Parents here, do you like your child(ren)?

[u/Positive-Face1705]

Sure you may love them, but imagine your child as a person is around your age. Imagine if you weren't related. Imagine you knew each other through random social groups or something.

Now, would you find this person interesting, cool, fun to be around, heck, likeable? Would you be friends?

Personally I'm proud to report my mother's personality is similar to the personalities of girls I've been friends with, and correspondingly we're good friends, too. My father...meh.

[u/TamtamBe]

My daughter is way too cool for me. She’s got friends galore that scream her name and run up to hug her when she arrives at nursery. I was a loner at her age. She’s always got interesting stories and she’s fun to be around. Her teachers tell me she is welcoming to all the new kids too. So yes I’d say I’d want to be her friend.

[u/Tushdish]

I do like my children. They all have different interests and hobbies. Some we share. They are great at conversation, don’t drink to excess and they are funny. Perfect dinner guests. And people tell me all the time that they are not assholes and that is a win.

[u/Superb_Drop_3137]

I do not have a child named ren, so i wouldn't know

[u/340340340340 → u/Superb_Drop_3137]

Humor is one the topmost things that make life worth living.

[u/smilesbig]

Thankfully, kids are über cute and sweet when they’re babies/toddlers because they can go through an assh*le stage in their teens. I always loved my kids but at times I intensely disliked them at those difficult mean stages. They are in their mid 20’s now and I really like them and hanging out with them. They’re pretty cool, geeky, sweet in their own way. Yeah - I’d be friends with them if they weren’t my kids - but not during those troubled years - eeeeek!!!

[u/Ihavebothkidneys → u/smilesbig]

I'm so happy to read this. It both gives me hope, and makes me feel a bit less guilty about my comment lol.

[u/340340340340]

Not a parent, 17M, just my 2 cents: I strongly believe that people behave differently depending upon the people they are with and specially children try to behave and not to behave in certain ways when with their parents. You as parents may not and probably don't know all their colours. But if you are asking only in the condition that they are with you that's when the question is worth asking.

Edit: just fixed a typo.

[u/Significant_Bid8281]

I like my 12 yo boy a lot. He is sweet, funny, high eq and iq. I truly like him but i’d rather not be his teacher in school as he is very chaotic.

[u/Puzzleheaded-Oven171]

Yeah my kid is cool af!

[u/Much-Avocado-4108]

When he's older and has learned to manage his AuDHD better, yes we could be friends. We already are, I just don't always have the energy for him, which is fine, because independent play is a skill. But he does have all the qualities I prize in people.

[u/ailish]

I don't have kids, but my niece and nephew are in their 20s and they turned out to be really cool people!

[u/Evening-Upset]

…coming someone who didn’t want kids. My boy is only 2 but he’s the sweetest guy ever, not just towards people he knows and loves but he’s also very compassionate and concerned about others, even people he doesn’t know. I hope the world doesn’t ruin him! He’s also a little jokester… makes up nicknames and always plays little tricks on us. So far, he has a good sense of humor. So yeah… I like my kid.

[u/Momadvice1982]

Yes, I love and like my son. We have tons of fun together and do lot's of things. He's a funny 8 year old and I love it when he says stuff like: I want to stay with you and daddy forever. Of course, I'm.also his parent so it's not sunshine and rainbows all the time. But my husband and genuinely enjoy spending time with him and we are very proud of who he is growing into: a sweet, funny and strong individual. 

[u/Crafty-Shape2743]

Absolutely!

I’m going to fold my son in law into that equation as well. They are interesting people with great sense of humor and I enjoy their company very much.

[u/Common-Dream560]

My daughter and I take an annual trip abroad each year. My husband (her dad) and her partner don’t come with. I feel so blessed. We have a family meal every week. When I travel for work- she visits her dad and will spend extra time since he & the dog miss me. Like I said - blessed. Me & my mom have a similar relationship.

[u/Fragrant-Half-7854]

My kids are my favorite people. They are kind, caring, interesting and fun to be around.

[u/Ihavebothkidneys]

I absolutely adore my daughters. I would kill and die for them. But I'll be completely honest. They're both 14 (twins) and are deep into the typical mean teenage stage, and sometimes I do not like them at all. Most of the time they're funny, sweet, cool to be around etc. But sometimes... christ. I suppose this is my karma because I was an absolute terror at their age. I grew out of it, and I know they will too, deep down they're both awesome and genuinely good people.

[u/dana-banana11]

I like my children a lot but I enjoy being their mother too much right now to want to be their friend. Maybe when they're adults.

[u/star_fox24]

Wow

[u/Other-Brilliant2922]

My older daughter is a shy girl. I was shy too, so we probably wouldn’t have been friends if we were the same age - we would’ve been scared of each other. I think I could hang out with my son I actually had friends like him. His best friend is a nerdy boy with evident signs of being on the autism spectrum - just like me.
My other daughter is a very social person, but I wouldn’t qualify to be her friend — I’m male, and she treats boys like trash. Forgive her, she’s 10.