Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do you like other people's children?

111 replies

Irked · 07/06/2023 11:21

Just that really. I struggle sometimes being around other people's children, either because of tantrums, arguments, different parenting styles/boundaries, different needs/demands/manners, etc. Not necessarily the fault of the children, but I don't find it easy being around other people's kids. Does everyone feel like this or is it just me? Anything to do to make it easier/more enjoyable?

I feel like sometimes it is assumed that if you have kids you must be a "kid-person" and like all kids (in the same way that if you have a cat everyone will give you cups or calendars with cats on them for Christmas because you are a "cat-person" and must therefore like all cats).

So are you a kid-person or do you only like your own?

YABU - all children are a delight in their own way and you should enjoy the wonder they bring to your world.

YANBU - I only like spending time with my own kids - other people's kids are hard work to be around.

OP posts:
SunnySaturdayMorning · 07/06/2023 11:23

There’s a middle ground isn’t there?

I like kids where the parents have brought them up to be well behaved. I don’t like kids where the parents haven’t given a shit and they’re loud, screamy and bullish.

IncompleteSenten · 07/06/2023 11:26

Not really.

But I don't like people full stop tbh. Only in small doses and followed by hours of alone time.

The problem is me not them.

MoggyMittens23 · 07/06/2023 11:26

SunnySaturdayMorning · 07/06/2023 11:23

There’s a middle ground isn’t there?

I like kids where the parents have brought them up to be well behaved. I don’t like kids where the parents haven’t given a shit and they’re loud, screamy and bullish.

Yes to this. Really depends on the child and the parenting. Some are lovely. Others, not so much.

MrsMikeDrop · 07/06/2023 11:28

SunnySaturdayMorning · 07/06/2023 11:23

There’s a middle ground isn’t there?

I like kids where the parents have brought them up to be well behaved. I don’t like kids where the parents haven’t given a shit and they’re loud, screamy and bullish.

This. I like nice kids! No one likes bratty kids

DontBePassiveAggresive · 07/06/2023 11:28

Snot on my kids face is a bit yucky and I'll just wipe it off, no stress.

Seeing snot on another kids face absolutely revolts me and I'm immediately wondering why their parent isn't prioritising cleaning their face any faster.

Willmafrockfit · 07/06/2023 11:28

i liked them better when teenagers

steppemum · 07/06/2023 11:29

I can't chose YABU or YANBU because it depends

I have some lovely friends with nice kids.
I also know some people with very annoying kids.

Different parenting styles can be annoying, but it is when their kids impact you or your kids that it becomes frustrating.

And one pet hate, if I have a babysitter and am kid free, your kids can also bloody well go to bed.

Willmafrockfit · 07/06/2023 11:29

ds best friend was so badly behaved, such a bad mannered eater!
but ds thought he was the bees knees

arethereanyleftatall · 07/06/2023 11:30

Friends kids - some yes, some no
Kids I teach - some yes, some no
Strangers kids in public - never

NeverThatSerious · 07/06/2023 11:30

I adore kids, always have. They can be a bit annoying sometimes but I still enjoy being around them and interacting with them. I am very close to my nieces and nephews and My friends children are also fantastic and I love them all.

SaltyGod · 07/06/2023 11:30

I like some children, not all.
Some of our friends have some awful kids and we do avoid seeing them as I can’t stand it (and our kids also don’t like them much)

bussteward · 07/06/2023 11:31

I don’t even like my own kids sometimes (though I love them), let alone other people’s.

Fatkittythinkitty · 07/06/2023 11:33

I prefer kids to adults. I used to be a childminder so generally speaking I like kids. All of them are capable of being lovely at times and all of them are capable of being bratty at times.

SequinDiscoBiscuits · 07/06/2023 11:34

I studied Early Year Ed at college, because I thought I wanted to be a primary teacher.
Put it this way, after various school placements and a council playscheme summer job, I went into sales and that was that..

caffelattetogo · 07/06/2023 11:34

Having children made me like most other children, as I see my own in them. Some are just brats though!

Jeannieofthelamp · 07/06/2023 11:34

I like kids in the same way I like adults.
Some are fab, lots are okay and perfectly fine to spend an afternoon with, a few are awful and I can't stand them.
I don't see kids as a separate species from people at large; they've got their own personalities and some gel with mine and some don't.

Hoppinggreen · 07/06/2023 11:35

I like some other children but as individuals on their own merits, not just because they are children

Snugglemonkey · 07/06/2023 11:35

MoggyMittens23 · 07/06/2023 11:26

Yes to this. Really depends on the child and the parenting. Some are lovely. Others, not so much.

Show quote history

It definitely very much depends on the children. I love some, but dislike plenty.

5128gap · 07/06/2023 11:36

Depends on their age and personality. Other than my GC who I love because of who they are to me, I wouldn't mind if I never had the company of an under 10 again. My enthusiasm gradually increases with the age of the child, but tbh, its never high. I prefer the company of teens and adults. I do meet other babies and toddlers and think they're cute/amusing, but its a very fleeting thing. No way would I wanted to engage at length.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 07/06/2023 11:37

Kids aren’t one group- every kid is different and most adults should be able to distinguish the different between off moments and reactions in accordance with their age- and a nasty child!

StrawberryWater · 07/06/2023 11:38

SunnySaturdayMorning · 07/06/2023 11:23

There’s a middle ground isn’t there?

I like kids where the parents have brought them up to be well behaved. I don’t like kids where the parents haven’t given a shit and they’re loud, screamy and bullish.

So much this!

I like well behaved kids who have interests and know basic manners. I don’t like loud, screechy kids with an attitude problem who don’t like the word ‘no’?

Ds had his last birthday party at Pizza Hut and one of his cousins just spent a lot of the time throwing stuff at the other kids, would only eat his food if he was allowed to sit on the table and wanted to open some of my sons presents (no he’s not on the spectrum, his parents just let him get away with murder). He totally ruined the party but he’s like this all the time. He’s a wee little shite bag Dudley Dursley. It’s not his fault his parents treat him like a king with no boundaries and think his behaviour is ‘cute’ (he’s nearly 10 by the way) but yikes I do not like that kid very much.

NCofCourse123456 · 07/06/2023 11:38

Kids stupidity and evil are not as exasperating as grown ups, so I don't have as visceral reaction to some kids being annoying.

I'm not extrovert towards adult I don't know, same for kids.

JenniferBarkley · 07/06/2023 11:39

If my DC and other people's DC will play nicely and leave me in peace to either slack off or have a coffee with the other parents, then I positively ADORE them Wink

minipie · 07/06/2023 11:40

Most other people’s kids, I don’t dislike but I wouldn’t choose to spend time with them particularly. They are kids, we don’t have the same interests (I’m sure they feel the same way 😆).

There are one or two kids I dislike based on their behaviour and one or two kids I genuinely find good company. But mostly I am just indifferent.

There’s a saying “kids are like farts, only your own are bearable”

TheYearOfSmallThings · 07/06/2023 11:42

I like my friends' children (because they are great) and, especially with friends I have known since we were little ourselves, I find it absolutely fascinating to watch their kids grow from babies and develop their own little personalities and now some of them are leaving school and they are just so impressive.

I also like every single one of the children in DS's class, and most of the ones I know from baby group etc.

However I sometimes look at other children with horror, and it is entirely possible I just have rose coloured glasses for people I know.

I also like all cats 😻