Would love a baby. But not a fan of children??

[JustCatMumAtTheMo]

First time poster.. so please be gentle with me!

My other half and I are going to start trying for a baby later this year. I can totally imagine having a baby. The changes that will bring to our lives. I love all of my friends baby's and small children. But as they get older I find them so.. annoying/hard work/irritating. Though most of my friends with kids have children/babies under 5. So I'm not often around older children..

Does anyone else feel like this? Will I feel different when it's my child?

[Snowydaysarehere]

I have many many dc but have no time for other people's tbh. Your own are a unique species imo!!

[SugarMiceInTheRain]

I find most children annoying tbh (including my own at times!) Before I had kids I thought I liked children in general but am not so keen any more - maybe because I never get a break from kids! Hard to say if you will enjoy your own children - I have an acquaintance who loves babies but really doesn't bother with them as they grow up - she keeps talking about having another baby and being broody whilst not being emotionally available for her older 4 children.

[ElphabaTheGreen]

I've never liked other people's children at all - baby or otherwise. I'm fine with my own. That said, I'm firmly in the camp of not wanting to be without my children, while at the same time I would never recommend being a parent to others. It's relentless and mostly boring and exhausting. Perhaps if I was more of a 'child person' I wouldn't feel this way.

[StylishMummy]

I can't stand most other children, find them too loud/annoying/rude, but I adore my own DC even though they're just as loud/annoying (too young to be rude).

They're like farts, you don't mind your own

[Poffley]

No one likes other people's children OP, only their own.

[GreatDuckCookery6211]

By the time your baby is a toddler you will adore him/her and think they're the best thing since sliced bread.

[Poffley]

That said, I'm firmly in the camp of not wanting to be without my children, while at the same time I would never recommend being a parent to others. It's relentless and mostly boring and exhausting.

Haha I feel exactly the same! Every time someone I know gets pregnant I smile and congratulate them while inwardly thinking what have you DONE!

[WineGummyBear]

Only a few parents actually like children for children's sake.

Most people like their own kids lots and make an effort with children that they have an interest in eg nephews, neices and children of your friends.

[OverTheMountain42]

I was the same, loved babies, spent a lot of time with friends babies, and my nieces and nephews as babies. But once they got older I was bored by them.

Now I don't really like any children, I couldn't stand making 'mummy friends', I have my own DS who is almost 4, he's fab and I have loved watching him get older, he's not boring. I think once you have your own you're a bit more interested in them. However I wouldn't have any more because I do fear that I might prefer to sit and cuddle another baby than run around with DS.

[fortifiedwithtea]

They're like farts, you don't mind your own grin

This

StylishMummy has completely nailed the answer. All I can add is they are worth the annoyance because once they are teens past 15 they become lovely humans you'll adore.

[ElphabaTheGreen]

Haha I feel exactly the same! Every time someone I know gets pregnant I smile and congratulate them while inwardly thinking what have you DONE!

Yes

My DH and I have this matching grimace accompanied by a desperate look at each other when we hear a pregnancy announcement.

I've also noticed it's those without DCs in the office that get excited about impending arrivals. The rest of us smile tightly, murmur supportively then change the subject, so I don't think I'm that much of a freak.

[billybagpuss]

Its ok, you'll like your own :)

However I NEVER agreed to having a teenager!!!!
That was a mistake.

[Mol1628]

I don’t like children. I have two. I like my own, but I’m certainly not a natural mother.

One thing to consider, that I wish I had thought about before deciding to have children, is the amount of time you have to spend with other people’s children. It’s not so bad when they’re babies, you can stay home, go to shops, walk with the pram etc but when they get to about 18 months/2 years they need more from life than just being home playing with parents. Toddler groups, soft play, the park. All filled with other children you have to interact with Then when they’re at Nursery and school there are loads of children on the playground, lots of party invites, lots of school trips you feel you should really help out on.... avoiding other people’s children is very difficult.

[Mol1628]

I would also never recommend being a parent to others! But I do love mine to bits.

[idontlikealdi]

I don't like children but love mine.

[MagicFajita]

You're fine op , I work with kids and really enjoy my job (and the children) but once I've clocked off I walk home a different way from the school families so that I can hear myself think and not be met with shouts of "Hello missssssssss".

I love my own children unconditionally , 24hrs a day though.

[youcantalwaysgetwhatyouwantt]

I don't like other babies or children, just my own sometimes

[PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks]

I'm the opposite, children are only interesting when you can hold long, rambling, nonsensical conversations with them.

[BexleyRae]

I've never admitted this to anyone, but when I was pregnant I knew I wanted a baby, but I wasn't so sure about having a child. DD is now 16 months and I love her to pieces, but most other kids I can take or leave

[Kittykat93]

I don't like children. Had a baby four months ago and he is the love of my life!!! It's completely different

[Notinsuredarethey]

I've never understood people thinking that I must love all kids because I have my own. Nope.
I barely tolerate others.

[waterrat]

Haha dont worry op nature will trick you into thinking your own are awesome beings completely difgerent to all others.

[BeHappyMummy]

There's good and bad with children.

I hate the tantrums and the cheekiness, but I love teaching and watching my DD grow.

The good outweighs the bad imo.

[ElphabaTheGreen]

Haha dont worry op nature will trick you into thinking your own are awesome beings completely difgerent to all others.

I have to say I've never thought that about mine. I would lay down my life for either of them, but I think I have a healthy recognition of their faults and recognise they're really no different to other people's boring children.

[elliejjtiny]

I was worried about this. I used to work with under 5's and I really don't like working with older children. I'm surprised by how much I'm loving being a mum to my eldest, who is now 11. I still wouldn't want a job working with secondary age children though!