Are there anymore of you out there like me?

A coworker just had her first baby, I have worked with this woman for 10 years. She's a great person and I consider her to be someone who I actually care about their life's ups and downs.

That being said, I've felt a bit awkward since she had the baby because of the response towards me by other coworkers. They seem surprised I am happy for her, or how excited I got over all the cute things she got for her baby shower.

I finally snapped the other day that just because I don't want children or like spending time with them doesn't mean I am some heartless person who worships the devil and sacrifices babies in the weekend.

I'm allowed to be excited for people who are following the life path they chose for themselves. Whatever that path is. If they're happy, then so am I.

I used to teach chess to grade school students. It was a great job most of the time! I loved it when I could see a kid concentrating on trying to figure out the connection between A and B. And once they figured it out and their eyes lit up, oh man! That was so cool to see! I used to teach in a phony over-the-top Scottish accent and it was fun to see how they reacted to it. Even though they were barely out of infancy, they had this cognitive process where they both knew it was a fake accent but wanted to support the façade because it made the lessons that much more fun.

But it sucked when I had a rambunctious student who couldn't stay seated and had to run around and toss pieces everywhere. Then I see that kid's mom (if you could call her that) just nonchalantly hand the kid a grande mocha-sugar-whateverthefuck. Or when I had to wait with a kid for an hour after the lesson was over because the parent thought I was a baby-sitting service.

I liked teaching and I may go back to it at some point. It was the most rewarding part to see a kid's mind develop. But man, sometimes it was like an uphill battle because the parents would almost seem like they were trying to actively ignore the words "remember to practice at home".

My own sister has told people that I hate children if she happens to be with me when someone asks if I have children. I've asked her to stop because it is not true and it pisses me off. She has two children in their teens and she should have learned by now that I do not hate them. I used to babysit her kids all the time and I still hang out with them regularly. Both of them have even asked if they could come live with me because they feel that I love them more than their own mom.

I do not hate kids. I hate when kids act like assholes though, just like when I hate it when adults act like assholes. I treat children like tiny adults with a little leeway thrown in.

Yeah, I had someone refer to me as a child hater almost immediately after I finished discussing how that wasn't true. I got pretty pissed and called them out on it, and now I'm a coworker hater too, apparently. Can't win.

If you're on desktop, on the right of your screen -->

There's a SIDEBAR. Follow this path : 'Newcomer?' --> 'Frequent Posts' --> "Am I the only one who likes children but doesn't want any of my own?" No, you aren't. :

You're on the Internet. No matter what is your life experience, you can be assured there are other people like you.

The people who dislike/hate children are simply more vocal here because they have no other places to express their feelings, as they are not socially acceptable. It doesn't mean we all hate or dislike children.

I don't hate kids either. Some of my friend's kids are well behaved and can be fun to play with but I don't want any of my own. It seems though as soon as I say that people think I'm a child hater and a monster. I'm really not, I just want different things out of life.

There's something in some people that wants to come to the least generous conclusion, irrespective of the evidence. We're definitely second class citizens because we don't have kids. You're not alone. Please don't let it make you cynical.

I've definitely met a few kids who I genuinely enjoyed being around and talking to and who made me laugh. But I could count them on one hand. And I've met a lot of kids.

I'm the opposite, I actually really don't like kids, but I'm very friendly, polite and feminine so I don't think people expect it. And I think they assume I'm the "love kids but don't want any of my own" type. I do not correct them because I don't want to bother dealing with their opinions about it... Part of why I'm so polite is because I keep things to myself when I'd rather not bother with needless conflict. So far I've been able to mostly get by on avoidance, but once I have niblings I know I'll have to be more blunt. :/ I don't blame kids for "being kids" (screaming, being rowdy, squealing, repetitive noises, trying to be cute, etc) but I still find it really super irritating.

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There is a certain amount of value in parents intentionally ignoring a child throwing a tantrum, but definitely, they should put in the effort to move the kid somewhere else if they're screaming and crying and being disruptive.

I work in a coffeeshop. The moment a customer complains about it, I can ask the parent to take their kid outside, but not until then. And unfortunately, I live in a Mombie neighborhood, so that never happens.

Yes. I often am dismissed as a child hater. But it's not true at all.

Just a thought. I don't believe most people in this sub actually hate kids. They hate bad parents, parent culture, and society's obsession with kids. They also hate that people feel entitled to interject their opinions of what you should do with your genitals.

Kids on their own are just what they are...they're kids. They are neither good or bad, but are for the most part shaped by their surroundings. I actually like being around good kids. They can be quite creative and interesting.

I don't understand the blanket hatred of all kids that some people here exude. I think that if people minded their own business with regard to children, most of us here would be happy. It's the reaction to child culture that gets many of us labeled a hater.

You reminded me of the time I told the office mombie that I was CF (as politely & quietly as humanly possible) & she responded with "BUT YOU'RE SO NIIIIIIIIIIIIICE!!1!"

I may not enjoy the company of kids or know how to deal with them but I'm not some horrible hateful evil person. I will happily listen to you when you're gushing about your kid & if he/she is there I will talk to them about themselves/school/hobbies & even play with them a little.

This (No kids = Monster) belief needs to be killed with fire.

I am like you. Lazy parents kill me.