To others without kids.... (apply, teenager, work, interest)

[bs13690]

Does it annoy you to hear stories about your co-worker's kids like it does me? Or am I just a grumpy person?

[Me007gold]

No, not really. and I am a very jaded a hate filled person

[Rayah(812)]

Don't feel so bad about being a grump over this! hehe I don't really mind a few stories about kids but I feel bad about not having anything to say, as I don't have kids, or even pets. It's not like I can offer these people advice or comiserate--all I can do is sit there and say, "uh-huh...oh that's wonderful...that's terrible...really? No way!" In fact I find myself responding this way to most of my coworkers' conversations, but that's a different story. On one hand, there are stories in which the kids do something so totally outrageous and the parents are saying "whatever!" and on the other hand the kids are doing something typical, not-so-special and the parents think it's a big deal.

I can't think of any woman coworker of mine at the moment who does not have children or is not taking care of a partner's child... Before there were two women my age who didn't have kids, but I think that was because one was a lesbian, and the other was extremely religious and is probably going to be arranged to marry some day. It seems most women in my area have their children before the age of 25, and many start while they're still teenagers. Something's wrong with me because I'm 26 and have not even been pregnant, right? hehe No I don't regret it one bit; I don't fit in with my coworkers and that's quite fine.

[Broncos Quarterback]

It annoys me if I don't like the person. Otherwise, it's ok as long as they don't go on and on, but that could apply to any topic.

[emerald_octane]

Even as an expectant parent I think those who talk about their children all day are extremely annoying. C'mon people having sex and squiring out babies isn't an accomplishment.

[knt1229]

It doesn't bother me. But, sometimes I feel awkward because I can't relate and all I can contribute to the convo is, "yeah", "really", "aww", "that's great", "that's awful". LOL

[Mr. Opinionated]

Annoyed is a harsh word. I like other peoples kids, so its cute sometimes. But the stories can get boring.

[DennyCrane]

Originally Posted by bs13690

Does it annoy you to hear stories about your co-worker's kids like it does me?

No. It reminds me why I don't want kids.

[brocco]

most of my coworkers are my parents' age or a little younger, so i dont mind because they're not talking about diaper-changing or anything else i wouldn't be interested in

[kevxu]

Originally Posted by bs13690

Does it annoy you to hear stories about your co-worker's kids like it does me? Or am I just a grumpy person?

I have been out of the work scene for quite a few years. However, in my last work environment I didn't find that most people talked about their kids a lot. They mentioned mentioned a special event here and there, or an unusual problem. There were a very, very few who overdid it with news on the kids front, and I learned to give it a polite couple of minutes and then kill the conversation.

What does annoy me are older, retired adults for whom their grand-children is their major and ongoing focus of conversation. I have virtually no patience with them, and avoid them as much as possible.

The one exception is a friend who raised one of her grandchildren after taking him from his totally irresponsible parents. But in her case he was a current member of the household and it made sense.