Teens or Toddlers? Which is worse?

[CathrynRose]

I got a question for you all....

Which was / is worse for you?

The Terrible 2's? The Terror-Teenagers?

I dont know how to do a poll, or I would - I personally had no problems with my little toddling boys. They were gems, truly!!

Now, Ive got a 14 y/o ... OMG! When will it end??? Im counting down the days until I can say "Oh gee, look at that - youre 18! Bubbye!"

Pimples, mood-swings, hours on the phone, crying, yelling ... I cant even IMAGINE if I had ended up with girls, like I wanted. GOOD LORD! Ive seen their catty-ness with g/f's kids.... holy moly!

 

[Marseeya]

I'm with you! The toddler years were wonderful and I'd give anything to have that child back again. Instead I'm stuck with this demon spawn.

 

[kldmom2000]

I'm anticipating the teen years with our 2 girls is going to be the death of me............. I'm really not looking forward to that!!!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Depends on my child. My firstborn, 18yo, had an attitude as a toddler and also had it as a teen, but the teen years were not too bad (could have been WAY worse). My 15yo was a fairly easy toddler and is a pretty good teen, but is moody, needs prodding to do his homework, etc. Not too bad, but difficult in some ways. My 12yo was the easiest of toddlers and is now so moody and grouchy. He is still self motivated and does his homework without prodding or help, but sure has an attitude. My 6yo was by far the most difficult of my children as a toddler so we'll see what the teen years bring. Hopefully I've paid my dues with him!

 

[loisg1]

We have 14yo and 17yo DDs. As toddlers they were angels. The 17yo is seen by others, outside of the family, as an angel. But at home..... The 14yo doesn't really give us much trouble.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

pity me. I have a 3 yo AND a 15yo.

I have to say the absolute worst year so far was when my older son was 13. He grew over 6 inches that year and just seemed to literally be constantly bursting with raw emotion. He was never just mad, he was furious, he was never just sad, he was devastated, he was never just happy, he was delirious -- it was a never ending rollercoaster. DH would tip toe in the door in the evening and whisper "how is he?"

There were honestly afternoons when I would have to force myself to pick him up from school -- he has been turning slightly human again as of late but I still miss my little boy.

 

[RitaZ.]

Are you kidding me? The toddler years were the "good old days".

 

[Michelle2]

I'm with you! The toddler years were wonderful and I'd give anything to have that child back again. Instead I'm stuck with this demon spawn.

That is so funny, it made me laugh out loud. My DS just turned 13, and I am seeing a DIFFERENT side to him....makes me wonder!

 

[RitaZ.]

he has been turning slightly human again as of late but I still miss my little boy.

When can I expect this to happen? I need a concrete date and time!!!!

My oldest is almost 14 and it has been "interesting" since he started 8th grade. DH was transferring old videos to DVDs the other day and we decided to watch some of the old videos from the kids. OMG, our oldest was soooo cute, adorable and precious, I told DH that I wanted my boy back.

 

[LindaR]

Ummmmm I didn't have a problem with either! Everyone who knows us is amazed at our relationship. I am a single mom to DD17. I have been single since she was 1.5 yrs. We both have very strange senses of humor so maybe that's what has kept us from wanting to kill each other over the years. We had a very brief "rough patch" when I was going thru menopause at the same time that she was "becoming a woman" because we were both hormonal at the same time. That went away when I started HRT! We used to be griping at each other and one of us would suddenly find something funny about our griping and start laughing and that would be the end of the bad mood.

I feel VERY lucky! I've listened to my girlfriends over the years, promised to bring them candy while in jail, and am thankful that these kids lived to adulthood!

 

[ducklite]

I'll take the toddler. Oh boy will I take the toddler.

Anne

 

[wvjovifan]

"middle school age" is the absolute worst!!!!

Take heart, it does get better, my girls are 20 and 22 now and we are best of friends -- but I would have given away both of them when they hit 7th thru 9th grade!!!!

 

[KimR]

I don't know, I enjoyed my girls when they were toddlers (well, except my middle one was a pill). and my 13-year-old is an absolute joy! Now, before you think I'm gloating I'm gonna get what's coming to me in a few years when my 8-year-old hits her teens. She's bad enough now with her over-emotionalism, drama-queen, this-is-the-worst-disaster-of-my-life, my-life-is-horrible histrionics. I cannot imagine what she is going to be like when puberty hits. But for now, I'm thoroughly enjoying being the mom of a teen! The only downside is we have less than 5 years until she goes away to college. I can't believe how time flies.

 

[CathrynRose]

constantly bursting with raw emotion. He was never just mad, he was furious, he was never just sad, he was devastated, he was never just happy, he was delirious -- it was a never ending rollercoaster.

.

Exaaaaaactly! And within minutes of each other "happy-go-lucky, life is great Joey" to "I will beat all of you to a bloody pulp, my life is miserable, whoa-is-me Joey"

It can leave me speechless, at times.

But again - 4 more years with this one, 8 more years with the younger one... and Im packing my bags, moving to Tahiti and I wont be charged with child-abandonment. MUHAHAHAHAHA!

 

[ducklite]

Exaaaaaactly! And within minutes of each other "happy-go-lucky, life is great Joey" to "I will beat all of you to a bloody pulp, my life is miserable, whoa-is-me Joey"

You've met my son I see...

Unfortunately my DS is almost 20 and still going through a lot of this. That he's bi-polar compounds the problem, because when he's up he's really up, and when the dark side comes out, it's pretty scarey. I'll take the up up and away anytime over that--it might make my head spin, but it's far better than the alternative.

Anne

 

[minkydog]

Well, both ages are sucky, but I'll take toddlers any day. They're more portable and can be confined to their rooms easily, unlike a teen who will either a)fail to comply with your stoopid rules and make your life a living hell b)crawl out the bedroom window and do what he wants anyway c) punch a hole in his wall or d) leave home and join the circus for real

Oh yes, the toddler years were the "good ol' days" and we just didn't know it.

Cathy--one down, two to go

 

[MagicalMom]

Are you kidding me? The toddler years were the "good old days".

Ain't that the truth! I've had a toddler & teen at the same time & they toddler hasn't given me 1/2 as much trouble. I know the toddlers friends, non of them stay out late or drink! The toddler never gets mad because I won't drop him off at the mall. He's never stomped around & slammed the door or accused me of invading his privacy. They are two totally different worlds.

 

[ragdoll]

The real shocker comes when they are all grown up and on their own. You think that you will have it made then. Ha! Just wait...

 

[CathrynRose]

I know the toddlers friends, non of them stay out late or drink! The toddler never gets mad because I won't drop him off at the mall. He's never stomped around & slammed the door or accused me of invading his privacy. .

LOL!

Too funny - too true!!! Toddlers are'nt into MySpace, either....

Remember the Bill Cosby-Himself standup routine? So funny. he said the same thing "You ask a toddler to come by you, they say NO! - you go get them"

Try THAT with a teenager!

 

[mom2of2]

Oh I am so with all of you!!! My DS just turned 15 and there are days that I'm so ready for him to be packing for college. His latest *itch is that he wants to drive. Ummmmm..NO FREAKING WAY! I have to remind him to change his dang underwear and I ask if he brushed his teeth cause if I didn't, he wouldn't! I get the rolling of the eyes, the blank stares and he interupts every dang sentence that I speak to him. I told him that the disrespect was OVER and that I wouldn't tolerate him treating me that way......you know what sucks the most about that?? I had to LOOK UP to say it!!!
Where did my cute little, barney loving baby boy go?