Baby photos

[WildFlowerBees]

I'm not a child hater, I just didn't want them and prefer not to be around them if I can help it. There are young children in my friends group and they are lovely and I have a family members child as often as I can help but why do people keep showing me photos of their kids!

All of these people know i'm not a lover of children, but will insist on showing me photos of their grand babies, or their kids. I find it really boring, a baby in a pram, a baby in a hat, a baby sleeping.

I understand that to them they are wonderful but why would you show photos to someone you know really isn't interested?

Does anyone else get this and how do I politely disengage from this? One colleague showed me 12 photos of his grandkids!

Nod and say mmhm while appearing slightly disengaged as if something really important is calling that you have to get back to.

The problem is they can't believe you aren't interested. They are babies, they are cute and they are the DC/DGC. It's probably a form of conversion therapy on their part - like the colleagues who insist on thrusting their baby into your arms. Do it often enough, they probably reckon, and she'll cave.

I feel the same about peoples pets. They all look the bloody same. Why do I want to see 24 pictures of someone's generic looking cat in different positions??
Bores me senseless.
But I understand they love this animal and want to share that. I just make noises like 'oh wow lovely' until its over.
There are much worse things in the world than someone showing you pictures of something they love because they mistakenly think it will bring as much joy to you as it does them.

They want to share with you something that is important to them. Just make "Aww" noises and control your face.

My colleague hates animals, maybe I should reciprocate with very dull photos of mine. 😬

Agree with this. It’s just an annoying part of the social contract.

(I draw the line at holding babies, myself.)

Download hundreds of cat pics and whip your phone out to show colleague when the baby pics come out.

I think they love them and are proud of them and just want to show them off. Us CF are in the minority so they forget we won't go sloppy over baby photos. Just play nice and say something suitable, it's a shame to upset someone you like by recoiling in horror 😂

I feel your pain.

I have children of my own ( adults now) but one colleague would take every opportunity to show me the latest photo of her child posing and trout pouting . One a day would have been ok but her child ( late teens) would post several times a day, so I had to look at it several times a day.

I feel pretty sure that I only showed a graduation photo of each of them to anyone, nothing more.

It's the endless baby shots that get me... baby with dummy, baby with kitten, baby with ( two strands of ...) hair in an oversized scrub Joe or bow, baby with ( insert twenty different people)

Just on and on ...

They think their baby is the most special baby in the world and so will be an exception to your general disinterest in babies. Just say ‘aw cute/oh lovely’ to every photo and they’ll be happy. It’s what I do when people show me photos of their baby/pet/plant/dinner etc and they’re always satisfied and move on.

Just smile and nod, it really doesn't take much, does it?

Well no it wouldn't if it weren't every bloody day!

@WildFlowerBees maybe just say " oh, I've seen that one before " or " you showed me that one yesterday "

Hopefully they will get the hint, I know I would.

I hate looking at anyone's pictures of anything! (Except cats. Much cuter).

It’s best when they appear on Teams calls. If it’s a child I sit quietly and wait for it to be removed. If it’s a pet I start waving and shouting hello like a loon and am entirely happy for the whole meeting to be derailed.

Babies look far more generic to me than animals do. I'll look at cat and dog photos anytime, and certainly show mine. Babies? Meh.

I don't have business calls (not working) but I have had WhatsApp video calls with friends have the Grey Screen of Death when my little furry brat decides she has to walk across in front of my phone! 😄

It's boring for you; but for those who love the kids it's just fascinating seeing them
Develop and smile , and evey paretn/gp/auntie thinks they have the cutest baby in the world!
You could get the point a cross by then showing lots of pics of your interest eg your garden, your meal prep, your holiday or whatever. Or just say no im all good thank when they offer.

I feel the same about pets but I share so many pics of my baby 😂 it's on my private social media though so everyone has the option to mute me

Yes do do this!! They will get the picture

My DP works from home and our cat alwaysl likes to get in the act on Teams meetings, unfortunately she always turns towards him so far more people have seen our cat's bum than they'd like 😂

Pet people/those with fur babies 🙄 are equally as fecking annoying!

Cat bums are the best, at least according to Daisy. 😹

This is the childfree forum, so unlikely to find many of those people!

I like seeing baby photos! Much more interesting to me than random animal pictures. I’ll also happily hold babies and interact with small children.

I agree with the people who said just make polite noises and hope the person moves on soon. I think we’ve probably all been on both sides of the photo sharing pain with something at some point.

Maybe if it bothers you that much, you will have to stop worrying about looking polite and tell him you are not interested. If you keep smiling and looking interested, it sounds like he’ll keep thinking that you are. You can only change your own behaviour. It’s fairly simple really.