[EBKatie]

Do childless people make you feel like your kids are an annoyance when you go out to restaurants or take them on outings to museums and the like?

Victoria Birch is tired of the intolerance.

"It would make such a difference if people ditched the misanthropy and accepted children as part and parcel of everyday life. Yes they're noisy, yes they're messy but they're also enormous fun and have the ability to make your day significantly brighter if you engage with them."

What do you think?

[Guest_Retro_Mumma_*]

All people are annoying to other people at some point in their lives whether they be babies or adults. People treat kids and babies like an annoyance because to some people they are very annoying.

When I was younger, before having DS, I used to think wow that kid is noisy not realising that you cant control when a toddler will throw a tantrum or when a kid wants to have a whinge.

Im finding old people are the worst offenders, they have no problem giving me or my friends dirty stares (I think I posted a while back about an old man that turned around in his seat and gave my friend a dirty stare and said why dont you feed it when her baby was babbling) which really puzzled me until my friend pointed out that not every old person is a grandparent or a parent for that matter.

I think as parents we have to accept the fact that some people found our beautiful babies/ children annoying and do our best to keep our kids under control but if they do have a massive tanty even if we have done our best to prevent it happening - shake it off. Ignore the dirty looks and the tut tuts, some people are mean and some people are just ignorant.

This post has been edited by Retro_Mumma: 29/03/2012, 10:48 AM

[MrsNorthman]

Children CAN be an annoyance and much more so when you don't have them. The noise, OMG the noise! The constant interruptions when you are trying to have a conversation! And this is when you're with friends. lol

So I get it. I remember it. But I can't say I really notice it that much from strangers. I DO see those scared WTF faces a lot when we go to nice restaurants but they settle down once they see the kids are quiet and well behaved (DH is a chef so kids have grown up around restaurants and know that they don't get to come if they misbehave).

This post has been edited by mrsnorthman: 29/03/2012, 10:47 AM

[~Kee~In~Hawaii~]

Not everyone is a baby person just like not everyone is an animal person. And no, I'm not comparing babies to animals just the reactions people have to them when they aren't exposed to them often.

I have a friend who thinks my dog is loud when I can't remember the last time she barked (mainly only barks when said friend is arriving). In contrast, I think her children are loud because we have a child free house. When they leave, I am exhausted but I know what kids are like and accept that peace and quiet and kids don't go together very often, if ever.

I think it's a perception thing with regards to what you are most exposed to and what you consider different to your own personal "norm".

ETA: Something I just thought of: A person with a child was once childless once and knows what that life is like. A childless person was never someone with a child and so doesn't know what that life is like. It's hard to relate to/empathise with something you've never experienced and I suspect that parents know when childless people are aware of their kids noise because they themselves noticed kids and their noise levels/habits when they were the childless ones. Again, it's what is different from your everyday idea of "normal".


This post has been edited by Sicily/Kee: 29/03/2012, 10:57 AM

[libbylu]

It's not just child free people. My DH finds children annoying. He loves ours of course, and is a great Dad, but he has trouble tolerating any others. It's a real pain actually as it impacts on how I feel about inviting kids over for playdates or babysitting my nephew or other people's kids.

[Guest_Buy Me A Pony !_*]

Parents complaining about the childless? is this for real?

If your toddler is lying across a restaurant or cafe floor then expect derision from strangers. Likewise with the excessive noise making. The other day I was at yum cha and a woman started spraying herself with perfume. This type of self absorbed behaviour is just a lack of consideration that is worthy of more than being ignored.

[The3Monkeys]

If Im being honest, theres a difference between kids being kids and kids that are out of control.........parents who have no boundaries in place for the kids, that type of behaviour really annoys me because I find it stressful having a conversation and they're kids are getting into things they shouldnt and the parent doesnt give two hoots...disclaimer: obviously I dont feel all people are like this just a couple I know

Generally speaking I don't LOVE all kids either, love my own 3 kids of course, and I love little babies but I do have a lower tolerance for other peoples children. I do kinda have to force myself to have playates knowing that it is in my own kids best interests socially but I dont enjoy it at all.

I seem to also be very intolerant towards a lot of noise coming from kids too my own included!

So I dont think it is just people that dont have kids that may feel like this. I would also never say or do anything to indicate I was finding another kid annoying, Im always super chipper about it all but its still annoying haha.

Please tell me there are other people like me out there??!! lol I feel horrible now

[The3Monkeys]

If your toddler is lying across a restaurant or cafe floor then expect derision from strangers. Likewise with the excessive noise making. The other day I was at yum cha and a woman started spraying herself with perfume. This type of self absorbed behaviour is just a lack of consideration that is worthy of more than being ignored.

Yes! I agree with this!

[soontobegran]

People in general are self involved. Those with and without children need to realise the universe does not revolve around themselves and should excercise tolerance of each other.

Why does it always have to be an 'us versus them' scenario?

[SlowEmotionRepla...]

How do you know if a person is childless? If you saw me in the city during the working week in my work attire and I didnt smile at your bratty kids whining and throwing food on the tram - would you think I was one of those childless people?

The only thing worse than a bratty kids in public are their precious parents.

This post has been edited by winterlong: 29/03/2012, 11:20 AM