Spunky Homeschool

Toddlers or Teens which is harder?

Jan. 13, 2006 at 10:11 AM

Children

A while back someone was introduced to my son. She complimented him and asked me, "What do I have to do to have a teen like that?" I said, "Have a baby at 40." She rolled her eyes and said no thanks.

Let's face it, who else can spit up on a teenager and get away with it? And there is nothing more humbling than 15 year old boy walking around with a pink diaper bag. A real trend setter. I have come to believe that it takes a toddler to help raise a teen. The teen learns real quick how awful it is to have someone around who believes that life revolves around them.

And now thatI have teens, I sure do wish I had one around when I had five children, seven and under. I honestly don't know how I did it without losing my sanity. (OK maybe I did and no one wants to tell me.) My two year old daughter is being trained in many of the ways that I just didn't have the time for with my others. And many of the things that I fretted over with my first born (like are they breathing) I don't even think about with her. I can't believe I once even ran the vacumn under my daughter's crib while she napped just to check her hearing.

But now that I have both a toddler and a teen, I'm trying to decide if one is harder to parent than the other? I'm not sure. The toddler years were more physically demanding but the teen years seem more mentally demanding. To be honest I haven't found either one to be "terrible". For the toddler years, I remember thinking this will never end. For the teen years, I think this is all ending too quickly.

What age has been the most challenging for you?

Reminder: Today is Friday the 13th. I'm keeping track of our day today. I'll post what happened in our home tomorrow. Want to join me? I talked about it here a few days ago, and here's my first Friday the 13th from last May.

4 Comments and Trackbacks

posted by Sharon (www.nesthome.blogspot.com) on Jan. 13, 2006 at 11:24 AM

I have no personal experience, as we only have one and he's a toddler.
But my parents raised 8 kids. They always joke that toddlers and teens- they both have a lot of tantrums!!! :) lol.

posted by Tami on Jan. 13, 2006 at 12:07 PM

I am raising toddlers and teens, too. It's a crazy life balancing the needs of both. I wouldn't change it for anything.

What surprises people most is that all of my children are excited about our new little one who is due this August. They were even praying for twins!

I enjoyed reading your first Friday the 13th post. We have 3 little ones sharing a room right now, but we are going to move our 6 yr old upstairs to share a room with our 11 year old sometime before the baby is born. We have just held off on moving this child upstairs, since he is our one who has nightmares and comes to our bed frequently. So we have kept him on the same floor of the house with us.

I am keeping my journal for today, too. I'll post it tomorrow.

Have a blessed day! Tami

posted by linlonlew on Jan. 13, 2006 at 2:37 PM

I had toddlers and teens at one point and definitely think that the teens were harder work - I never quite managed the knack of picking my teenage sons up and tucking them under my arm when they were having a tantrum! Thankfully they are now grown men and have grown out of it all.

I'm cross with myself that I totally forgot the blog all day thing, mind you I also forgot it was Friday 13th - we've had such a good day :-) Look forward to reading yours tomorrow.

Blessings,

Lin x

posted by Harriette on Jan. 13, 2006 at 9:56 PM

Loved the toddler years (..I agree physically exhausting...but lots of sloppy wet kisses...) and I am loving the teen year - this is my first official one - so I guess I'll get back to you into the next few, huh? I'm one of those odd mothers that even the bad days are days to celebrate and look back and go - what was that all about? - it was easier in many ways, easier to keep them safe and un-influenced. But I have enjoyed and cherished every age and stage - though w/one 12 and one 13 I enjoy more "singular" time with each - they are such great individuals but when together are still driven to compete..........that is such a wierd chromosome.

Friday the 13th.........mine began at 2:30 this morning and I've already posted twice about my day - not that I'm superstitious........no way.........just ignore my references to voodoo as well..............I just love drama when telling a tale....bet you never guessed that, huh?

Hope your Friday was smoother than mine!! We did manage to go out and eat without incident......but I've 2 more hours to go.......

I think tomorrow I will post the most memorable Friday the 13th ever for our family, the day my husband got lost inside the mall.......and we (the boys and I) were in another state trying to walk him out by cell phone........

Happy weekend -
Harriette

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