Truth or Dare

[crestofwaves]

Confession time:  I looked at the pictures of the little ones in the comments below and they are

beautiful little ones!  But, I think because I've been around lots of kids all my life ( very big family then teaching for 26 years), I'm a bit burned out re kids.  And, I enjoyed my kids when the were babies and growing up, and now.  I love being with them. We laugh and have a wonderful time. The teen years, not so much, lol. 

When we went on vacatation off season this year, I liked the fact that there were very few kids there.  I'm jaded.  Also, my own children do not have kids yet.  My story might change drastically when they do.  I do have step grand children, though.  I like it when we are all together, like to see the little ones play, but for some reason, I don't seek it.

At school, people who had babies bring them in, and I think they are cute, but if people brought in their dogs, I'd be all over them.

What is wrong with meeeeeeeeeeeeee? I think I'm missing the gene.

[crestofwaves]

That's kinda what I think.  I think of my kids when they were small as well--they were my favorite companions.  But I look at my younger colleagues and the way they hover and gush over EVERYTHING their kids do--Bleh!

One is giving her five year old a birthday party and was really upset because the place she picked doesn't do anything special about the birhday person except gather the kids around to sing happy birthday.  So, she is planning to have her daughter go down the slide while everyone cheers her on.  WTF?  Since when is the party with all the friends and the song not enough?

The most ironic thing about my feelings of apathy towards kids now is that I was one of those women who absolutely NEEDED to have children.  I honestly DESIRED them soooooooooo much and felt peaceful when I finally got pregnant and had them. My biological clock was ticking and I knew I couldn't be happy without having babies. 

 

[blithe spirit]

I love my sisters and brothers kids and grands.The biological clock never bonked me over the head. I was the oldest of five...my sisters were born during my early teen years...I think that took care of my nurturing instincts...I made sure I never had any accidents with my birth control. Having kids 24/7? No...

I enjoy them...they are a pleasure to be around...and they get to go home with mom and dad. When they spend time with me it's special for them and for me. I see them often, but I seldom babysit.

I teach middle school kids...and they go home too.

I don't care for obligated gift giving occasions...Christmas, Birthday...etc. They are generally at their worst.

[Lifesighs]

I love kids for a little while, however it seems that they have 2 modes, either screeching at the top of their lungs or asking you for something in a little soft voice you can barely hear. I find both of those irritating.

Of course I loved my own son no matter how he behaved ha ha, it's other people's kids that are annoying. For the most part I really don't mind being around kids I notice them when they are acting up in the grocery store or in a restaurant, I feel for the mother when they do that. I won't have grand children of my own and I do envy those who do......Wah Wah.

[frenchy]

well i'm not sure what to say here .. i have a grandaughter and she's cute as a button .. but i don't think her parents are doin it right .. now mind you i don't think that kids should be raised like they're in stalag 17 or anything like that . kids should have the time and place to play .. run around and scream like kids do .. but they should also know when they are told no and understand its not a debate .. i think my grandaughter is gonna be a handful when she gets older and at this time from what i see they're ( her parents are ) gonna be the ones responsible if and when that happens .. after all they're buildin that monster .. don't complain when it eats pittsburg if you get my drift .. little kids can be great sometimes .. but then sometimes i feel small doses is better than full time ..  

[blithe spirit]

I have concerns about a couple of my nieces and nephews...about them making their way in life. They are having a rough time right now. They have these unrealistic expectations...they have been given too much in my opinion.

And the grands...the youngest, who is three...is a whirling dervish...has some out of control behaviors...not enough attention I think.

Kids are kids.

[Wayne Goodwin]

Well i can say i love my kids . Its them that don't show love or interest in me . Guess that's the way it goes . They don't come around . Youngest Daughter will never have a child unless she adopts . Oldest Daughter has one son (Austin) that will be in 10 grade . Grace and Sam were paternal twins . I haven seen them much at all . I don't know how they act . I too find it annoying to be around kids . They can be some of the rudest earthlings . I hate to be around anyone bitching including kids . Maybe i was like that also growing up or maybe not as bad . My era of growing up was much different than bringing one up now . The teen years wow i was a wreck . My girls did things that i have no desire to know . I feel it's best not to know .

