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.

I like some kids, not others, so not dissimilar to my approach to adults really. I’m generally not a kid-fan - I love DD, my niece and nephew, outside of that not very many.

A few maybe I like, most not. I couldn't eat a whole one, mind.

It depends on their ages, how they behave and how prolonged the contact with them is.
I prefer teens upward, which, given my age, is the age group I'm mostly in contact with.

I used to work with children in care of all ages, and despite their less good start in life, I found most of them to be absolutely great, resilient and funny.
But I’m sort of childrened out, now.

I like some kids.

I get over stimulated very easily though and by luck I have a child that likes personal space so I dont like it when children want to touch me or hug me or get in my face when I'm sat down like over eager puppies.

I also struggle with too many voices at once and so an adult talking and multiple children vying for my attention st the same time overwhelms me.

So I suppose I like older children and children that dont do those things.

No.

I like my dogs much, much more.

Well that’s just clearly bullshit 😊

As a pp said, there’s middle ground.

My friends children are lovely. My friends are very similar to me and have brought their children up with a similar parenting style and morals. Some of my children’s other friends were lovely, others were brats that I’d dread play dates with and they’ve grown into awful adults that my now teen/adult children stay away from.

Yes.
Just as well, given my job!

But on the weekend, I do find some liberal. indulgent MC parenting to be exceptionally grating.

Other people’s children bore me. Sometimes they annoy me too but for the most part they’re just boring.

I do, I love kids/babies.
All ages.
I love hanging around with the elderly too.

It's the people in between that piss me off.

I've never found a kid to be a prick that wasn't raised to be one.

Kids generally are just lovely. When they're not, it's hugely likely how they're being raised is the problem.

I've met one kid that was told he was so special, practically god/santa/lady di's favourite kid ever and he was so unpleasant it was unreal. He was bullied at school due to the fact he believed he was a gift to the planet earth and spoke to everyone like they were "the plebs". He was so easy to dislike it was difficult to remember he was created to be an entitled horror, it wasn't his fault.

A neighbours kid was a horrid child, he used racial slurs, he'd kick off over anything and he was just deeply deeply unpleasant. But his parents were scum and his behaviour was learnt.

Both kids having been raised by nicer people would have been alright.

I know some kids are just awful people but I've never met one that was awful but parented well.
I know adults with lovely parents who are absolutely vile, but they were OK as kids.

Much like adults, some are great, some are OK and some are awful. At least with kids you can cut them some slack as they're still growing and learning. No hope for some awful adults!

As a primary teacher I do get the impression that folk think I just love children and I'll be ever so keen to look after other kids in my spare time - no!

I enjoy spending time with babies and toddlers, especially now their nappies aren't my problem.

After that, it very much depends. Some of the children mine made friends with were absolute horrors! Some were lovely. But I don't intrinsically like them just because they are children.

I have a real soft spot for a child who will talk to
me. One who will actually respond when you say hello,
and perhaps might even engage in a short conversation. Sooooo many children we know literally ignore you when you say hello.

I have 4 DC and yes, as a PP said, it seems to make people think we absolutely love children…. Consequently, almost everywhere we go, we seem to get other children gravitating (or being encouraged to…) towards us. We’ve noticed this particularly in the swimming pool for some reason. I now get up and move away, as I’m absolutely not being responsive for any more children!!

I really like some of my friend’s children and have a strong dislike for others. But largely this emanates from the parents. You can definitely spot a child who thinks they are the centre of the universe!

I don't like many other kids tbh. Most of the kids we know are rude, entitled, poorly behaved and unkind to my kids. In every instance, the issue is parenting (or lack thereof). I do have a couple of friends whose kids are lovely, polite, play nicely, know how to share and are a general pleasure to be around. Obviously they all (mine included) have their moments when they're tired or overwhelmed, but it's just all the time with most of them.

Sometimes.
Some are surprisingly sweet. Some are badly behaved and annoying. DD has had a few playdates-they vary hugely from kids who are cute and make playdoh cakes for me to little shits who try to paint my clothes 😐
I don't know how to tell off other peoples children.
I'm not daft thought- I know people may find DD annoying too.

I absolutely love kids. Being around some kids with the parents can be frustrating sometimes though!

I like kids mostly. Occasionally you meet one who is a little shit but usually that's not their fault, it's the adults around them who spoil them or don't put any boundaries in place.

I only like the kids I'm related to. I'm not proud of that and would never admit it irl.

I only like the kids I'm related to. I'm not proud of that and would never admit it irl.

Babies and toddlers are quite cute, but the older ones scare me because they stare at you like this 😐 and then say something incomprehensible and I never know how to respond.

Children are just young humans. They're often more enthusisiastic, more creative and less refined than adults but they all have their own personalities and some are very likable, most pleasant and sometimes some that you struggle to warm to. Sometimes it's nurture, sometimes it's nature. With DS1 being autistic, people can get vastly different impressions of him depending on his mood/ the setting. DS2 is far more accessible to general people and is quite adult-friendly.

Generally I like having connections with children and enjoy working or volunteering with them.

This.

I like all my friends' children. Obviously I'm biased as I like my friends, but from what I can see I would say they're all bringing their children up well, which is why I think their children are nice / funny / interesting / sweet / kind. If / when they behave badly, as all children do sometimes, their parents swiftly put them right, in a firm but fair way.

I don't like 'other people's' children ie ones who are making a lot of noise etc in an inappropriate place with zero attempt by the parents to parent them, and I really hate when children are playing on phones / tablets with the sound on in restaurants. I have absolutely no issue with parents giving their children a tablet to play with, but do it either with headphones or sound off if in public.

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

But most people that like cats do like all cats, that's just science!

I'm horrible, I only ever liked kids of around my own child's age and now she's thirteen I find small kids really irritating, including my own nephew and niece which I feel bad about!

Before I had my daughter I liked kids generally though, it's weird.

YANBU. I don't like other people's kids either