Do you like other people's children?

[Irked]

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.

They're just people, and therefore some are nice, some not. I've recently reconnected with some people I haven't seen since primary school, and they're just like they always were, so it's not only about parents.

I think it's just as indiscriminate to say you like kids as it would be to say you like all people in their seventies.

Kids are generally great to be around, unfortunately I can't stand being around some adults around kids. Some adults make things very uncomfortable as they're not themselves around children. That can be because they don't have patience or understanding that children are still learning how to express themselves or it can be their own insecurities all sorts I guess, but I definitely prefer when I'm with a group of kids and the other adults are genuine. I don't go to a lot of parties in my own family because of some of them are the sort that think it's really funny to put kids down or complain about children "that's lovely dear, how .... creative" then eye roll to another adult. Sarcasm is not lost on kids, unfortunately a lot of adults use it as they're quite limited emotionally.

No

I am not a child person. At all

I love babies until they're 3m then no thanks

Thankfully I have the best and most beautiful children in the world

Also - I am humanitarian and therefore I do have play dates and I smile, be kind, feed other people's kids etc. I'm not a total monster

I don't particularly like other people's kids but I'll be nice to them if there's an ongoing relationship, eg extended family, or dc's friends through school or long term activity. But I don't care much for kids we see as a one-off in the park, that we'll never likely see again, even if they're polite and well-behaved. Sometimes they come up and want to share my dc's toys or want me to play with them just because they see me playing with my own dc, but my focus is really on my own kids and I don't have the time or energy to be dealing with anyone else's. If I see them fall or something I let their parents deal with it, just like I deal with my own kids - it's their responsibility not mine.

My children have some lovely friends who I am always happy to help out with when their parents need extra childcare but some I would rather have nothing at all to do with.

I like my own children. Other people's, not really. If I'm honest they frighten me a bit, like other people's pets, I don't really understand them.

Quite honestly I've never been that fussed with other people's children no.

There's the odd one who I've met who's been particularly charming/funny so I've enjoyed their company, but most of them I've found either dull or annoying 😂

I obviously adore my own child and love spending time with her.
Friends kids. I like them sometimes (mostly in small doses) if they're well behaved.
Daughters friends - some I don't mind. Her best friend who is slowly moving away is a narcissist and it pains me to see what DD puts up with.
Strangers kids - not fussed.

I am a beaver leader and have continued doing it long after my own children have left because I enjoy the kids and watching mature.
it’s different to be with children when their parents are there.

I like well behaved sweet kids.

^ This 100 per cent

100% 😂

😂😂

I love my children. And I don't mind other people's children but it depends how they behave. But I'm definitely not that person who must hold every baby.

Much the same as with any adults I meet, some great, some fine, some annoying beyond belief.

I do find that a lot of people on MN fall over themselves to let people know how much they dislike any kid that's not their own. Feels a bit 'I'm cool, y'see. I'm not like those other boring momz'

I don’t really like to see my friends when the kids are in tow, to be honest. I’m not friends with their kids. I’d always choose a child free get together over one with kids, unless the get together is specifically for the kids. For example, I can cope okay at soft play, but not at a bbq/meal out.

I have my own children, so I’m not some kid hating oaf. I actually quite like children tbh. I just don’t like my time with friends being overrun by children. I find them less annoying at under 1 or over 5.

I’m small doses they’re OK. I feel like that about adults too, though.

Don't mind some kids in fact most don't bother me but can't stand being around other parents when they're with their kids including close friends. Doesn't matter how close you are there will be parenting differences. A lot of parents I know are helicopters and spoil their kids, are completely overzealous eye boundaries or none at all. It literally batters my head so I try to avoid gatherings of kids and parents. Now mine are teenagers it's ok, when they were little the playground and kids parties were hell.

A close friends 6 year old and my 6 year old niece are hard work so it's tricky spending time with them. However it's all to do with parenting so I tend to get frustrated with them not the kids

I always find the "all kids are great" thing really odd.
They're not.

I like some. I don't like others. In general I have very little in common with the ones I didn't give birth to. I'd rather clean my fridge out than spend much time with other people's.

I teach teenagers and the older they get, the more interesting and complete. They're quicksilver. They're so alive and vital. Even the half asleep ones.

Primary- I live opposite a primary school and have obviously had a primary age child myself, and I remember thinking one morning "how fabulous is it to be 6 and skipping to school" and I often find myself overhearing wonderful snippets between child and parent as they come out or go in that make me smile. But spend time with them? No ta.

I really don’t like children apart from my own and I absolutely can’t stand teenagers they are the worst. Because I have 4 kids people think I love kids but I really don’t like other people kids.

cats however, I love ALL the cats 🐈

Generally I like other people’s kids, yeah. Kids grow and change and young ones have trouble regulating emotions, theybshouldn’t be held to adult standards of behaviour.
Bad parenting obviously exists, but then I’d be blaming the parents for that, not the child.
Bad behaviour exists obviously but it’s basically part of growing up - learning what’s socially tolerated or acceptable.

I think adults that say they ‘don’t like children’ are generally just crotchety arseholes. I judge them more than a child.

As a general rule no, I've a few friends who I can tolerate their kids, but in the whole no I don't like children, only my own.

Also, I want to include my friend’s kids in my social life. And their dogs. I see them as part of my life now.

We can still get together in the evening as adults, but enjoy bbqs/daytime pub gardens/parks with everyone involved.

I am convinced that we all have set personalities. The horrid kid at school? A horrid 30-year-old, 50-year-old and still horrid at 85.

So some kids I like, and some it is very difficult to warm to. And I don’t mean shy or even grumpy or naughty kids, but those who are sly or spiteful or bumptious.

It's not that I don't like other people's kids. I just don't know how to interact with them. Somehow I'm okay with the faux enthusiasm and silliness when I'm playing with or chatting to my own kids but when it's someone else's I'm suddenly really awkward 🤦🏻‍♀️

I'd not choose to spend time with young kids if I didn't have them myself