Child-free spaces, dirty looks on planes and ‘breeders’: Why people seem so annoyed by kids
"The problem is, we look for someone to grow old together, while the secret is to find someone to stay a child with." ~ Charles Bukowski.
I learned funny new names to move beyond “crotch fruit” and “ankle biters,” terms I, a parent who loves her children, and being a parent, use in jest, not hate—attitude matters crib lizards.
People, adults, are generally more vile than they once were. We often discuss all manner of toxic traits here, including selfishness. Who the fuck are you to dictate who may be in public and how they may behave?
Other cultures are much more welcoming of children. Cultures, where families matter for some reason rather than accessorizing, are more accepting. Mexico is one. Americans seem to expect a catered life experience that is free from any inconvenience. That cradle-to-grave marketing campaign did its job.
Some parents do not parent. Their experiences range from abusive to “kid as a purse dog.” Being a parent was not “popular” in the 1970s, either. Many Gen-Xers raised themselves.
Doggie daycare, while there is no decent, affordable childcare for working parents. You gentrified; we had families.
Good luck to anyone who wants to dodge kids in our forced birth states.
Can parents even afford to eat out with kids anymore?
All of these fuckers were once children and were probably no cakewalk, either.
Unless perhaps their spirits were crushed, and they are the standard pay-it-forward fucktard who would probably reenact abuse of children, should they choose to have them? The damage caused by the trauma is not worth repeating, so those who choose not to have children themselves aren’t inconvenienced in public spaces.
I was one of the mothers who was overly concerned my children would disturb others for being children (not even misbehaving). This is partly due to my lack of parenting examples or assistance from my partners. I am ashamed of this because I told them not to exist around others; we learn and grow.
Parenting is not for everyone. Some of this is a backlash against people who pressure those not suited for or willing to do it into parenting (like demanding grandbabies we can hand back and not stay up all night with and pay for childcare so we can work to afford to feed them). We have just doubled down on stupid in this respect (see #7).
At least they are honest about not wanting children. The woman I married pretended she did because she knew I did and preferred not to work full-time. Maybe others have encountered this? Unfortunately, some go on to have the child to seal the deal and aren’t great parents.
My usual reminder that children have NO rights in this country. They are the property of their parents. Some are shitty (see #5). If parents are not meeting their responsibility to rear children who can be around others in polite society, your problem is with them, not children who weren’t taught those things. Depending on how meat puppet roulette works, maybe they didn’t even ask for shitty parents.
Whatever “breaks” you think parents get, they don’t. Childcare costs as much as university tuition and is required for 13 years. Employers trying to squeeze every last drop out of workers don’t care if their kid needs extra attention OR has strep throat.
Fertility treatments all suck.
If you are jealous of maternity leave, let me leave you with these thoughts [don’t feel bad; I used to be jealous of coworkers going home to India to get married, then I read what that was like for the bride and groom here]:
Human Chum Trail
No sex for six weeks
Sleep Deprivation
Fist fulls of milking supplements
Pussy Nipple Milk Maid
That milking machine you saw at the fair once
Still no pot, booze, or whatever you gave up to get knocked up from, except brie.
TV gets boring
Children are GREAT judges of character. Maybe they don’t care for being subjected to YOUR negative energy in public spaces. After all, we all arrive perfect. The babies and children I see smile and make faces at me; I do the same back.
On that tip, if you go into the world thinking you will encounter annoying kids, the universe will surely provide. Who’s fault is that, exactly?
Adults are better suited to remove themselves from an unpleasant situation than children.
You always have the right to leave.Fuck ALL the way off. I saved my vacation for that. Use yours at some adult-only resorts (Sandals, Club Med); there are many. If they “colonize” an adult planet, go there. Enjoy starving to death when there are none younger to wipe your ass on the raisin ranch.Life is life. Kids are part of it. Without them, there are no people, not even one-move-chess-player Karen fucktards like you. Bullying fucking children. Classy.
You’re doing it wrong (see #1). Grow the fuck up and learn to be more fun.