Spin-Off Thread! What Age/Phase is your favorite? Least favorite?

[Theoretica]

So the 'do you have a favorite' thread got me thinking. What phase/age range is your favorite to parent?

Disclaimer: Let's just understand right off the bat that we all love our kids all the time, this isn't a thread to insinuate that we don't love them outside of these age ranges. It's a fun 'preference' kinda thing. Anywhoo...moving on...

I'm pregnant with kiddo #5 and I can firmly say that I absolutely LOVE once babies/toddlers are signing/communicating and I love older teenagers. The 'in between' ages/phases are not my favorites at ALL. The transitioning from toddler to child is tougher for me to parent, as is the 'tween' years from child to teen. My 8.5yo is hitting that phase HARD and I remember when her two older siblings were the same age...blech! Same for early 'actual' teen years-the transition is SO hard and they are just really challenging people during that time period. Not very enjoyable, that's for sure, but I've realized it's not THEM it's ME (LOL) because I've met plenty of people that completely LOVE the tween years and can't stand other phases.

[kate42]

My DD is only six, so I don't have a lot of experience with this, but between 3 and 4 was often torture.

Then, she turned four and it was like a light switch was flipped. Everything tortuous mellowed out and she's currently fabulous.

[sunnmama]

3 is my least favorite. Dd was absolutely emotionally exhausting at 3. Ds is turning 3 next month, and, while he never had "terrible twos", even he is getting a bit tougher to work with these days. There is a lot less "Ok, mommy. Sure!" and a whole lot more "How about 'No'?" lolol.

Dd will be 9 in Feb, and 8 has been my favorite by far. We have so much fun together! We share a similar sense of humor and really seem to "get" each other. She does have some of the "tween" issues and behaviors, but she is a SUPER open communicator, and that helps a lot. When she hormonally bursts into tears, I can make her laugh through her tears with just a word or two. The combination of this age, and this child, is a very fulfilling one for me .

[hottmama]

Four is my favorite age so far (my oldest will be 7 next month).

[MadiMamacita]

I can only have experience parenting the baby stages..
4-5 months was really fun, when they seem to "wake up" and really notice you are there.. 10 months is fun too, with more mobility and being more vocal.
ask me again in a few years!