I dislike children.

[HonestJan]

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.

Some people are trying to make this thread into something it isn't. You weren't asked why you come on mumsnet. You were asked why you come on mumsnet and disparage children, given that most people on here have them.

Crashdoll - Yes, people are trying to make it into something it isn't. OP asked is it odd that she doesn't like children. Dozens of people jumped in to say her opinion was unacceptable and that she shouldn't be here.

I wouldn't even want to be involved in the negative energy it takes to hate on youngsters who are starting out in this world. It all seems a bit saddo OP, particularly the attention seeking by landing yourself on a forum where you know there are parents, so as to get a reaction from them.

Perhaps admit to yourself what it is you envy and why you should even need a reaction from people you appear to look down on. Life truly is too short for some things. Its all a bit waspish/Meldrew.

No need to be a hypocrite in RL. If you hate kids then don't land yourself around your friend's kids then act like they're bothering you - you don't have to be there you're hardly essential to their lives are you? but I guess you want others to witness your attention-seeking disdain

If your friends get wind of your hate of their kids (they likely will, unless you're really smarming and able to hide your real face) they'll draw away from you anyway hence, your problem of being around kids is solved

You must surely be able to get through your days without coming into contact with kids much at all, unless of course you're actually seeking them out or have a job that involves working with children.

Avoid, it'll make things better although then you won't have an audience tho.. ah well

at the follow fashions rushing to say they don't like children either, oh I only like my own kids......I bet you're teaching your DCs great social interaction skills. Kids are an easy target for hate I suppose, they can't fight back

Seems that the OP is getting an unnecessary kicking here - we are all different and allowed to like/dislike what and whomever we choose. If someone doesn't like dogs, for example, they are made to feel there's something wrong with them (plenty of threads on this!) because it appears that the majority DO like them. It's the same with babies and kids - the world in general expects that everyone loves them and can't get enough, but it's not true, it's just that those who express a different opinion get a kicking for it so many stay quiet. I also don't particularly like kids, don't want to cuddle babies, etc etc, but don't go round broadcasting it.

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

Why do children have to be any of the above? They're just people. Like everyone else their job is just to exist, not to entertain others.

And I totally agree with MistressDeeCee, children are an easy target. They either don't know how to defend themselves or they get called bratty if they try.

Perhaps admit to yourself what it is you envy

Who says they 'envy' anything?

Just because you don't like something it doesn't mean you envy it. Bit of a leap.

Or is it a case of I like it so if you don't you are envious of me, which is a bit of a stupid statement.

I do generally dislike the way a lot of children behave.

I really really dislike the sort of baby voice some adopt which they must think is cute. It isn't. Some adults with them respond to the silly goo goo questions and smile or pat the annoying child - usually a girl - affectionately. Ugh

I also dislike it when children interrupt adult conversation. Even worse is when the parents turn immediately to them and answer their attention-seeking questions. This might happen without the parent actually apologising to the adult who may well be explaining something important or whatever. It is just unspeakably rude.

I strongly dislike when smaller children try to push past adults or barge through. Clearly, they are not being taught manners.

I dislike it when younger children are still up in the evening if you have been invited around for dinner.

There. I have not broad-brushed them. Happy?

If you have to plant your backside around people who have kids just to make it apparent you hate kids then yep, envy and/or attention seeking is the issue.. Keep away from what you profess to hate its normally simple enough. .

Negative people are just triggered when you see their Im so important bullshitting for what it is - you aren't necessary to the kids/parents lives so, swerve them. Soon enough it won't matter and nor will you..most people are entirely better off without those who choose to hate on a particular group of people around their lives. They survive the absence

Just step off Easy

Lots of things I don't like about kids, lots of things I do like tho. Im not prejudiced. Im not going to be a prat and go around to mates with kids then fuss because I may be asked to hold or interact with baby, fuck that stay home moan alone, release the audience

So if you dislike children at what age do they have to be for you to like them?

So in fact, all of your complaints are not the children at all but the parenting. I dislike adults interrupting me. I dislike people's dogs leaping up at me when I am invited round. I dislike people who have the tv set to maximum volume. I am a miserable sod who dislikes most things but have the sense not to tar the whole dog population or adult population with the same brush.

