Is it normal to not enjoy every stage of parenting?

Yes — it’s very normal, and quite common, not to enjoy every stage of parenting.

Different stages ask very different things of parents: the newborn phase can be exhausting, toddlers can be relentless, and adolescence can be emotionally complex. It’s common to find some stages easier than others depending on your temperament, energy, support system, and the needs of your child.

A helpful way to think about it is: I love my child, but I don’t love every phase or behavior. That doesn’t make you a bad parent.

If a stage feels consistently overwhelming, it can help to talk with someone you trust, lean on practical support, and give yourself permission to find parts of parenting hard. If you’re feeling persistent dread, resentment, emotional numbness, or physical and emotional exhaustion, it may be worth checking in with a therapist or doctor, since parental burnout can happen.