[razor_sharp_redhead]

If you're in the beginning of raising children, some where in the middle - or your children are now grown -- what do you think is the most trying age in raising children.In my opinion - I have a 10 year old son, a 7 year old daughter, a 6 year old daughter and a 4 year old son. I haven't gotten to the teens yet - but I'm having the hardest time with my mouthy'know it all'10 year old. And at this point in my life- I'd trade his bad attitude and mood swings for sleepless nights and wiping butts any day!

[Kat]

12-18

[mommy to 2]

I have an 8 year old and a 5 year old, my 5 year old drives me crazy with her mouth.

[Alisha]

When kids gets in their teens it's more difficult to raise then, but you always have to let them know who's BOSS!!!!

[.:Blair:.]

10-13. Hands down. They aren't mature enough for independance but they crave it and rebel against society to find themselves. It's so hard to manage! Plus they're smack in the middle of puberty.

[Felecia]

Just try your hardest to get through it. It will get better, I know from experience.

[SpursFan123]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but teenage years are by far the worst. The mouthy attitude does not stop, just gets worse. So if you can put an end to it now, please do. Once kids get a sense of freedom as they do once they get a little older than yours, it's harder to keep track of what they do. And teenagers need parents more than little ones do. I know a woman who quit work when her oldest was 13, just to keep an eye on what was going on. It saved her family a lot of heartache because she was up to speed on their school life, after school, friends, and social life. Good luck, honey. The road ahead is still hard for a while. Then they grow up and become good human beings.

i think its 13-21. They think they are invincible and so they do the most dangerous stuff like doing drugs, drinking and driving, never thinking about the consequences.

Each child is different.I had no"terrible twos"with any of my kids.But one son really acted out terribly when he was going through puberty, at about 14. I used"tough love"and just reminded him I loved him, and many years later now he's the strength of the whole family.The second son seemed to be no problem at all, but in college he got involved with a girl who clearly was not right for him, but he couldn't see it. Fortunately, all we did was wait; he finally realized it and broke it off after about a year.The baby daughter didn't have any acting out, but in college she turned out to have a fixation on the boys. Wouldn't let the boys go. She had to have a boyfriend every single minute. Seemed too needy. Fortunately she's now matured married and a mother. Is doing beautifully.Fortunately none of my kids got involved w/drugs. If they had, I know we would have put them into serious rehab immediately.Just wait it out. Love them a lot, but don't support their bad choices. They'll turn out.I think sometimes we're hardest on our firstborn. Just punish him for when he actively refuses to obey; don't punish him for mistakes or accidents. We can't expect kids to be perfect. They just have to be responsible for the results of their own actions, however [if you break it, you pay for it, etc.].

Their birth to your death.