3 ms·

Had my first (and only) at 35 (not sure that counts as "later in life"), and I'm really really struggling. Grew up in an environment where everyone talked abou

Had my first (and only) at 35 (not sure that counts as "later in life"), and I'm really really struggling. Grew up in an environment where everyone talked about kids as being some sort of magical force that brightened everything. To be fair, those around me did lament the lack of sleep, the chaos, etc but it was "always totally worth it." I'm writing this less than 12 hours after my daughter had a 4-hour meltdown, an event that isn't rare with her. And yet "isn't abnormal," apparently. I believe everyone in the comments (as of posting this one) has had truly wonderful/worthwhile experiences. But I also think there's a lack of conversation and representation from people who do not have positive experiences. "Regret" is a word with a lot of baggage, especially since my daughter is only three (and a lot could improve in upcoming years), but at the very least I wish I had more exposure to people in my situation, before having a kid.

DamonHD 3y ago
I'm sure that my kids must have had meltdowns at that sort of age ("terrible twos" are known as that for a reason) but things tend to get better and I have forgotten... (Also, as a primary school governor for over a decade I got to see a lot of other peoples' kids, and mostly they're fine!)
- rfarley04 3y ago
  Yea, this is what people have been telling me. Again, I knew that kids have meltdowns, especially around this age. But with my daughter, they started between 6-8 months old, and have continued in cycles. She'll have 3-4 really big meltdowns (multiple hours long) per week, for about a month. Then we'll have a couple months with nothing. Rinse. Repeat. It sucks but we can't attribute it to anything environmental, nutritional, etc so I guess it just is what it is.
  - DamonHD 3y ago
    Well I certainly don't envy you. Hang in there. At least talking about it probably helps.

DamonHD 3y ago

I'm sure that my kids must have had meltdowns at that sort of age ("terrible twos" are known as that for a reason) but things tend to get better and I have forgotten... (Also, as a primary school governor for over a decade I got to see a lot of other peoples' kids, and mostly they're fine!)

rfarley04 3y ago
Yea, this is what people have been telling me. Again, I knew that kids have meltdowns, especially around this age. But with my daughter, they started between 6-8 months old, and have continued in cycles. She'll have 3-4 really big meltdowns (multiple hours long) per week, for about a month. Then we'll have a couple months with nothing. Rinse. Repeat. It sucks but we can't attribute it to anything environmental, nutritional, etc so I guess it just is what it is.
- DamonHD 3y ago
  Well I certainly don't envy you. Hang in there. At least talking about it probably helps.