Are you interested in other people's babies?

My husband persuaded me to have a baby at 37. The marriage deal seven years earlier was no babies. Didn’t want to end up like my mum with a new born my dad didn’t ask for and her begging him not to go to work and stay with her and the baby. Really affected me and totally put me off having children. My son and I are like twins. Think the same, laugh the same and know nothing but death will part us. Apologies for the dramatisation. I am a writer.

I might add that I am quite okay with other peoples babies now I realise what’s involved. In small doses.

I love babies and children no matter who they belong to

Nope. I have a larger family than average, ranging from adult to single digit age. I’m babied out.

No me neither. I love my own grandchildren, others don’t interest me. Now if it had been their dog that would be an entirely different matter.

If GS is son of god, JG I presume DS (or DSIL) is god?

Ha I know what you mean

I do like to take an interest in close friend's GC but then I have known the parents and two are my godchildren, however, having had ten babies sleep in the family cot I am quite content. I also find my teenage GC great fun now and wouldn't be able to lug around small babies anyway.

Not the slightest bit interested in kids of any age. They’re your GC and not mine. To expect me to be all over them means I’d be done with our friendship.

I do enjoy watching toddlers and young children but I don't want to listen to endless boasts about them!

I don’t coo over other people’s babies, my friend does though! I love my own children but it isn’t the same if they aren’t your own. Give me puppies and kittens etc and that’s another story!! I don’t mind whose they are then.

I fostered many babies and brought up six children. Loved that at the time, but I am a different person now.

Worked in pre- school gymnastics. Mums would bring in their new-borns to show them off and always hand them to me to hold/cuddle saying they knew how much I delighted in these.
I did not!!!! But these mums were our clubs customers, so had to go along with that.

As my own children grew up discovered how wonderful it was to have adult children. Never wanted to be a grandparent, but as those babies arrived, obviously had to be pleased as they were all planned arrivals.

Never been a 'doting' grandmother. Have done my share of baby-sitting and minding - but that has been far more to please my own children than out of desire to have time with g.children.

Am now discovering (again), that I much prefer adults and as g.children grow up am much happier when they visit me or me them. I have never imposed photos of my g.children on anyone, and rather resent it when people pass me their 'phones with pictures of babies/toddlers, etc. They all look exactly the same to me. I make a polite comment and pass it back asap.

Very maternal and have always loved babies ! However we are not all the same , my close friend never wanted or had children. So much pressure on women who decide not to be mothers or men for that matter who don't wish to be fathers. Some women are great mums but have no desire to be involved with other peoples babies . Live and let live, we are all different!

My niece added me to a family digital album and she and her husband add photos of their baby EVERY day! I get an email notification every time they add photos.
Honestly I can hardly be bothered to look. The thing is it logs who has viewed the album recently and I feel I must look every week or so as it would look really bad if I never looked!

Franbern
'I fostered many babies and brought up six children. Loved that at the time, but I am a different person now.

Worked in pre- school gymnastics. Mums would bring in their new-borns to show them off and always hand them to me to hold/cuddle saying they knew how much I delighted in these.
I did not!!!! But these mums were our clubs customers, so had to go along with that.'

Why on earth did you foster babies then, if you didn't like them? It sounds like you were taking in a parcel rather than nurturing a baby, where those first months and years are so vital to their potential and development!

Franbern said she loved it at the time but is different now. Why quote a post if you haven’t read and understood it?

Not in the slightest after working with them for forty years. We get a calendar every year of a relatives grandson I stick it on a shelf. I would never attempt to show photos of my grandchildren unless someone asked. Pre Covid I did not like being passed someones baby either.
I've changed when I had a number of years out of teaching and went to coffee mornings I was always the one on the floor with the kids getting dirty!!!!!

Have only just read this thread, must say I love babies very much, in fact all little ones, provided I can hand them back, certainly wouldn't want the day to day responsibility of bringing them up! Adore my own grandchildren too of course and love spending time with them.

Germanshepherdsmum

Franbern said she loved it at the time but is different now. Why quote a post if you haven’t read and understood it?

I have to say, I found franbern's post quite startling as well. To go from wanting to foster other people's babies to having limited interest in your own tiny grandchildren is quite a jump.

I love babies ,toddlers and children - but one of my friends is the world's worst photographer .

When I see her she shows me hundreds of her unbelievably bad photographs of her children and grandchildren .

After two hours of it and the tedious monologue - I've lost the will to live !

Levels if interest vary from person to person.
We aren't all the same as grannies, any more than any other section of society.

I love my grandchildren.
I wish I'd had them first

?

(Actually, I love my children too, sorry kids)

Not in the slightest!

I love kids and will try and engage with them but I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. I’m not in least interested in other peoples dogs but try and say polite things. It’s probably the same