following on from the having children thread!

Katexx

I don't want children and I honestly don't particularly enjoy being around them. I just feel awkward! There have been a few kids I've 'clicked' with (my boyfriend's parents are foster carers so I've had to spend a fair amount of time around quite a few children) but even when I have found them cute/entertaining/etc I've completely had enough after about an hour.

MissKeith

I think I'm in the minority here! I like babies, find toddlers endlessly amusing and entertaining but then when they start school and start getting cheeky I become quickly irritated by children. I love my son (he is nearly four months and I am in that highly irritating parenting stage where I am facinated by everything he does) but I will admit here that my step children endlessly try my patience and I am always privately relieved when they leave. I would never display this in front of them and do my best to make them feel welcome but I do find it difficult to tolerate certain behaviour that their mum tolerates during the week. Plus my pet peeve is poor table manners, not an easy peeve to have when you're around young kids!

Goldiegirl

Person_one wrote: »

Nobody likes all adults, but what you're saying is closer to "People in their forties are unpleasant" or "I don't like any over 70s." Its so sweeping.

I don't love all children, but just as with adults, most of them are perfectly pleasant nice people. In fact I find it much easier to forgive children for their unpleasant aspects!

That's how I feel.

Some people coo and gurgle over all babies and children, but that doesn't interest me at all.

As with any person, once I get to know a child I either like them or I don't

There's some kids I know who are really good fun, and there's some kids I can't stand.

GracieP

Person_one wrote: »

Nobody likes all adults, but what you're saying is closer to "People in their forties are unpleasant" or "I don't like any over 70s." Its so sweeping.

I don't love all children, but just as with adults, most of them are perfectly pleasant nice people. In fact I find it much easier to forgive children for their unpleasant aspects!

Yup, I don't get the whole "I don't like babies/children" thing. As if children are some amorphous blob instead of individual human beings who just happen to be younger than a certain age?

BritAbroad

GracieP wrote: »

Yup, I don't get the whole "I don't like babies/children" thing. As if children are some amorphous blob instead of individual human beings who just happen to be younger than a certain age?

I don't dispute that children are individuals, but at a very young age those individual traits aren't that obvious to an outsider. Young children display behaviours and characteristics that I dislike, such as making a noise, demanding attention, crying, messy eating, making a mess with toys etc, so I prefer to avoid them. There's nothing wrong with them doing these things, but it doesn't mean I have to like it!

It's a bit like saying 'I don't like drunks' - they are all individuals too, and probably are perfectly nice when sober, but I don't like the characteristics and behaviours exhibited when drunk, therefore I avoid them too.

VestanPance

BritAbroad wrote: »

Young children display behaviours and characteristics that I dislike, such as making a noise, demanding attention, crying, messy eating, making a mess with toys etc, so I prefer to avoid them.

To be honest that sounds like a lot of 30-somethings I know! :rotfl:

I don't mind kids at all. In fact I dislike the British attitude towards children that they should be shut up and locked away until they are adults. Some kids are funny and fun to be around. Some are waddling nightmares with lungs. Pretty much the same as the adult population.

I do tend to be in awe of toddlers. That sense of discovery and making up fantastic adventures out of nothing is a joy to watch. Just a shame they grow up to be as jaded as the rest of us!

marisco_2

VestanPance wrote: »

I do tend to be in awe of toddlers. That sense of discovery and making up fantastic adventures out of nothing is a joy to watch.

I agree with this. Childrens imaginations are fantastic. They learn so much just by having fun. The adventures they can take themselves off on with very basic materials is amazing. I am blessed to work with 7/8 year olds and they can be very creative. It surprises me the amount of people who dont get enjoyment from getting down with kids and playing with them. They really miss out on a treat

glitter_fairy

I have children, but do not like children. Dont get me wrong I love my own but dont like them in general.

I would not choose to hang out with other peoples children.

GracieP

BritAbroad wrote: »

I don't dispute that children are individuals, but at a very young age those individual traits aren't that obvious to an outsider. Young children display behaviours and characteristics that I dislike, such as making a noise, demanding attention, crying, messy eating, making a mess with toys etc,

If you actually think that all children are like this, my point is made because that's nonsense. Plenty of children display none of those behaviours at all and in almost all cases babies have clear personality traits and vary hugely from one another from day one. I know this because I don't make the mistake of avoiding children and therefore have the experience to know just how different they all are from one another.

Person_one

glitter_fairy wrote: »

I have children, but do not like children. Dont get me wrong I love my own but dont like them in general.

I would not choose to hang out with other peoples children.

I have to admit, I really don't get the 'I like my own children but nobody else's' attitude.

What about your children's friends, and your friends' children? Other children in the family? Would it bother you to hear somebody else say they didn't like your children? It just seems, well, unkind.