"I don't like children"

[ladybirdees]

Quote unquote DHs stepmother at Sunday lunch last time her and FIL came to our house. My two children 5 and 7 looked utterly confused. This lady is a fairly outspoken confrontational sort in general but as she's getting older it's all becoming more nasty and unnecessary. FIL visibly shrinks in his seat when she does these things. He's fairly quiet and even more so in her company but loves to spend time with his grandchildren he really comes out of his shell. AIBU it suggest FIL comes to see his grandchildren solo if stepmother is so anti kids. Surely it would be better all round? Thing is she's super controlling of him, won't even let him have a private conversation with DH she always makes FIL have the phone on speaker. I doubt she'd be ok with FIL coming over on his own. The whole thing seems ridiculous though as she clearly doesn't want to be there and now my children are at an age where they understand what she is saying. I don't like it. Any advice?

@amicrazyorwhat2 I’d say from about the age of 12 I find kids much more interesting. I can have a good chat and get to know them. People tell me I’m great with kids of all ages and I can hold a conversation about Minecraft with the best of them. I just don’t actively enjoy it

I tend to lump people who embrace such a sweeping statement with the type who say "I don't get on with other women...they're all so XYZ".

Fairly sure my Dsis1 dislikes children - she herself is childfree and her attempts at talking to my DC are very stilted and awkward.

But if she ever said such a thing in front of my kids and in our house, I would tell her that if she dislikes children so much, she should leave MY children’s HOME.