grumpy teens with problems are not.

You miss the point that unless you are taking a sleeping pill after drinking a bottle of wine, you aren't getting good sleep with teens. So you've got the same issue with not enough sleep but instead of nighttime potty visits and lost blankies, you are dealing with teens sneaking out at night, drug use, having sex, and other major things that have big consequences.

This may be a teen-specific issue so it’s weird that you would generalize. Most teens are not sneaking out or doing drugs or having sex.