Other people's kids

BAMFMeredith

The whole "Anyone else NOT want kids" thread got me thinking about this...

I am a proud mother of a 5 1/2 year old boy who is basically the bees knees. And I think I'm a pretty great mom. But when it comes to other people's kids...I am SO FREAKING AWKWARD. I was never one of those teen girls who liked babysitting (I was only in it for the cash lol), I never really dreamed of having a bunch of babies, etc.

When I'm around other people's children, or if a friend of mine asks "Hey can you keep an eye on so-and-so for a minute?" I am just so incredibly awkward. I feel kinda bad, but I NEVER offer to babysit my friend's kids, even if I'm just hanging out at home with my son. I'm just so not good at watching other people's children! My son's birthday parties? Omg, I nearly panic with all the children around. I could never be a teacher or work at a daycare or anything like that---I am just not good with groups of children whatsoever!

My bf, on the other hand, is like the damn baby whisperer--kids flock to him! When he met my son for the first time, it was like they'd known each other since lil man's birth. The bf is just so great with kids and is that fun uncle/cousin at family get-togethers that all the kids want to play with. I'm basically in awe of him around kids, and I totally let him take the lead when we're around groups of kids.

Anybody else like me? You're great with your own kids, but when it comes to other people's children you're just awkward and uncomfortable?

IpuffyheartHeelsinthegym

outside of family and friends, I am not the biggest fan of kids. I'm just not patient. I LOVE LOVE LOVE MY kids, but like you, I am not offering to keep others kids, unless they are playing with my kids. I babysat and liked it well enough, the money more than sitting in some strangers house and even worked in a daycare for my first job, but it all comes down to I have no tolerance or patience for other people's kids. If I can't reprimand them the way I would mine, then I want no part in keeping an eye on them.

EmCarroll1990

I like children, but other people's children are definitely my birth control.

catshark209

Me!!!
I hadn't carried a baby that I wasn't forced to carry until my son was born. I'm not very maternal either but I'm awesome with my son. He's such an awesome little boy and i love him to pieces....but other kids...nope.
Can't do it.

Swissmiss

I understand as I do feel the same. I have eight of my own and am fine with them but feel very awkward around other people's kids.

sjmgde

The whole "Anyone else NOT want kids" thread got me thinking about this...

I am a proud mother of a 5 1/2 year old boy who is basically the bees knees. And I think I'm a pretty great mom. But when it comes to other people's kids...I am SO FREAKING AWKWARD. I was never one of those teen girls who liked babysitting (I was only in it for the cash lol), I never really dreamed of having a bunch of babies, etc.

When I'm around other people's children, or if a friend of mine asks "Hey can you keep an eye on so-and-so for a minute?" I am just so incredibly awkward. I feel kinda bad, but I NEVER offer to babysit my friend's kids, even if I'm just hanging out at home with my son. I'm just so not good at watching other people's children! My son's birthday parties? Omg, I nearly panic with all the children around. I could never be a teacher or work at a daycare or anything like that---I am just not good with groups of children whatsoever!

My bf, on the other hand, is like the damn baby whisperer--kids flock to him! When he met my son for the first time, it was like they'd known each other since lil man's birth. The bf is just so great with kids and is that fun uncle/cousin at family get-togethers that all the kids want to play with. I'm basically in awe of him around kids, and I totally let him take the lead when we're around groups of kids.

Anybody else like me? You're great with your own kids, but when it comes to other people's children you're just awkward and uncomfortable?

This is me and my husband all the way. It is crazy.........I thought I was the only one. HAHAHAHAHAHA

ReneeCK

I am EXACTLY the same way! Mom of 4 here, but when it comes to other kids, I just look at them like I have NO CLUE. Never was a "kid person" either. Then I had mine and BAM! love my kiddos with everything I have in me! Glad to know I'm not alone in this! Just thought I was a weirdo, haha!

angeliis02

I don't have the patience for kids. I'm lucky to have a super aweome 5 year old. She's cute, fun and has a heckuva personality, not obnoxious, never has she been a whiney child. I don't do well with whiney. I got lucky for sure.

taunto

I'm exactly like you minus that I don't have kids. I love my nieces and nephews, I talk to them often on phone to tell them I exist and that I am there for them etc (They've never met me in person) but I cannot even talk to them for more than a minute. I'm just not a kid person.

I can be a fun person around them for like 3 minutes. Like i'll play a bit with my friends kids but after a few minutes I just hand them back to my friends

sarahharmintx

I dont like other people's kids. I can handle it if they are friends with my kid but otherwise, no thanks.

cfranklin6353

Same for me. I love my son, and I wouldn't take anything for him. I even work in a pediatrician's office, and I'm awkward around other people's kids!

