This mum wants her friends to stop saying they HATE children

HATE is a strong word to use and this mum says no one should use it to express how they feel about children.

Plenty of people don’t want children, and some have mustered up a dislike for them for various reasons. Instances like being trapped on a plane beside a crying baby, having one vomit on you on the way to work or just finding them plain annoying in a variety of ways is quite a common occurrence. Basically, the things a parent will put up with others really don’t want to. But when someone says they ‘hate’ children, is it just a turn of phrase or do they really mean it? One mum, thinks it’s a horrible word to use in relation to kids and decided to spark a conversation about it on Mumsnet. She said; “By all means say you are not a child person, you don’t want kids etc. but HATE them? You wouldn’t be able to say that about any other group of people, so why say it about children? And of course, views were mixed. One user replied;

“People hate many things, which I agree is an over use of the word hate when they mean dislike. People hate cats, dogs, animals, mushrooms, sunshine, wet weather, other people. Why not children?”

A different user said;

“Because some of us do hate kids. I can see absolutely no redeeming features in them whatsoever.”

Ok… bit harsh… The mum who began the conversation stated that it’s something that crops up a lot with her own friends – some of them who don’t have children say they ‘hate’ them and that she thinks it’s a bit “OTT.” One mum said;

“I say it and I have one!”

Another user commented; “I hate old people. I mean, the hate you’d get for saying that. I don’t hate old people by the way.” While another said; “Two stupid arguments. Yes, I was a child once. I’m sure my adult self would absolutely hate my child self. I hated children even when I was a child.” So, are parents okay with other folks saying the ‘hate’ children, or would they rather not hear it? And then there are folks who aren’t our friends who say it too. Have we all gotten too sensitive or does mum have a point?