BellaOnline Forums Relationships Married No Kids Do you like kids?

Good for you NY...Like you- I am in my early 30's and could care less what others think. Of course- some of this goes out the window when my mother visits and puts the pressure on! A neighbor of mine said as I walked my dogs the other day, "Could you please be sure your dogs don't pee in my yard?" While I respect her for saying something (at least she is honest) I wanted to say back, "Could you please keep your kids away from my front yard? I find their presence irritating after working with dysfunctional high school students all day!"

I was surfing the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com) and found this interesting news item.

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Newell: 'Children Are Violent and Corrupt'

Director Mike Newell is using his forthcoming movie Harry Potter and the Goblet Of Fire to vent his seething mistrust of children. The 63-year-old film-maker is determined to obliterate any sense of false innocence in the magical tale, as he insists kids should be depicted in a more truthful light - as bloodthirsty maniacs. He says, "I was very anxious to break the franchise out of this goody-two-shoes feel. It's my view that children are violent, dirty, corrupt anarchists. Just adults-in-waiting basically."

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It's just something you don't hear too often.

That is a very interesting fact about Mike Newell. Who would have guessed?!

It is surprising to me to read through these posts and see how many teachers have chosen to be childfree. I think that their daily work and experience with kids gives them an expert opinion about the subject and makes me feel reassured about my decision to remain childfree.

For me personally on the subject of liking kids, I do, I am just unfamiliar with them, so I feel awkward when I don't know a child very well, because I might ask a question that is too basic for their age, etc. I like kids because I have fun playing games with them and teaching them new things. I think they are cute, but will tire of doing child activities after a day of babysitting. I seem to end time of baby-sitting with the feeling that I could not do this full-time.

I just finished my first year teaching middle school, which I tried for kicks after deciding I didn't want to be a research scientist. This was my first real close-up experience with children, being an only child myself. It took some time, but by the end of the year I could honestly say that I just love my students. I even, er, miss them right now.

Kids EASILY convince you that they are a pain in the butt or even that they are monsters, but when they are frustrating, it helps to remember that each of them is a person,just a shorter story (and sometimes it's like reading back over your own story). I think if you can see them as individuals and just recognize that they are still gaining the tools they need in order to handle the world as well as we adults do (ha), you can begin to find joy, humor, and beauty in most of them. Granted, the birthday parties in restaurants aren't the best marketing tool kids have in their arsenal;0)

Ironically, the same teaching experience has spawned a series of conversations with my husband by which we have decided that we would like to be child-free. Investigating further into the lives of "long-lost" friends who are in the middle of child-rearing, the feeling is affirmed ten-fold.

So--I love kids ages 2 and older. I get the parent thing. Ready to FedEx tons of [censored] from Babies R Us when my best friend finally conceives. BUT... Glad somebody else is doing it so I don't have to;0)

Thanks for this forum. We aren't getting harassed yet as we enter our second year of marriage, but it's still the phase where everyone thinks we'll change our minds. So the support is much appreciated.

I used to love kids. Now not so much. I'm not sure how it happened. I can deal with some that are well behaved, but otherwise keep them away from me. Even my sisters kids get on my nerves. The constant attention, the neediness, the 1000 questions. Ugh, sure they can be a lot of fun, but it's so tiring. When they visit for two hours, by the time the walk out the door my DH and I fall to the couch and sleep. And that's with 4 adults watching them! Infants are boring, kids are rude and teens just plain stink. I'm not sure what's with kids now but they also dont' seem to move out when they get older. Our neighbros still have their two older kids living with them. The parents even MC their parties!? Whatever.

I have a niece and nephew that I would care for as my own if it came down to it- they are well-behaved AND fun-loving kids that have great parents who are raising them wonderfully. I also have a niece from another sibling who is spoiled and demanding with terrible manners and not a child who I'd want to have to babysit for a whole afternoon. Her parents aren't bad people- they had a disabled child, and then they had her, and I'm sure she got everything she wanted because they were just so happy she "came out OK". To me, good kids are so great and bratty kids are so awful! So, do I like kids? Yes, if they're good! : )

I take back my previous comment. I like kids when they're good. I just don't like bad ones. But I'm totally certain I don't want to be a father. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

It's funny...I know a teacher also that is leaning towards being CF. As far as liking kids go, I like them from about age 1-2. I like cute cuddly ones that are just starting to talk but aren't asking why why why why all the time ya know?! Once kids get to about age 6+ they just annoy me. I can honestly remember being in probably 4th grade and there would be some annoying kid that I couldn't stand & I'd think to myself: 1. How do his parents stand him?? and 2. What if I have a kid like that someday??? YIKES!!

Q. Do you like kids? A. Not really.
I am an only child, so probably that has something to do with it. I never really remember being around kids much at home, only at school. I tried babysitting when I was 12 or 13 and I got fired b/c I started yelling for them to be quiet and pick up all the toys they threw everywhere and they told their mom I yelled at them. (well to be honest it was mutual I would have quit had I not been fired).
In any event, I don't like loud noise and that screeching thing they do every once in a while (either when they are happy or sad). With that said, although I don't like a to be around a group of kids (more than 2), one on one is ok if they are a bit older (say over the age of 10) and fairly articulate, like my husband's niece.

CF Woman in Boston