I get what you're asking, I think. When I was a parent of preschoolers and toddlers, I found teens and older elementary kids annoying. I didn't see why they had the need to be at a playground, why they never looked me in the eye when first meeting me or why they didn't shake my hand, why they had to be so annoying and Loud in public, why they all dressed in the exact sake way yet demanded that they were "unique!!"

Now that I have teens, I am more tolerant of that kind of stuff. I am less annoyed by it because I realize that most of them are good kids.

I did not like kids before I had my own. I am nuts for mine, but I still don't like other people's kids for the most part. When my kid was 2 and 3, although I thought she was awesome, I found that stage to be just soul sucking and awful. Now that she is in middle school, I think she is hilarious and we love spending time together. Once my kid was out of the 2s and 3s, I have never looked back and I go out of my way to avoid spending time with people who have kids in this age group.

Anonymous wrote:Well, I love my kids and their friends can be funny, too. But there are some older kids and teens that are not a joy to be around. When they are little they are mostly all sweet even if they aren't all perfect little angels - I get a kick out of little kids. But by the time they get older some are...not nice.

This is true! Thank goodness my child still acts mostly sweet & innocent at 8. When he starts to show some attitude, we (his parents) react in ways to discourage it. If he continues to show attitude or behaviors that we don't like, we take away privileges and make sure he knows why. If his friends that come over are rude or disrespectful, they don't come over and he doesn't go to their house.

Well, I love my kids and their friends can be funny, too. But there are some older kids and teens that are not a joy to be around. When they are little they are mostly all sweet even if they aren't all perfect little angels - I get a kick out of little kids. But by the time they get older some are...not nice.

Anonymous wrote:I have three teenagers.
I think its the same as when they were toddlers.
When they were little, sometimes I loved them and thought they were adorable. Sometimes I hid in my bathroom to get away from them.

Same today

I do find as I get older my tolerance for little ones gets shorter. Actually, its not the kids (who I think are cute but don't dwell on like I used to). its the parents. I seriously crawl out of my skin with some parents talking to their kids, it makes me crazy.
like we were at the beach this weekend and the mom next to me wouldn't stop talking the.entire.day. "Jamal, don't do that. Jamal, stop it. Jamal, this is your last warning. Jamal, don't kick the sand. Jamal, stop it. Jamal, eat your snack. Jamal, eat your fish. How do you spell fish Jamal? How do you spell Fish? F--I--S....I seriously was going insane.

And its me, not her. Im sure she is a lovely woman. I just am losing my tolerance and becoming a crankly old person

I love my teenagers. They are unpredictably beautiful creatures

You know, as the mom of a 4yo, I'm sure I'd annoy the fuck out of myself if I had to listen to me, too. I have always tried to limit the "baby-talk" and speak to him like a simplified grown-up, but the mommy-tone is still there.

It is assuring that my tolerance will shift as my kid(s) grow. I have NO idea how I would communicate with a 8-15 year old at this point. I have some tween step-nieces that basically give me a blank stare every time I engage them.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I totally get what you're asking! And yeah, my child it's 8 and I adore him. I like most of his friends too, but I used to think kids that age were annoying when he was a baby/toddler. I still love babies, toddlers, preschoolers etc. but yes, I know exactly what you're talking about.

I couldn't agree more!

I have three teenagers.
I think its the same as when they were toddlers.
When they were little, sometimes I loved them and thought they were adorable. Sometimes I hid in my bathroom to get away from them.

Same today

I do find as I get older my tolerance for little ones gets shorter. Actually, its not the kids (who I think are cute but don't dwell on like I used to). its the parents. I seriously crawl out of my skin with some parents talking to their kids, it makes me crazy.
like we were at the beach this weekend and the mom next to me wouldn't stop talking the.entire.day. "Jamal, don't do that. Jamal, stop it. Jamal, this is your last warning. Jamal, don't kick the sand. Jamal, stop it. Jamal, eat your snack. Jamal, eat your fish. How do you spell fish Jamal? How do you spell Fish? F--I--S....I seriously was going insane.

And its me, not her. Im sure she is a lovely woman. I just am losing my tolerance and becoming a crankly old person

I love my teenagers. They are unpredictably beautiful creatures

I love elementary aged kids. I have one and I teach them too. Not a fan of babies/toddlers although preschoolers are fine. Little ones are just so dependent for every little thing. Some moms may love that they feel needed all of the time but it drained me. I'm a single parent so maybe that's what drained me! But I love that my DD can make her own breakfast, get dressed, shower, etc on her own. I love that I can leave her at home for 30 mins to take a walk or run a quick errand. Yes, she does get sassy at times but nobody is perfect.