To think it's unacceptable to say you don't like children?

The only thing I find disturbing is if people say they hate kids.
Fair enough if people don't like being around them.

Part of my frustration with this thread is that all the things which potentially frustrate me or make me nervous about interacting with younger children (including my own at that age) also frustrate me or make me nervous regarding adults with intellectual disabilities or suffering from dementia. But it wouldn't even enter my head to say I "don't like" them. In fact I've always regretted that I'm not naturally more patient and sensitive with adults in those situations and have worked on that as best I can.

I didn't like children even when i was one.

Yes there’s always a little Johnny unfortunately 🤣

The majority of topics on MN have absolutely nothing to do with parenting. Plus just because you’ve had kids doesn’t make you qualified to give advice, I’ve got kids but advice on different things such as weaning has changed so much over the years what I did is well out of date.

I’m going to an adult only hotel tomorrow, no kids disco, no kids crying, running about and screaming. No frazzled parents trying to stop little Johnny dive bombing and splashing others at the pool.

I’m a primary teacher and I love my job. I like children Mon-Fri 9-4. But I actually don’t like being around children when I’m not working. it’s not the same as being around a group, such as elderly people, because when with children you need to watch what you say and do. Conversations with adults within earshot of children must be edited. If I want to go swimming (for example), a friend the same age can join and it’s companionable, we can focus on our own exercise needs and then have a chat in the jacuzzi after. Elderly relative can be left in the cafe with a book until I return, or they can meet me later. If a small child is involved, they will likely want to come, they need help getting ready and will need watching like a hawk to make sure they don’t drown, cry, get lonely, etc. I wouldn’t be able to focus on my enjoyment of the activity. This pretty much goes for all activities involving children.

Children are a unique group of individuals that differ because they need to be looked after, nurtured, etc. Even people who say they don’t like them, accept the need to behave appropriately around them, and that requires a level of energy. It’s also very much frowned upon to correct the behaviour of someone else’s child, so if they’re misbehaving in your presence, you often have to bite your tongue.

good point. I was trying to formulate something like this but you said it better

Its most children's specialist skill set on their CVs, its virtually in the job description for them to be entitled and rude, then parenting helps them out of it.

Then as you get older you quite enjoy regressing again to be childlike and entitled and rude, and no one can tell you off becuase you're a grown up

Its great!

But then threads that actually are all children & parenting get input from people with zero experience of either, which can get tiring.

Yes. It's called freedom of thought and expression. You might not like hearing someone else's opinion, but if they aren't free to express it, then how can you also be free to express yours.

Who gets to decide what people are allowed to say?

What makes that person "right"?

I wouldn’t say I don’t like children, but I find anything childish or child related really really dull and children’s conversation very dull too. I actually felt the same way when I was a child. So 🤷‍♀️

Is that you Sharon who I used to work with? 😂😂

You can have rational reasons for disliking something- I might dislike hitting because I think violence is bad. But does that mean all hitting is wrong? Hitting a ball? No.

Errm have you seen the boomer hate on here?

Um, nooooo they don't. Go around cheerfully announcing that you just don't like black people / Muslims / Jews / old people / people with learning disabilities etc and see how long you stay employed or keep your friends. Announce it online too much and without anonymity and the police may turn up.

I thought the compromise was that it was OK not to like other peoples children ?

Also, I'd rather judge on actions not words. A couple of childless friends were quite of the "we don't like children" ilk. Yet were fantastic with ours at social events. Meanwhile fellow parents .... well you'd think they'd cope as they have kids of their own 😁

Depends what context it’s said in. We’ve just booked an adult only hotel abroad because our kids are now adults themselves and I don’t want to be around other peoples children, can’t stand them touching food then putting it back etc. When I was talking about it with colleagues I did say we purposely booked adult only as we don’t like kids but that doesn’t mean I’d actively ignore children or wish them harm I just avoid being around them if it’s possible.

I find it's all people but surprisingly not little children.

personally I think you are wrong

Really? How much time have you spent on mumsnet? It can’t be much if you aren’t aware of the plethora of boards here that discuss a wide and varied range of topics that have fuck all to do with being a mum. This very board we’re on right now, AIBU, as an example. Style & beauty, health, gardening, litter tray, chat, relationships, legal, work & jobs, AMA etc etc etc. the majority of mumsnet discussions have no specific parenting-related issues. It’s one of the biggest female-dominated spaces on the internet and that’s what attracts posters, irrespective of whether they are mothers. And, it may shock you to learn, there’s even a childfree board here. Mnhq have made it clear multiple times that childfree/childless posters are welcome here.

Humans talk and converse though, only in the UK are we so frightened of upsetting someone that we basically say nothing. Its not my responsibility to 'not upset someone'.

If you are upset, you are upset.

Am I allowed to say "I quite like children, but I couldn't eat a whole one"? 😉

I'm not offended. I just think its odd and unlikeable. Same with "I like dogs / cats better than people" types. I'm sure I'd feel different if I was a dog / cat, but I'm not 😂

What's wrong with not liking old people?

Or not liking children?