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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I dislike children.

378 replies

HonestJan · 01/10/2016 19:51

What is wrong with me?

Never liked em. I don't find them cute, sweet, funny, interesting or entertaining. I have a few nieces/nephews and obviously love them but I don't enjoy the whole 'come watch little niece sing/dance 😍' and then enduring a painfully shit performance, 'Wow look at what little nephew has drawn' and it's a dreadful mess/ordinary drawing, and so on.

When kids do things like throw tantrums or make a scene in public and their parents do that 'ah isn't she adorable' look, I just don't get it.

When I'm sitting having a coffee and they come over to me/others to pester them and the parents leave them to it as if everyone must find their children as wonderful as they do, I don't get that either.

Babies I have no interest in either. I don't want to cuddle a small person or pull silly faces and coo over it.

I really enjoy people and I'm sure I'll have much more time and patience for my nieces and nephews when they grow up but I seem to be considered some sort of monster for not having an interest in children.

OP posts:
ToastDemon · 02/10/2016 09:04

Wtf gone please point out to me ONE thing I have said on this thread that warranted your unpleasant comment to me?
I've contributed to this thread to explain precisely why non-parents might be on this site. I've attacked neither parents or children.

Yes Costa think I'll take a seat right next to you Grin

DetailedConfusion · 02/10/2016 09:04

I don't find them cute, sweet, funny, interesting or entertaining

This is just nonsense though.

Good God, some kids piss me off (my own included sometimes!). I know a couple of proper whingers that make my teeth itch. I know kids that are mean, kids that are nasty, kids that are boring. I bear in mind that they're children so tolerate them nicely as you must to an extent. But there are quite a few i'd not spend time with voluntarily.

Otoh, I know plenty of kids that are nice to spend time with. Interesting, clever, funny, comical. Really kind kids that think of others.

'Children' are not one homogeneous mass. Just as the elderly, or blondes, or the French or tall people aren't. I like some, I dislike others.

pictish · 02/10/2016 09:05

Poppy - I thought she meant she was cringing at my misinterpretation of the post. Which I misinterpreted. Doh.

DesolateWaist · 02/10/2016 09:06

Costa, I've started a lost causes bench. www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2746240-Barren-hag-corner?msgid=63974641#63974641

Ausernotanumber · 02/10/2016 09:09

Totally ageist thread. It is possible to be ageist against the young. I'm astounded HQ are allowing it to stand.

pictish · 02/10/2016 09:10

Make it 'rude hag' corner and you'll be somewhere close. Don't use something emotive to excuse rudeness. It's manipulative.

tundell · 02/10/2016 09:11

Poppy grammar was not my point!

I am noting the disconnection in the term "it"

OP thinks something is wrong with her. I am simply saying there is a difference between "hating" a child and not being able to "connect" with a child and asking her to consider the difference.

If this is a real post it can be quite upsetting to fee like this in a world where children are at the forefront.

LittleBearPad · 02/10/2016 09:14

Fine OP, you don't like all children. Rather a sweeping statement that makes you sound rather silly, but fine let's assume you don't like all children.

Why do you feel the need to announce it, not only here but to a friend who has just had a baby, probably needed the support of her friend, perhaps wanted someone else to just hold the baby for five minutes as she was touched out by having a newborn constantly in her arms. You're just attention seeking aren't you really.

Only1scoop · 02/10/2016 09:18

Op I read your post in a totally different tone to what you are being accused of here.
You are practically Cruella D V apparently

TaterTots · 02/10/2016 09:19

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

WaitrosePigeon · 02/10/2016 09:19

I wasn't cringing at you pictish Blush

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 02/10/2016 09:24

Mumsnet is mainly supposed to be a safe place where you can say ' this is hard' or whatever and know you're speaking to safe people who are on your side. Sometimes other parents using the site don't respond appropriately but they're usually pulled up sooner or later if that is the case.

This is where people get it wrong.

It isn't a 'safe space' it's an Internet forum that you don't even have to log in to see.

I am also not automatically on 'someones side' just because they are parents. That just ridiculous.

pictish · 02/10/2016 09:25

Tater - don't be silly. It is not rude of me to defend this parenting site from posters who think it's clever and worse, appropriate, to brazenly insult children here.

pictish · 02/10/2016 09:26

Sorry Pigeon I misunderstood. x

Costacoffeeplease · 02/10/2016 09:27

Let's just have a group cringe and get it over with

WaitrosePigeon · 02/10/2016 09:28

It is a bit weird though to come on what is at the crux of it, a parenting website, where the audience will be that of someone family orientated and insult a massive category of people?

I don't mind if you hate kids, but it is a bit weird, isn't it?

gonetoseeamanaboutadog · 02/10/2016 09:29

I'm sorry that the idea of a website existing to make parents lives easier is beyond you piglet. Fortunately plenty of other (nicer?) folks can handle the concept.

SuperFlyHigh · 02/10/2016 09:29

You're not a monster but a bit of an effort sometimes wouldn't go amiss.

My neighbours have 3 kids now - I don't go and play with them (sometimes) but there's nothing wrong with me being pleasant with them and chatting sometimes... They talk back and have their own personalities! Half of the time now they're more interested in playing or their own friends anyway!

Children at a cafe - just smile and say hello or brief 5 word convo - when I out though kids rarely say anything to me, they freeze because they're shy but if they did does it kill me to quickly ask how old they are, what cake etc they're getting.

I don't have kids, do like them but day to day they're not part of my everyday life, hey ho, but probably will be when DB and SIL have kids (undergoing IVF).

gonetoseeamanaboutadog · 02/10/2016 09:31

I do apologise toast, I confused you with thyme.

Topseyt · 02/10/2016 09:32

I am not keen on babies and small children. I don't find them endearing or entertaining. I don't find them cute either.

My own three were of course endearing, entertaining and cute - to me. I don't expect others always found them so, and did my best to ensure they could not annoy other people.

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 02/10/2016 09:32

I'm sorry that the idea of a website existing to make parents lives easier is beyond you piglet. Fortunately plenty of other (nicer?) folks can handle the concept

Are you always so rude? Totally unnecessary.

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 02/10/2016 09:34

Oh and I am 'nice' thank you. I just don't automatically agree with people just because they are parents. Nor do I think an Internet forum is a 'safe space'

elQuintoConyo · 02/10/2016 09:38

'Proto-human' are you Mrs Hitler?

I can tolerate some children more than others.

It's when people who cannot stand children but can't (or won't try to) hide it that get on my tits.

ToastDemon · 02/10/2016 09:38

Okay thanks gone I appreciate that.

DixieNormas · 02/10/2016 09:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.