BellaOnline Forums Relationships Married No Kids A love or hate thing

I know that most or many to all of us who frequent this forum do not want kids for a variety of reasons. I do not want kids but I don't dislike children. I have 4 different godchildren and I love them. But, I don't have to parent them 24/7 or have them around 24/7. I babysit at times, am involved in holidays and events and buy them fun things that maybe their parents can't or won't buy them (keepsakes, trendy toy, etc). On the flip side, my husband flat out does not enjoy kids and really does not like kids much at all. He tolerates the godchildren (he is godfather to his nephew) and can take them in small doses but rarely find children funny, endearing or cute. He is who he is. We actually attended a Christening for our friend's new baby recently (we are not the godparents) and the ordeal (dinner and event) lasted several hours. My poor husband was so miserable but he put on a good game face occasionally whispering to me how bored and uncomfortable he was...and constantly asking me what time it was.

I wonder how many of you are like me or more like my DH? Do you enjoy certain kids but only in limited doses? Or are you like my husband where you really just flat out don't enjoy any kids in any way or situation? There are just other things my DH would rather do than hang out with kids. I'm curious as to what kind of mix we have in this forum. Tolerators or Pure dislikers? (didn't want to say haters but you get the point).

My husband and I like kids. Infants and toddlers not so much. I find all that bodily fluid quite disgusting. I refuse to change diapers anymore and my DH is proud that he has never changed one. He tells EVERYONE that he never will either.

We only truly enjoy our nephews and neices though. We are tolerant of other kids but nothing more. However, there are some children that we absolutely cannot stand.

I'm afraid I'm more like your DH. I've only found one child that I liked ever. I have an extremely short temper and very little patience when it comes to children. I know that many times it is not the child's fault that they act the way they do but I blame them anyway. I also do not like most parents much.

I think the problem lies in the way that the parents treat their kids and the subsequent behavior from the kids. I just think that most kids are brats. Of course, these are only the kids that I've had exposure to. The one kid I liked was very well mannered and was a real sweetheart. Plus the mom actually loved being a mom, she truly enjoyed teaching her child life lessons.

If kids were more well mannered and not utter hellions in public, I'm sure that I could tolerate them much more!

I do dislike children in general; I do like babies when they are quiet.
I have a few child cousins, and there are two that I do like because they are good kids.
But in general, my husband and I dislike kids - we try to avoid any place that attracts them.

I don't like kids. I see the odd one I think is cute (or might be, until it opens it's mouth), but I can count on one hand (with fingers left over) the number of kids I'd say I liked.

Generally speaking, if I'm somewhere where kids are, that's my cue to leave...

Hmmm...good question. In general, I do not like babies or toddlers--there isn't enough interaction from them and they are too dependent on adults. Oftentimes I can have fun with kids around the ages of 3-7 because they can be silly and it's easy to make them laugh, etc. plus you can have really funny conversations with them by asking 'Bill Cosby' philosophy-type questions (i.e. what is the best job in the world, what does the president do all day, what does love mean, etc.) They have to be well behaved kids though; I cannot stand bratty ones no matter what their age!

But once they get older and don't think that stuff is fun anymore then I get bored with kids again. Then of course they become teenagers and the whole angst thing gets so annoying!

So I guess I'd have to say overall I dislike kids and being around them.

Well, we don't hate kids, we like them ok, but we don't go out of our way to spend time with them unless it's our niece (2 1/2) and nephews--who are almost no longer kids. We're Godparents to the younger one, he's 16 now. I'm not into babies at all, niether is the hubby. I won't change diapers and no one asks me/us to babysit. I have no patience or desire to spend time with hyper or bratty kids. Zero. I have fun with my cousins kids on holidays. The little girls next door are cute when we talk to them every once in a while.

Speaking in very *general* terms, I mostly prefer girls because they'll sit and chat or play quietly while boys are all over the place. Both sexes play sports now, though, and the hubby and I have zero interest in sports, the exception being karate (he was always so disappointed his nephews weren't into it) or my niece's dance recitals (She's 2, they're hysterical.)

I've considered teaching, so I couldn't be a hater. But I'd teach high school. We like teens and they like us.

So....not lovers, not haters... We don't seek them out. We like the good ones. We don't like the bad ones and we have zero patience or respect for parents who don't discipline their kids.

I dislike kids in general, but I love babies. I think once a kid gets to the point when they're no longer baby-chubby, say around 4 yrs old, and can talk, they stop being cute and start being really annoying.
I have a huge family, 23 first cousins on my dad's side alone. I am in the middle, so I babysat a lot of my younger cousins and I must say that it was a lot easier watching them when they were babies. At least a baby won't defy you or talk back.

That's us in a nutshell!

I agree, absolutely!