I figure it will be somewhere between ages 12 & 14. My oldest is currently 9.

I keep thinking to myself, "this is it. This is going to be my favorite age." Then another year comes and I'm thinking the same thing again!

So I guess to answer your question OP, I've loved it all.

Newborn stage is constant anxiety combined with lack of sleep
After 6momths I’ve enjoyed everything though I haven’t made it past 7 years to know what’s coming. Even seeing babies now gives me a visceral reaction of anxiety. Ugh, no way I want anything to do with babies ever again.

Anonymous wrote:Elementary school years. All she talked about was toys and boring crap, and was TERRIBLE at telling a story. Could NOT tell a cohesive story to save her life. I always had to ask like 40 clarifying questions.

From middle school on, things have been gravy.

LOL

I love babies & toddlers—have spent most of my career working with them.

DS is 2.75 and there have been a few annoying phases.

2-8 weeks, just so freaking exhausted + bored
10 mos., sleep regression, early walker
1-1.5., mobile + no fear
2.5, emergence of negotiation tactics

Anonymous wrote:Interesting question. It also helps to know the oldest child of the responders. My oldest is 10 (fantastic age, btw). Least favorite for both kids so far was 3.5.

My DD is 10 and it’s sooooo great. Maybe so we top up our love tanks before the teen years hit.

Newborn period, but really ages 0-2.75 weren't super enjoyable. Close to 3, it started getting a lot better, and has every year since for several years counting.

4

Anonymous wrote:Newborn through 6 months was my least favorite. So fussy, so needy, and also kind of boring.

Same here. I'll take toddler tantrums, thanks.

Anonymous wrote:I love every age. DC is 10.

Same. 13 year old boy and he has always been an easy going good kid. Hope he stays that way lol!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Newborn to preschool age was the worst.

+1

I'd say 0-36 months. I'm loving 3.5--4 right now.

Me too. My oldest is about to turn 4 and it’s awesome. I can communicate and somewhat reason with him. He’s funny, fully potty trained, sleeps through the night, likes to be my helper (pick up toys, play with baby brother, etc.). I feel like I’m really enjoying parenting now instead of just keeping him alive and dealing with tantrums.

Least favorite is the newborn stage. The physical recovery from child birth + lack of sleep + constant nursing is really rough for me. Second hardest is 12-18 months. Like a PP said, it’s mobility without rationality. The beginning of age 3 was tough too, but it was more like short periods of things being tough (like a really big tantrum that would last 20-30 min. instead of the constantness of things being tough with a baby/young toddler.

Basically I think it keeps getting better, which is why we’re considering a third. I wish I could skip those first 6 months though!

I went into motherhood thinking I’d hate 0-4. Pleasantly surprised that 0-3 hasn’t been as bad as I was anticipating. And DS is just so damn cute.
But he just turned 3. I’m not enjoying it. The crying over everything little thing. Being bossy. I just want to scream “STFU, im the boss and you WILL brush your teeth”