dony898
Post 05/11/2026 16:13     Subject: If you genuinely LIKE your teenager, did you also LIKE them as a child?
See if you can find some local groups for parents of teens to hear about their own "difficult" years.
Anonymous
Post 05/11/2026 15:53     Subject: If you genuinely LIKE your teenager, did you also LIKE them as a child?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My older kid was very challenging as a younger kid, and much easier to like as a teen. I think her truest-self just yearned for agency and control in a way that younger kids simply can't have. Once she was old enough to have a little more self-determination, she settled in and was happy.

+1 for my oldest


I have one of these too. Also an oldest.
Anonymous
Post 05/11/2026 14:39     Subject: If you genuinely LIKE your teenager, did you also LIKE them as a child?
Anonymous wrote:My older kid was very challenging as a younger kid, and much easier to like as a teen. I think her truest-self just yearned for agency and control in a way that younger kids simply can't have. Once she was old enough to have a little more self-determination, she settled in and was happy.

+1 for my oldest
Anonymous
Post 05/11/2026 12:05     Subject: If you genuinely LIKE your teenager, did you also LIKE them as a child?
My older kid was very challenging as a younger kid, and much easier to like as a teen. I think her truest-self just yearned for agency and control in a way that younger kids simply can't have. Once she was old enough to have a little more self-determination, she settled in and was happy.
Anonymous
Post 05/11/2026 11:38     Subject: If you genuinely LIKE your teenager, did you also LIKE them as a child?
Yes, love my teens and loved them as younger children. Didn't love the baby days but that's not because of them, but rather I just found it to be sooo boring.
Anonymous
Post 05/11/2026 08:03     Subject: If you genuinely LIKE your teenager, did you also LIKE them as a child?
I mean define like. Mostly yes, but there are definitely moments/seasons when I don’t. When the one is in a demanding sport, it’s tough. So overtired and impossible. Then it’s over and I’m back to liking them again. I think that’s normal. Both are good kids.
Anonymous
Post 05/11/2026 02:07     Subject: If you genuinely LIKE your teenager, did you also LIKE them as a child?
Mine are girls. I really like mine as teens. One of mine was easy to like as a kid and the other one was difficult and I did not enjoy parenting her most of the time.

But - I generally like teenagers, and didn’t really enjoy parenting little kids.
Anonymous
Post 05/10/2026 22:53     Subject: If you genuinely LIKE your teenager, did you also LIKE them as a child?
I have always liked both of my kids, yes. There were phases that were less pleasant (eg, 8, 11). And of course it’s a lot of work when they’re really little, but I see that as unrelated to whether I like and enjoy my kids (I did/do).