"Seems that the OP is getting an unnecessary kicking here - we are all different and allowed to like/dislike what and whomever we choose."

Gingham - not quite. I wouldn't go onto dogsnet say, and write an insulting post detailing how awful I find all dogs* and their owners. If I did, it would be bloody rude of me and I'd expect to be handed my arse to play with.
It really is that simple.

*for illustrative purposes...I love dogs!

"I accept children are people but obviously they are very young people who I have zero in common with"

My view here OP is that you are probably more afraid of children than anything else. Why you are afraid I have no idea. But to consider you have nothing in common with them is quite an interesting statement to say the least. We all fear the unknown and I think you are afraid of children because you do not understand them. When actually children are just people full stop. I have things in common with some children, things in common with some adults. I could not say I have nothing in common with all the children, that would be untrue. And I cannot imagine that it is true of you. Since at the very least you were a child once you are bound to have something in common with at least some of them.

So I think you are simply afraid because you believe children to be inherently different to grownups. When in fact they are not, everyone is different and everyone is also similar is some ways, children, grownups, older people, all races and religions included.

If you had said that you were uncomfortable around children because you did not have your own/do not really understand them/cannot guess how they will react/do not know what to say to them that probably would be closer to the truth and perfectly understandable.

You cannot dislike what you actually do not know at all.

It would be like me saying I dislike the Japanese culture for instance when I have so little knowledge of it I could not possibly say that. But I can say that certain cultures/beliefs make me uncomfortable...

We obviously love our own kids, but not always keen on everyone else's! I certainly generally like children though, but not every child as an individual as some are annoying or whatever. Not sure why a child-hater is on mumsnet though - the title gives it away!

Babies being given attention? That is an entirely different matter. But you know that, of course. Pretending you misunderstand is just your chance to be rude so go you.

Shelagh, no they don't have to be endearing, entertaining or cute at all. I think it is the social expectation that every woman should think that they are all of these things which grates.

What the actual fuck is this envy thing all about though? How on earth do you conclude that someone who does not like children is, in fact, envious of those who have them?

sounds a lot like envy

I really love children, but I don't enjoy them performing either.

There is a culture amongst some of my friends where children are allowed to interrupt and generally hog any social situation- we're talking over 10s, not babies. I think children should be encouraged to understand that everyone is equal, and whilst they are special, they are no more so than the next person.

I often feel for my own children when they are alongside the offspring of friends who perform, grab and generally behave as though their entitlement is greater than that of others.

mothermother what on earth is this envy thing all about? No sarcasm intended whatsoever, I just cannot grasp how someone who dislikes kids would be envious of people who have them?

I like mine. No time for anyone else's.

I was sat poolside once and someone let their toddler climb all over my crossed legs. I wanted to shove him off but I know people go all funny about you touching their kids, so I looked at the mother but she was cooing like it was totally acceptable for his icky fingers to be all over my thighs.

"I really love children, but I don't enjoy them performing either.

There is a culture amongst some of my friends where children are allowed to interrupt and generally hog any social situation- we're talking over 10s, not babies. I think children should be encouraged to understand that everyone is equal, and whilst they are special, they are no more so than the next person.

I often feel for my own children when they are alongside the offspring of friends who perform, grab and generally behave as though their entitlement is greater than that of others."

Yes. Agreed!

As for people being ENVIOUS of other people who have to endure the delightfully exhausting behaviour of their children!?

Hahahaha

I wouldn't even want to be involved in the negative energy it takes to hate on youngsters who are starting out in this world.

Which Little Book of Bullshit did you get that little gem from?

I agree with Poppy, if there is something about some children you dislike then fair enough but the general statement "I dislike children" doesn't sit right with me.

If you replaced the word 'children' with another section of the population such as 'elderly' 'handicapped' or 'Chinese people' it becomes clear how offensive that could be.

TaterTots you've missed the point that it's rude and weird to join a forum that is predominantly mothers and say you don't like kids. It's also ageist. I don't care if you've got no kids or 10 but making sweeping statements make you look twonky.

I don't like cats but I wouldn't go on a cat forum and say I don't like cats even though many pet forums have chat boards too and aren't solely about cats.