Does it ever get better?

[Teachermama]

1- 3 months - colic
3- 4 month - wakeful
4 - 5 months - being an asshole. 

[Ashley&Scott]

Yes. They start giving hugs, kisses & saying I love you. They'll run to you with wide open arms & a huge smile when you pick them up after being away. Hang in there!

[Teachermama]

:/ I am so tired. AND DH has the mancold *eye roll*

[lilac05]

Well......

I'm only at 4 years of this parenting gig. It's been one heck of a roller coaster ride! I'm happy to report at 20 months and 4 years, we have more ups than downs! (But the first 6 months - year were definitely the hardest!)

[robot]

YES!! Omg yes. It really does. DD1 was colicky too. All subsequent stages were better, even the terrible twos. Hang in there!

[scsarah]

Yes, it totally does get better! I have come to the realization within the past month that I am just not into the squishy infant stage. They're super adorable, but I just do so much better when they're not relying on me for literally EVERY decision about what happens in their life. Now that DS is one, and has an opinion about things, and is okay playing by himself for a bit, I enjoy it so much more.

Hang in there!!!

[Deleted]

It does get better. Much better.

Then it gets worse in a different way. Then it gets better. Then it gets worse in another different way.

Repeat.

Really though, even when they are tantrumming, I find it a lot more gratifying to be raising a toddler and an older kid with whom I can actually talk and interact. So overall, at least until the teen years, I think it's an upward trajectory. I will get back to you in 8-10 years on what happens after that.

[bullsgirl]

Yes!! Things got so much better around 6 months! She started smiling and laughing so much more. Sitting up on her own is great too. She can entertain herself sitting and playing with toys while I cook or whatever. Hang in there!

[Brie]

Yes. I keep asking my H when the baby is going to get fun.

C has started calling me Princess Mommy so yes, it gets better.

[mdana]

It gets better. It really does. Some things just get... different, but there's so many things that are really just more enjoyable. For me, it really helped when he started interacting with me and rewarding me with smiles. It made it feel like he acknowledged my presence beyond "FEEEEEED MEEEE!!"

It sounded so trite when people would tell me it gets better, but it really does. It's just so difficult to see beyond that moment you're currently stuck in. *hug*

[Jalapeñomel]

Yes

[speyedr]

DD is 12 months and so much fun! She runs into me or cuddles, gives me the biggest grins, plays independently long enough for my sanity. This is a great age, I'm scared shitless of adding another in 9ish weeks ?

[lynn07]

It does get better! DS3 (6 weeks) is making me remind myself of this. One day (soonish) you will sleep again. And your kiddo will talk to you and you'll know what's going on in that head. And they'll make jokes, and eat on their own, and play by themselves for extended amounts of time. The first 6 months with all of ours have been the hardest. Hang in there.

[justjen]

It does. And then they turn 2...

[Deleted]

It does! I really feel like 6 months was the turning point for a lot!

[spanikopita]

My oldest is 5 and we've had a few 6 month stretches of asshole but overall, once the sleep is solid, everything gets to be manageable.

But I think asshole behavior persists over the lifetime.

[jsillyfun]

It has gotten steadily better from birth-age 3.

[Deleted]

I felt fiercely protective and loved DS from the beginning, but I didn't start to enjoy him until around 6-9 months. Then Life was infinitely better at a year than as a newborn. Some people don't love newborns and that is totally ok. And now he's actually fun to be around most of the time. So yes, lots better. Still hard but better.

[curbsideprophet]

It does get better. Hang in there. Do you have someone who can come over and help out for a bit while you take a nap? Sleep makes a big difference.

[abs]

It does! My kid had awful reflux and colic. She was also pissed off that she wasn't born walking. Once she was really mobile she all of the sudden was so much happier. Now at 4.5 she is still high energy but so easy going and sweet. By 2.5 we really hit our sweet spot and it just keeps getting better. No idea what the future will bring but I'm enjoying it for now!

[pinotgrig]

Apr 22, 2015 20:18:25 GMT -5 cab1217 said:

Apr 22, 2015 20:14:41 GMT -5 farmvillelover said:

Around 6-9 months was the turning point when parenting became much more rewarding

It totally gets better

Do you promise?!? Lol I am really really hoping this is true.

I promise! G is 10 months and has been SO fun for a few months now. SO fun!! He's a complete ham and loves to make us laugh. His latest trick is offering us his paci or puffs and then snatching them back at the last second to stuff in his mouth. And then he laughs and laughs. If we make a baby crying sound, he'll shove his paci in our mouth. Adorbs.

Once they get a bit more mobile and can start interacting, it's a game changer.

[jeaniebueller]

Apr 22, 2015 20:14:41 GMT -5 farmvillelover said:

Around 6-9 months was the turning point when parenting became much more rewarding

It totally gets better

Ditto. After we sleep trained, my life improved immensely and I felt human again. I don't remember much between June and January, to be honest

[hocus2]

Yes and no.

Children continuously change and old challenges fade away and new one's replace them. At any one time your feel that you're more deft at handling what your child is throwing at you.

My second born was a very difficult baby and now as a 3.5 he's difficult too in 3.5  year old ways. I'm better able to cope because he's a second child AND because our challenges don't cause me to be up all night so I'm not running on fumes. I found the first 18 months fairly difficult but each month or two was just a little easier. From 18 months to 3 life was very easy and raising my son had more joy than drudgery. From 3 to now (3.5) we've had more challenges mostly regarding hitting, sass, emotional volatility etc. I'm optimistic that 4 will be a good year and since I have an older child I prepare for the challenges with K much better.

[Teachermama]

Thank you everyone! I appreciate your responses! I am hoping that he gets better around 6 months like all of your children did. I know that parenting is never easy, but I would just like him to sleep and take naps! I can deal with problems when I am human not getting up all thoughout the night.

Last night was better.

down at 9 up at 1221 then 145 and then down until 615 and then 745 up for the day. MUCH better... the night before was down at 830 up at 1230, 130, 245, 330, 530 and then up for the day at 6

[laurack]

yes for sure. My daughter is almost 3 and she can be trying but overall I love her and spending time with her is generally very pleasant. And she STTN

the baby will be one soon and he doesn't sttn yet BUT he is a joy! After the blur of the first months, it gets so much better.

[Teachermama]

THANK YOU!

[bearbaby]

It gets better. There are always going to be continued hiccups (DS is firmly in terrible 2's now), but so SO much better for me than the first 6-ish mos. I had such a hard time feeling bonded like I thought I "should" be to a baby who didn't interact and who I felt like I never got a break from.

It's a LOT easier said than done, but make yourself a priority. Ask for/allow people to help you. Find a thing you really enjoy - spending time alone, getting together with a friend or two, whatever - and then make it happen - even if it's monthly/something - it helps.

DS ran to me last night when I got home and asked me "Did you have a good day Mommy!?!?" just like I ask him everyday and it makes everything just...right with the world.

[pinotgrig]

Apr 23, 2015 12:18:35 GMT -5 Teachermama said:

THANK YOU!

Hang in there! You're doing a great job.

[momin2013]

I felt things got MUCH better at 6 months, then again at 9 months, then just got a whole lot easier and more fun at 1 year. I absolutely believe the first six months are the hardest!

[formerlyllizzyb]

It's hard but yes it gets better. Your baby is still realllllly young in the scheme of things and this mom gig is still new!
I had PPD (undxed for 16 months ) and that first year was one big blur. However, I ADORE my son. He's incredible. I have fond memories alongside the crappy ones, despite the whole "blurness" of it all.