Survey Reveals The Most Difficult Age To Parent

You think the terrible twos are bad. Just wait until your kids are tweens! Now that’s a whole other level of attitude let me tell you.

A survey by OnePoll, sponsored by Mixbook, found that EIGHT as the most difficult age of all.

In fact, over half (52%) of parents complained that their pre-teens can be more difficult than a teenager – with girls emerging as the most challenging between the ages of 8 and 12.

The majority of the 2,000 parents who responded to the survey agreed that age 8 was the hardest year, while age 6 was better than expected and age 7 produced the worst tantrums.

Eight-year-olds can be damn stubborn, slamming doors and rolling their eyes in an attempt to establish their independence and individuality.

They like to pretend they’re the boss and if you try and ask them to do chores or finish their homework you might not like the response they give you. Attitude and hormones are coming in fast!

Puberty blues is real!

There really is no wonder that eight is the hardest year. It is after all when puberty starts to sneak in and change your innocent little angel into an angry hormone-fueled monster.

Puberty usually starts between the age of 7 and 13 in girls and 9 and 15 in boys.

It does vary with some people starting puberty a bit earlier or even later. It is important that everyone goes through puberty at their own pace. It’s not a race and should not be compared among friends.

Be warned, when those hormones start to hit, boy will you notice a change in your sweet little child’s attitude.

Better health explains that Puberty is the time when all your major organs and body systems mature. At the end of puberty, you are sexually and reproductively mature. The growth and development that occurs during puberty is prompted by changes in the levels of certain hormones in your body.

As puberty advances, both boys and girls experience many emotional changes. And WOAH do they get emotional!

A simple question or comment can have them lashing out at you totally unexpectedly. Embrace yourself for a wild ride.

Tip for parents

One tip I have found to help keep me sane is to NEVER take it personally and always remember you are your child’s safe place. The reason you often cop it the most is because they feel comfortable and loved in your presence and don’t feel the need to have to hide their true feelings and emotions around you. (Not always reassuring, but a good thing to remember!)