Here’s how crazy it all is: I don’t have kids but I’m about to take a cross country flight with my 2 yr old nephew and 6 year old niece, and I’m super excited to get six hours straight with them. Don’t parents usually dread these types of things?

Anonymous wrote:More time to focus on their career, sleep, exercise, watch TV, go out to eat and watch movies, do anything they da*n well please.

Anybody else?

It gets better when they’re teens right? I’ll have my independence back?

yes, you will have much more free time. exercise, TV, going out etc won't be an issue. you will have a whole new set of worries. but time-wise, it's much easier.

Anonymous wrote:No. There is a certain time in most people's lives when it needs to stop being about them.

Eye roll. People have kids because THEY want them to make their own lives better. You’re not doing a community service by raising kids. We have enough people on this planet. Get over yourself.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m only jealous financially.

+1
Other than financially, I pity them.

Anonymous wrote:I’m only jealous financially.

+1
Other than financially, I pity them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It does not get better when they are teens. Little kids little problems. The things that can happen. You do get some time but it’s no walk in the park.

yep. Mosey on over to the Tween and College forums for a snapshot.

Ayup. The baby/toddler/kid years are physically exhausting, but tween/teens years can be emotionally devastating. Teens will rip your heart out and eat it in front of you while never breaking eye contact. Even the “good” kids.

I feel occasional pangs of situational jealousy. For example, my child free by choice bff is off skiing in Switzerland right now, while I’m chasing toddlers. But then if I had the choice to to trade with her, I wouldn’t, because I desperately wanted my kids and I don’t actually like being away from them.

I am on diet and doing weight watchers with some childless friends. They show me their complicated recipes and careful food measure and I’m like who has time for that I need something I can eat on drive to school pickup line.

Not to mention I made a special zero point meal tonight and my spouse and kids ate it before I had any!

I have wonderful teens and they were great babies. They were awful toddlers. It was hell.

I have tweens/teens and sure, they have problems, but the level of parental exhaustion is not the same. My kids get up in the morning on their own, make their own breakfasts and lunches, walk themselves to and from school, etc. I don't have to worry about childcare all the time, I can stay late at work if I need to, my husband and I can make evening plans without getting a sitter, we can see a movie when we feel like it, we can sleep in on the weekends. We have a lot more freedom.

Anonymous wrote:I’m only jealous financially.

+1

Anonymous wrote:No. There is a certain time in most people's lives when it needs to stop being about them.

Sorry OP, but mine are 11 and 14 and much more emotionally draining now. I’d much rather be wiping butts and cutting grapes. That was easier for me than this.

No. There is a certain time in most people's lives when it needs to stop being about them.

I'm with you, OP. Jealous of the freedom.