to not always like my friends' children?

[OTheHugeManatee]

I'm sort of embarrassed by this.

I don't have kids yet (though am planning to). Quite a few of my friends do. I feel sometimes as though I'm automatically meant to find their kids charming and engaging, and to play with them as much as I do engage with their parents.

Some of my friends' DCs are really lovely, adorable people who I instinctively like and look forward to spending time with. But I have one friend whose DD I have tried hard to like but have just always found really, really irritating.

I worry a bit that this makes me somehow an evil person, but I've come to the conclusion that while I adore her mother, I just don't like this person. The fact that she's only small is neither here nor there.

AIBU?

Thanks I should have known that. sorry for making you explain. It is funny - it's not your fault I'm not that sharp.

Xpost with a lot of people.

Not at all unreasonable.

I love my kids, and I get on well with a few others, lots I just don't like much at all.

They are people, just small ones, and nobody likes everyone.

I don't always like my own children, so other peoples children have no chance.

A relative's small child is a right little madam. I'd have been leg-slapped for the stuff she gets away with 'expressing herself'. They're only making a rod for their own back .She can be very sweet but if she doesn't get her own way she makes Verucca Salt look like Mother Theresa.

Jacqueline beat me to it

sometimes I don't like my own kids, I can't expect everyone to like them too

still love them though (own kids not everyone elses...)

Iklboo Exactly.

I just worry about being judgy, and fully expect that when I have kids they'll be little monsters and all my grumbling will come back to haunt me.

Yanbu, I don't even like my own sometimes! I'm not really a fan of OPC (other people's children!). Don't ever tell them though!

Plus I found I was a lot less tolerant of OPC's before I had kids of my own.

Nah I hate some of the kids I coach others I think are brilliant. It's the way of life.

I used to get really really annoyed with my DH's niece - thought she was an idle little spoiled brat who was made too much of. Now she has grown into a lovely teenager (amazed that there is such a thing).

My DD's best friend is an annoying little madam who screams instead of talks and constantly tells tales. I like her dad but don't have much time for her mum. I try not to let it show too much.

Same with some friends' husbands, dogs, friends etc.

I cant stand my friend's kids

she thinks I adore them...

As it should be Hoovercraft harbouring uncharitable feelings is one thing - showing them is quite another.

I can't stand my niece and she is only 3.5, but try to be neutral as it is her useless mother exSIL that has caused her behaviour. Think Denise Royle but with an even more self centred streak.

When BIL brought her to stay she would get told off for slapping my ds5 and stealing all the toys he was playing with ( ignoring the hundreds he wasn't playing with). She would throw her arms in the air and say "cuggle?" every time she was told off.

Every time she was told no to something she would flick her hair over her shoulders, twiddle it and say "look, lovely curly, I'm cute....."

If she started to eat something and decided she didn't like it she would regurgitate it all chewed onto her plate, then do the twirly hair bit.

She would only try this with daddy and dh after I steered her to the corner and suggested she stay there until she behaved properly. She eyed me up, knew she'd met her match and moved onto the next gullible male - just like her mummy did!

I just hope she grows out of it, it is such a sad reflection of her mother's personality.