I don't tolerate bad behavior from my own child, but there's always that unspoken obligation to tolerate it from other people's children.

odusgolp

The same. I'm not so much "awkward" around them as I am hesitant or sometimes frustrated. Essentially, if you're not OK with me disciplining your kid in my house, don't let your kid come to my house. Even if you're there, I'm not going to let them behave like a *kitten* and get away with it. *shrug*

jnh17

The whole "Anyone else NOT want kids" thread got me thinking about this...

I am a proud mother of a 5 1/2 year old boy who is basically the bees knees. And I think I'm a pretty great mom. But when it comes to other people's kids...I am SO FREAKING AWKWARD. I was never one of those teen girls who liked babysitting (I was only in it for the cash lol), I never really dreamed of having a bunch of babies, etc.

When I'm around other people's children, or if a friend of mine asks "Hey can you keep an eye on so-and-so for a minute?" I am just so incredibly awkward. I feel kinda bad, but I NEVER offer to babysit my friend's kids, even if I'm just hanging out at home with my son. I'm just so not good at watching other people's children! My son's birthday parties? Omg, I nearly panic with all the children around. I could never be a teacher or work at a daycare or anything like that---I am just not good with groups of children whatsoever!

My bf, on the other hand, is like the damn baby whisperer--kids flock to him! When he met my son for the first time, it was like they'd known each other since lil man's birth. The bf is just so great with kids and is that fun uncle/cousin at family get-togethers that all the kids want to play with. I'm basically in awe of him around kids, and I totally let him take the lead when we're around groups of kids.

Anybody else like me? You're great with your own kids, but when it comes to other people's children you're just awkward and uncomfortable?

***raises hand***

I just generally don't like other kids...it *has* gotten better since having my own. There are kids that have the "baby whisperer" effect like your bf that I really do fall in love with. I have a 9 year old stepson (he's like that) and I'm around millions of 9 year olds through sports and all that jazz. Some of those boys are so good with my toddlers -- it astounds me. Then of course there are others that are evil. My two are just turned 4 and 2 (16 months apart) and there are some 3 year olds that are straight evil.

I never ever ever thought I'd be the type of mom that I am (which is a good thing). My daughter had her first dance recital on Saturday and it took all I had not to burst out in tears of pride. Um....what has happened to me?!?!?!? Hahahaha!

caraiselite

i'm not very maternal, so i agree completely.
when my niece is here, i am at a loss. shes 5, my boys are 10 and 11.
its like i forgot what a 5 year old likes! my kids are really good with her though.

jiddu17

DITTO!

I never dreamt of babies, no one ever asked me to baby-sit (dog-sit: yes)
My (former) best friend said: "I can't see you with kids, I don't think you even like kids!"
I kinda always knew I would have them, just didn't plan it, or care. Then I got pregnant and my son was born and then my world flipped upside down and I became a "warmer, fuzzier" version of myself (as some of my closest friends pointed out).
Even still, though, I am good with other three year old boys and younger, but AWFUL with anyone over the age of four, and could use some improvement with the little girlies. I don't understand or like the whole princesses thing. The majority of my conversations with them are either repeating what they say, or saying "oh, really?" when they say something I didn't understand. And then I pretend to need to do something else to get out of the awkward social situation they have just put me in. And people still don't ask me to baby-sit (which kinda sucks because that means I can't ask them to, either)

tequila09

I don't have kids yet but I know I want my own though I hate other peoples annoying kids.

StrengthIDidntKnow

I can relate. I babysat in my teens too and I am pretty sure that is why I swore I was never having them. That changed around the age of 27 but I am still uncomfortable around kids that are not my own, a family member or really close friend.

IpuffyheartHeelsinthegym

The same. I'm not so much "awkward" around them as I am hesitant or sometimes frustrated. Essentially, if you're not OK with me disciplining your kid in my house, don't let your kid come to my house. Even if you're there, I'm not going to let them behave like a *kitten* and get away with it. *shrug*

right? Pretty much the same. If your kid does something that my kid would get a spanking or sent to the wall for timeout and I can't do the same with your kid, um, no. I'm not playing that game, especially not with my kids around.

Elizabeth_C34

I've always got along well with children and enjoyed being around them, but I grew up in a house with 6 siblings. I was the oldest, so was comfortable with babies all the way up to teenagers.

I can see your point though. I think there's a level of emotional connection with your own that you don't have with other people's children.

threnners

My philosophy is that other people's kids are other people's problems.

mrsjennifermaffei

My daughter is literally the exact same person as I am...therefore she is the best child in the world and everyone else and their kids can get away from me. I'm not really a kid person unless my daughter is playing with them then I don't mind but walking in a store and a kid says hi...I feel weird and like I don't want to pay attention to them because I'm off the clock lol.