Small child: Ms. Megan, I like you

Me: Oh yeah, why’s that?

Small child: because you don’t have any bones

Me, trying not to laugh: what?

Small child, sighing wistfully: Yeah, when you hug Ms. Jen, she’s got too many bones. You don’t have any, and that’s nice.

poovellamkettuppar:

nytylee:

flamethrowing-hurdy-gurdy:

sacrificethemtothesquid:

flamethrowing-hurdy-gurdy:

flamethrowing-hurdy-gurdy:

kimbureh:

andrewpauldost:

i want dogs to be allowed at more places and i want children under 6 to not be

yeah cool and make young parents, almost always mothers, never leave the house again and socially isolate and publically embarrass em cuz they can’t afford babysitters for years, cool idea.
at what point as a culture have we decided to hate on kids collectively. is it since the invention of refined sugars, I wouldn’t surprised if there was a connection.

And then be surprised when the children have zero social skills because they’ve been told they’re not welcome on account of Not Being Real People But Dogs Are Totally Ok.

…wow the comments on this are fucking scary. How many of the people going ‘yes ban kids from public spaces’ are also feeling disrespected by baby boomers?

Do you fuckers not understand that Children. Are. People. 

I’m conflicted about this, and I think it’s because the children that are most disruptive are the offspring of people who do not believe Children Are People, and that is the whole source of the problem. 

I absolutely think that’s true. We need to allow for the fact that kids are adults in training and will often require our patience and leniency. BUT they respond much better to being treated with respect than, by default, as a nuisance.

Kids in adult spaces are in a very difficult position. They are in a place where they can’t play freely, because it might disrupt the peace- so it’s up to adults who require them to behave with more control to include them and offer them something in exchange. Like, shit, it’s not fun when you’re five and there’s a family dinner and all the adults are talking about adult stuff you don’t understand, no one wants to talk to you because they’re not interested in the things that fascinate you, but you’re also expected to sit quietly and politely for as long as the adults need you to.  And follow certain rules you might not even know exist yet. And not interrupt the conversation because whatever you say is not as important as whatever adults have to say, for some reason.

People often don’t realise how much self-control they actually demand from children. There was this excellent post once about how yes, you CAN take walks with your toddler, if you just account for the fact that they take smaller strides and walk slower than you. Scale down the experience. Make it inclusive. Make it enjoyable for everyone. Kids are People, and Kids are Not As Experienced Or Capable As You.

And also chill with the reactions to kids existing- soooo many people get all annoyed if they just hear a child’s voice. But if an adult says something a little louder, or does something clumsy, it’s no big deal. Every time I take an airplane and there’s a little kid, their babbling and whimpering and, yes, even crying is way less annoying than the exasperated sighs and demands to ‘shut that kid up!’ from entitled adults around me. Like, ok, the baby’s a baby, what’s your excuse for being rude and disruptive?

Whenever I see a child at a restaurant being ignored by their parents I try to engage the child in peek-a-boo or waving or just smiling. I know how bad social anxiety is, and I want to do my best to make sure no one else is forced into it – by making sure that being in public is a desired thing for the child.
It has the side effect of reducing crying and yelling, because the child is too entranced to think of crying.

Ultimately, I wish children were treated like dogs, in that people look forward to seeing them and interacting with them, even complimenting them. And that dogs were treated more like children, with owners watching out for them and there not being regulations treating them as pariahs to be hidden or shunned.

This whole hating on children trend is so ugly

kiichu:

moondustbeam:

i don’t like kids. 

in general, i suppose. i’m not very fond of little kids. i don’t want them. they give me headaches and i cannot deal with their antics. 

HOWEVER

you know what i do when kids talk to me? i smile. i answer them. i tell them their scribbles look really good. i open their juice boxes for them and ask to hear more about their power rangers. 

because although i may not be fond of children, i was one. i remember being a kid and how much sour adults impacted my life even today. so when a child who is screaming and crying with a runny nose walks past me, i put on my smiling face and ask them what’s wrong instead of rolling my eyes. 

because that’s what you do. you tolerate children even if you tend to dislike them. because kids are so impressionable and remember everything. i cannot bring myself to enjoy being around children. but that doesn’t mean i let them know. 

Yes, as someone who really does love kids, it says a LOT to me if someone is mean to kids. Even if you don’t like them, if they smile at you and you don’t smile back, you’re just not being a nice person and I immediately judge you.

unfriendlyindianhottie:

the whole “i hate kids” culture is getting so old like i understand you don’t want kids and that is your decision and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, put people are so fucking bitter towards kids and it’s like ???????????? did you forget you were a kid once and that you were equally as “annoying” or did u just transition into bitter old ppl straight from birth? that phrase and this whole culture comes off as emotionally abusive and it’s impressionable on young children growing up and leads them to be so vulnerable and doubt their place in society. i just-PROTECT KIDS. PROTECT THEIR SELF- WORTH. PROTECT THEIR IMPORTANCE. THEY ARE SWEET AND VULNERABLE AND DESERVE LOVE.