Do you feel parenting gets easier or harder as your DC get older?

I know people who think it gets easier, some harder. I know for myself, I felt like while the infant/toddler stage was hard, it was more about the sleep deprivation & adjusting to the role of being a parent. Now that my oldest is in pre school I feel like being a parent is more challenging, there are so many more things to teach him and I feel like the 'handbooks' I had for infant care just don't exist at this age.

Re: Do you feel parenting gets easier or harder as your DC get older?

For me personally it is getting harder. I think it has to do with the fact that I have worked with children under the age of 5 for over 20 years so I am in totally foreign territory now

Re: Do you feel parenting gets easier or harder as your DC get older?

It just gets different. When they get into school you have to worry about bullying, grades, how much freedom to give. But, they can feed themselves.

Re: Do you feel parenting gets easier or harder as your DC get older?

Harder. Hands down

Re: Do you feel parenting gets easier or harder as your DC get older?

for me...easier. Dont get me wrong, there are some hard days, but overall I found the infant stages to be much harder. I love that she can do things for herself now, help me a little here and there, and most importantly..can communicate what is wrong or what she needs/wants - that was so frustrating to me when she was little. Not KNOWING.

Its stressful now though worrying about if I am teaching her the right things at home, if she is learning things at a "normal" pace etc etc.

Re: Do you feel parenting gets easier or harder as your DC get older?

Re: Do you feel parenting gets easier or harder as your DC get older?

Easier for sure!
too easy thats why we are going backwards and having another one.

Re: Do you feel parenting gets easier or harder as your DC get older?

It's a different kind of challenge. It's easier because you aren't sleep deprived, your child can tell you what's goign on so there is no wondering what's really going on, you get in your grove...BUT

You spent years applauding their steps, building their confidence & some kid having their own self-esteem issues - knocks your child's self esteem down. It doesn't matter whether your child is the most popular or least popular, they second guess themselves. Suddenly your opinion counts less & their friends count more. They start to believe that they are not as fantastic as you said they really are.

Navigating elementary school - with the friends they adore & you don't, the friends you think are nice & they don't.

I've said it before - growing pains are really meant to describe the parents.

Re: Do you feel parenting gets easier or harder as your DC get older?

Posted by BaroqueMama

Harder. Hands down

Re: Do you feel parenting gets easier or harder as your DC get older?

Re: Do you feel parenting gets easier or harder as your DC get older?

For me, I would have to say harder. DD was pretty easy up until maybe 3 or 4, then the temper started. Now that she is almost 9... it's the attitude.

Re: Do you feel parenting gets easier or harder as your DC get older?

I think it's harder. Because they get older, you are sending them out in the world to judge & judged, to make their own decisions & choices, to live their own lives...they get bigger and stronger but are sometimes still little and powerless, they know more and think they know everything sometimes. Sometimes they make bad choices, you can try your best and they will still make bad choices. You have to try not to live vicariously through them, try not to make your needs their needs, try to be OK when they make choices that you don't agree with. You have to let them be taught lessons on their own sometimes. I can go on and on and my oldest is only 8. Yes when they are small they are very dependent for their day to day - and when very small, minute to minute needs. Yes, you need to chase them bc they don't understand parking lots, sidewalks vs streets, the danger of swallowing things too large or non-edible. But I definitely think the older part is harder

I have a couple of older nieces & nephews and I have had the experience of seeing them grow into adults so I try not to freak out at the stress of child rearing. "Try" hahaha

Re: Do you feel parenting gets easier or harder as your DC get older?

It gets different....it's always hard!

Message edited 11/22/2010 3:54:10 PM.

Re: Do you feel parenting gets easier or harder as your DC get older?

I know I am going to have a hard time with losing control over him.
I feel like I have so much say currently in the world of a 3 year old.
Once 5 comes and I send him out into the world...who he hangs out with, choices made, how people are towards him...

My mother had 7...house full of babies was nothing...house full of teens was torture.

Re: Do you feel parenting gets easier or harder as your DC get older?

Re: Do you feel parenting gets easier or harder as your DC get older?

Easier in the sense verses a baby/toddler (teaching them all the beginnings of life). My oldest is easier to teach things to for she gets it once where as my pre-schooler is needed to be taught more than once ;)
However, as my eldest gets older it's harder to protect them.... it's 50/50 for me. just like each stage is different.