Does anyone like Other peoples young kids (tongue in cheek)

[beachcitygirl]

Ok as the title says. Being a little bit tongue in cheek, but does anyone really like other peoples young kids? Even family?
Love - sure.
But like?

Their messy eating, inane chat, tantrums, snotty noses, poo smelling, nose picking, crying, screaming, fussy eaters, Making a mess if they visit.
Sitting through countless ballet/drama/tap/plays etc watching hours of crap when you're own poppet is only onstage for 2 mins.
Screaming at the park etc

I mean we're programmed to love & like our own. But other peoples ? I'll go first.

Nope.

When they get to 10 upwards I love them, I find their thoughts & views on the World fascinating, but up until then. Hell to the no.

I dislike other people’s children. Luckily the one I had is perfect

I loved kids, especially little ones, they were even my career for a long while. Then I had my own gorgeous children and went right off everyone else’s. I guess that need was met with mine.

However thankfully I adore and actually really like my own 1 year old for much longer than one hour intervals.

@Gonnagetgoing

My nephew (3.5) is a bit of a brat at the moment - even his parents think so...

But that's mostly as he wants to see more of his mum (not much luck there!) and he's a threenager.

He's calmed down a bit recently but I was at DM's after spending an hour at family splash with him and his DF (my DB) - god that was fun - NOT! and then went for lunch at DM's - I made the mistake of taking one of his veggie sausage bits cut up without asking him and you'd think I'd beaten him black and blue!

To be fair to the little guy I wouldn't be too impressed if you nicked one of my sausage bits! Joey doesn't share food!!

Otherwise completely agree, 3.5yos are total pains in the arse!

Yes, I like reasonably well behaved children. To be honest, even with the endlessly whiny, bratty ones, most of my disliking is aimed at the parents.

I don't mind a select few.

I don't always like my own kids but I always love them.

Not generally. I love some of my friends' children in the sense that the closer friends are like family, so their children are too. But I wouldn't choose to spend time with them on purpose and I find their presence a bit irritating.

If you in the zone with similar aged kids bar the odd horror they are fine. Trickier when your own are older and you not used to the constant interruption/ fuss of younger children…

I really do. I did not like kids at all before having my own, aside from a select couple. But now I find 90% just wonderful.

I have more patience now, but when mine were young I really did not like anyone else’s that were spoilt, bratty, badly behaved, whiny, etc.
Especially whiny! I had a friend whose kids never talked except in a whine - and she invariably responded so sweetly- it made me want to brain her, too.😈
Mine always got very short shift if they whined - zero tolerance!

I actually do like children, and always have, so, hm, yeah?
I guess liking people in general does help...
And I find children are much easier to please and entertain than many adults...

No not really, I don't really like kids until I had
my own, but I would never expect anyone else to be in hand to look after them. Small kids are bloody irritating.

@137765User - honestly though he can turn on a sixpence with his moods!

He was much better and sweeter at 2 and as a baby and up to two.

His parents are hoping it all passes and he's back to his angelic self soon...!

Yes, very much.

Yes, I do.

Me! I think the toddler stage is brilliant. So much curiosity about the world, so many things they're learning, and they come out with the most brilliant words and phrases.

(I sometimes think I missed my vocation and should have been a preschool teacher.)

Dh and I so keen to get pregnant but wasn’t happening. We were sitting on some steps and a toddler ran up and behind us and just hugged us both very hard. His mum was very apologetic but we thought it was really sweet and conceived that month. I kind of link the two things!

Sometimes, while I wait for the grandchildren after school on one of my pick-up days, I watch the younger ones explode out of the building. You all know what it's like: shouting, running, jumping, bouncing, pushing, playing, chatting, laughing, crying. These little children are so full of energy, life, and all-round sheer joy at simple existence that I cannot but feel my own spirits lifted ... like to the lark at break of day arising from sullen earth, as it were. (I may not sing hymns at heaven's gate, but, well, you know what I mean.)

Once (pre-lockdown) I recall sitting on a bench in the town centre, watching the people go past. I was struck by how grumpy everyone looked: grim-faced slaves, they seemed, hurrying each to his or her hated allotted task. Except ... Except for those old people with small children in tow -- there were lots, for some reason, that day. As they slowly negotiated their way along through the foule they radiated happiness, each to the other. Look, next time you get a chance; grandparents with grandchildren smile to the world.

Seeing, recognising, happiness and joy in others makes one feel joyful and happy.

So, yes, I like other people's kids.

Perhaps this makes me a sentimental old fool. Do I care?

Some of them I do - absolutely.

Likewise, some of them I absolutely do not.

It pretty much always comes down to the personality of the kids + the parenting of their parents.

Kids are like farts. You can only stand your own.

I like all children. I've spent 40yrs of my life working with them, helping them, guiding them. Children are funny and interesting. In fact I'd go as far as to say that the only problem with children is their parents

I much prefer tiny kids, I find pre-schoolers highly entertaining and endearing. I go off them when they’re a bit older and they get that awful all-knowing, nothing new in the world “sophistication” when they’re about 7 or 8.

Once they get to 8 or 9 they're ok. Up till then - nopes

Everyone thinks i am wonderful with kids - real earth mother natural parent type - but on the whole, actually, i don't like children much!!

There i said it!!

And here i am with four of my own and a long career as a TA behind me

@Boood i x posted with you there. Made me smile - we're the total opposite! You have them till they're 8 and then i'll take over

@Laiste I don’t want them for any length of time- 20 minutes or so is fine