Anonymous wrote:
I find most kids incredibly annoying. They leave me thinking how glad I am that they are not my kids. I am sure other adults think that abut my kids too.

Haha, off topic, but I felt this way as a kid all the time about other people's parents and I often have this same feeling as an adult about other people's husbands. Not that my parents or my husband are by any means perfect saints, but I just like them so much more anyway.

I like other people's kids but I don't feel as comfortable around kids as I do adults. I feel like I never really know what to say to them other than the typical "how's school?" questions, which feels very fake. I have the same issue with my own kids sometimes TBH. It's not that I don't like kids, I just can't relate to them. I am really good conversationalist in general with adults but kids make me nervous. I'm a PTA president but the thought of being room parent freaks me out.

Babies are different because there is no need to have a conversation with them. I don't "love" all babies but I can appreciate them and like being around them.

Anonymous wrote:Do you like other people kids... or just your own?

I love kids who are interactive. I have zero interest in birth to 3 months, minimal interest to 6 months, then I'm good.

Anonymous wrote:Nope. That's why I don't understand why people want to be aunts (none of our siblings ended up having kids) or grandmas. The real fun is being a parent!

I do like some of my kids' friends, but it's been so long since I've seen any.

I do think this is partially a holdover from an era when parents were expected to be disciplinarians and to have contentious relationships with their kids. The idea was that it was more fun to be an aunt/uncle or a grandparent because you got to be indulgent. Now we've done a [necessary] upheaval of parenting and don't view it so much on a strict versus lenient scale. Most of the parents I know (including us) have settled into a kind of "respectful but firm guidance" model, where you aren't buddies with your kids but there is always kindness and respect. As a result, we're closer to our kids and they like us more than most of us were with our parents. My kids have zero reason to prefer my siblings or parents to me because I'm not a jerk to them. If anything, they are put off by my parents, in particular, who have old fashioned notions about kids. For instance, my mom is constantly trying to inform them of rules that make no sense to them (like telling my daughter she is getting too old to "be silly" -- my DD looked at her like she had two heads and I've never been prouder).

Our kids like us most of all the adults they know, including teachers. That probably won't always be true -- who knows what the teen years will bring? But we have so much fun together as a family that the idea of having a better time with people they don't know quite as well or who have a different vibe is just unlikely at the moment.

Anonymous wrote:Some, in short doses (a few hours for a play date). Most, nope.

This.

I wouldn't say I genuinely like many kids other than my own. My kids aren't perfect and they have their annoying habits, but I find other kids to be needy, shrill, loud, messy, and a whole host of other things. So mostly I don't like other kids.

There are some kids I like and enjoy, but for the most part I don't like other people's kids.

I find most kids incredibly annoying. They leave me thinking how glad I am that they are not my kids. I am sure other adults think that abut my kids too.

Anonymous wrote:I adore babies.
I am very judgmental of other people's pushy and entitled kids when they're past 8 y/o or so. The pushback, bargaining, or outright smiling defiance on grownup's rules? Keep that for your own house. That also makes me suspicious of my relationship with the parents - what kind of shit do their parents talk about me at home for the kid to believe they don't need to respect me in mine?

The smiling defiance is disturbing but in our house pushback and bargaining aren’t considered disrespectful in our house. DH and I are always amused and sometimes impressed with the arguments our kids make in favor of their positions, and at times they do persuade us that they are right. I tell my kids not to do this at friend’s houses and I hope they listen but I can’t be sure they do.

Like other posters I thought I wouldn’t but I usually do. Since having kids I have learned to speak to kids and relate to them and they are almost always fun and hilarious and insightful. I would always rather spend time with my own though.

Nope. That's why I don't understand why people want to be aunts (none of our siblings ended up having kids) or grandmas. The real fun is being a parent!

I do like some of my kids' friends, but it's been so long since I've seen any.

No, except for my kids’ cousins.

I adore babies.
I am very judgmental of other people's pushy and entitled kids when they're past 8 y/o or so. The pushback, bargaining, or outright smiling defiance on grownup's rules? Keep that for your own house. That also makes me suspicious of my relationship with the parents - what kind of shit do their parents talk about me at home for the kid to believe they don't need to respect me in mine?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Generally I don't care for other people's kids. But when my kids like other kids, the liking rubs off on me over time and I start to like those kids too.

+1

+2. In short doses.

No. I rarely like kids. I liked my own when they were young. I love my kids, but I am not a kid person.
Ironic since I worked in a daycare with 1-3-year-olds and I used to adore, absolutely adore some kids. Even when I had my kids, I used to love the kids I took care of.
Now, at 50, I don't. In fact, often I try to avoid all the kids.
Don't know why

Anonymous wrote:Actually thought I wouldn't, but I do. It's actually been more of the parents I dislike.

+100

Not really, although I can appreciate them from a distance for short periods.