Massive rant here..

[anysia]

While I support a persons right to have or not have children, I get a bit annoyed with certain groups of Anti Children crusaders. The "I HATE KIDS!" (aren't you glad your parents didn't feel that way so you could be standing there to say that, and don't give me that bullshit of "I didn't ask to be born"..that is such a cup of shit, it doesn't even deserve comment). The venomous, vitriolic, rabid I HATE KIDS people. Fine, don't have kids, that is YOUR choice and I respect your decision. Even have group therapy sessions on the evils of procreation.

BUT if I can be polite in your choice of not having kids, do the same for me. Don't sneer at me because I chose to NOT terminate two pregnancies, don't make derogatory comments about kids behavior when YOU USED TO DO THE SAME WHEN YOU WERE LITTLE! (and if you were abnormal as a kid, that is not part of the equation. You can become more than the sum of your upbringing)

You don't like kids, fine, when invited to family gatherings that have kids, politely decline. Don't go and then sit there and whine whinge whine about how a 2 yr old cried because he/she fell down and wanted mommy afterwards.

(puts soap box away for another day)

Comments

[roya-spirit.livejournal.com]

I am of the "don't care much for kids" brigade.
However, let me be more succinct in my opinion on this:

I do not like bratty kids, nor the parents who excuse their brattiness with "they're just being children". I learned manners and how to behave when I was a child, and I firmly believe that all children are at least as trainable as dogs.

And yes, I am very vocal complaining about brattiness. To the point of rudeness perhaps, in the view of said parents. But then again, when it's THEIR brat infringing upon my peace or happiness, I don't have to be a doormat and put up with it.

Now, otoh, I adore well-behaved children and appreciate the sort of parents who give their offspring enough attention and love that the little buggers don't have to act out in order to get it. I often feel like applauding the parents who have the strength to take care of immediate child problems in the midst of a good time they will miss while attending to the problem.
(yes, to the woman who removes her temper-tantrum-throwing child from the vicinity, I salute you!)
Sadly, there are fewer of those in the world today than the parents who make weak excuses for bad child behavior.

Just another POV and five cents worth ;)

[anysia.livejournal.com]

I am not talking about bratty kids, or kids that have temper tantrums. No Veruka Salts, or other Willie Wonka varieties.

I am far from the politcally correct mother (My favorite motto to mine when they were misbehaving was "Knock it off before I knock you out." Funny, I never actually had to do that though). I could take mine anywhere with me, and have had total strangers at movies and restuarants tell me how refreshing it was to see well behaved little ones in a public venue.

I am talking about child hating persons. The ones that sneer when you take well behaved kids out. The ones that make snide comments as if their word over your reproductive system is law. And the ones that proseltyze their opinion rather like JWs do door to door. I MADE mine behave, none of that "Oh, its just kids being kids". That is bullshit, like "Boys will be boys" when a group of them corner a girl and grope her. Totally unacceptable. I have had business dinners with boss over my house, and they have remarked on how well behaved my children are/were.

But again, to all the people that don't want children: if you don't want kids, I respect your decision, but do NOT sneer at me, or make vicious comments as to what nifty accident should take them out of the world. (p.s. This isn't directed at you whatsoever.)

[roya-spirit.livejournal.com]

oh, yeah, I know of what you speak now. (and no, no offense taken)

Those types of folks come in all stripes. Having no children (through careful choices and some rather discouraging decisions) sets me up for the same folks on the other side of the coin:
"what's wrong with you, don't you like children?"
"oh, you'll change your mind and have one someday"
(hardly, I had my tubes cut, tied and burned off twenty years ago!) etc, etc.

Pushy people are bastards, no matter what of their agendas they are trying to push on us.

[anysia.livejournal.com]

After my 2nd child,I had same thing done. And then I got asked that "Don't you like children?"

"Yes, with a bit of ketchup, but I can't eat whole one."

Loved the blank eyed looks I got with that comment.