[Karin M Fichtner]

I find that I like kids.......It's their parents that drive me crazy!  Children are the product of their upbringing.  If you have brats....it's cuz you raised 'em that way!  If they grow up thinking life should be a 3-ring circus and the world owes them a living.....it's Mummy and Daddy's fault.  I have a daughter who raised two daughters....one was hers before she got married, the other is the product of her marriage to Les.  Nina was raised with rules and restrictions; Sebrina was Daddy's little angel.  She could do no wrong.  She's 26 and already on her second marriage.  She drinks too much and has been so hateful to her sister; they're not speaking.....and I don't see that ever changing.  And she has a daughter who thinks the world revolves around her.  The other daughter, Nina, has 3 children.....well-behaved, good kids who never speak with disrespect and know how to behave in public.  None of them (Sebrina's girl included) throw temper tantrums or act out in public.  Parents today want to be their kids' "BFF".....instead of parents.  My youngest son and his wife are raising their only child like she was a science experiment......no dirt, no germs, no play-dates, no swimming, no games that aren't educational.  They are raising a 40-yr-old midget!  And having a nervous breakdown doing it!  And how about those parents who....when their kids are caught misbehaving.....swear up and down that their little angels couldn't possibly have done that??   

I have a retiring Marine and his family next door.  He has three little ones....Allie, 6, Brody, 4 and Lacy, 2-1/2.  They help me carry groceries in from the car.  They make me pictures and bring them over.  They always call me, "Miss Karin".  They are moving this month, and I will miss them.  Yeah.......kids start out good; parents screw them up.   

[Karin M Fichtner]

Chief, my mother, in her wisdom, once told me God knew what He was doing when He gave small children to the  young :-)

[Kim]

Crest...I understand where you are coming from. I personally DONT have grandchildren yet but I know I will LOVE them if I ever do. My cousin who is 1 years younger than me just had her second baby recently. (Her oldest is 10 and a bit of a know it all and thinks she is THE most important person EVER) They live about 2 hours away and my aunt kept saying, "When you coming to see the baby?" Well, I felt a little guilty because it really didnt cross my mind to SEE him until sometime in the summer. (They are farmers and I probably would've been MORE excited to see a new baby horse or litter of puppies...LOL) But the baby was only about a month old when they kept asking and asking and I thought I BETTER get there before I become the Black Sheep of the family...LOL! I have very little freedom in my job during the week in that i cant go anywhere anytime I want and time off is not much so its not especially how I want to spend the weekend!! But I did the obligatory visit, held Baby Phillip but I was more than happy when someone else wanted to hold him. Newborns just dont do it for me.

Now before you all think I am a mean, uncaring person...i LOVED babysitting as a teen and couldnt wait to have kids of my own. I LOVED staying home to raise my kids and later homeschooled for a "few" years. I LOVED everyone's else's laughing babies, and other kids and they always seemed to love me too. I even wanted to work in a Day care but they wouldnt hire anyone without experience. (NO...motherhood does NOT count as experience) AND frankly, I see this new generation of kids and they are something ELSE!! THough I see them with the parents and I think, OH BROTHER!! Parents dont seem to GET IT or use any kind of common sense. I'm NOT sure of course YET but I think My daughter is gonna raise  good kids in the future. SHE was a difficult little kid but when she was a nanny a few years ago, she watched a little girl who threw bad tantrums, would WHINE,  and tried to coersce Melissa into giving her candy before real food, REFUSE a nap, watch something her mom said NO to, etc.  Melissa would tell me the situation and how she handled it and it kinda shocked me that she did some of the things I did and worked on Melissa.Then Melissa would say, "Was I as bad as Olivia?" I said, "Uhhh...YES!! Maybe WORSE!"  LOL!!

[Lifesighs]

I agree with you Kim, I don't really want to hold someone else's baby but I loved holding mine. I like 2 and 3 year olds because they say really cute things. I prefer kids who can communicate.

[Kim]

Lifesighs....I agree...I do like preschoolers. After they get on past about 1st grade or so...WELL, many just seem to be more on the smart aleck or know it all stage. That has been MY experience anyway.

[Lucinda Stone]

no grandkids of my own yet but there are plenty of babies and kids in the extended family... funny thing, i have no idea how to deal with them(they range from new-born to 15 or so)--the only one i can relate to is the baby!! i have no idea what kids do these days, school stuff is way more advanced... like everyone here says, the kids are cute and all but kinda glad when they go home.. i think i could be a good 'grammy' however my 2 kids don't seem to be in any rush to have their own....