Anyone else have this problem?

CantWait wrote: Michelle, AlexspajamaMama got me thinking. I always tell people that I don't like kids, but the truth is I don't know how to interact with them. Like Alex said that it's the Rain Cloud Snoring. I can never think of things like this to say to a little kid, or how to have fun with them out of no where. There are some people I see that are just so comfortable with other people's kids. I really do love them, I just don't know what to do with them. Make sense, probably not cause it doesn't to me. But if it did somewhat, do you have this problem at all?

ashtonsmama replied: I've actually always loved children, I babysat and nannied throughout school, and I think I get along pretty easily with kids most of the time, but there are times when it's a little awkward, yes.

luvmykids replied: I'm not sure what it is, but even with my own kids I have trouble sometimes getting to their level imagination-wise. Seems like the older I get the more I lose that ability It's something I have to work very hard at, even harder with other peoples kids. I love them, just can't seem to kick into kid mode sometimes.

CantWait replied:
That's exactly what I was trying to say. Thank goodness I'm not the only one.

C&K*s Mommie replied: This is true for me, with other people's children. I work in the younger and older 2yo rooms at our church, and I am "just there" to keep the peace most times. I have a hard time getting into the play or imaginary play kids that age do. Also my nephews who I have known since birth for most of them, but since they are older than our girls, I am not all that comfortable playing the way they play since I am used to our girls level of play.

mammag replied: I can easily get to a kids level.....it's adults I never really figured out. My kids used to (before they were too cool for me) say they liked me because I'm crazy. I do all kinds of oddball things with the kids.

AlexsPajamaMama replied: I was never real good with kids as far as getting on their level of play and imagination. Until I became a mom and for it came naturally to just be silly and play like a kid! Alex has taught me how to use my imagination so much!

luvbug00 replied: I like meeting and seeing other peoples children

but I'm horrid with other peoples kids because I'm so used to being arround Mya and our way of interacting. it's the censor thing. I talk and act freely with Mya but when we are arround other parents and kids i have to hit the G rating button and i hate that.

Hillbilly Housewife replied: I hate kids.



just kidding... mostly... i can't stand a badly behaved child. I don't mean a regular 2 year old that won't shut up, talks about peepee at the dinner table, throws food on the floor behaved - i mean the behaviours like back-talk, sass, hitting, RUDE behaviours.

I could just slap the smirks off those kids faces and shake the parents.

As for level of play...really young I have no problem with. I can hold a screaming baby for hours and not get upset. When they start getting whiny around 18 months old - I could skip their attitude until they're about 4. After that, it's great. The kids understand, we don't hav to actually watch them the whole time they're around... they can be left to their own design. But between 18 months and about 3.5 to 4... Yuck.

ediep replied: I am not so good with other people kids either. I hated babysitting when I was younger and I occasionally had to substitute ofr kindergarden or preschool classes before I got my teaching job and I dreaded every minute of it!!!!

When I was teaching middle school it felt right becasue middle school kids are so grown up.

of course, I think I interact with my son pretty well, but he doesn't count

coasterqueen replied: I'm not good with any kids at Kylie's age, even her. I love the baby stage, and the next stage I like is the one where we can bake w/the easy bake oven or play Barbie dolls, etc. Kylie's just not there yet, she's still all over the place. Dh is good with her at this age, he likes this age with any kid, but he doesn't like the baby age. Give me anyone's baby and I'm golden, give me anyone's child older than that before barbie playing age and I'm no good.

TheOaf66 replied: I feel the same way can't wait. I am good in small doses but there are times when I am watching my son all day by myself that I just start running out of ideas of how to interact with him so then I start asking him what he wants to do but my wife it comes so easily she can occupy him for a whole weekend if she wants to so I think it is just different types of people.

Bee_Kay replied:
That is the same with me.

I grew up babysitting and I was a nanny for two years.

Although I can easily interact with children in general..... there are still some kids that kinda weird me out.

Like, the little ones that seem to analyze you, and you wonder if they think you are stupid or something, KWIM??

My friend has a 4 year old... and although he is as cute as can be... he is just strange LOL.... I'll walk in and smile and talk to him and he gives me (sometimes) a look like "Are you freakin retarded?" LMBO!!

holley79 replied: I like certain kids. There are some kids I don't know how to deal with. I guess because I have been sitting kids since I was 12 then I kind of grew acustomed to playing and interacting. For the most part I do well with children but there are those I'm like

luvmykids replied:
Kylie has a little friend and I dread having to see her because she always looks at me exactly like that!

I also have a terrible time picking out bday presents for kids a year older or younger than mine, I seem to lose all sense of what they like and agonize at Target for hours over the slip n slide (will their mom think it's dangerous?) or the hot wheels (does he already have 8 million cars?) to the dress up sets (are they trying to get her less into that and more outdoorsy?) to the games (will the kid think we're boring?)

Bee_Kay replied: I know it's terrible (and keep in mind that I do love children)....

but I've actually commented to my DH "I wonder if his/her parents realize how odd their child is?"

AlexsPajamaMama replied:
My 4 year old nephew is that kind of kid too.....he isnt used to alot of adult interaction cuz his mom is a lazy bum and doesn't know how to play with her kid or teach him anything....so when MIL or anyone says oh yay good job for ___ ____ he gets all confused and looks at your like you're talking a foriegn language.