hey i didnt wanna reblog this post and be a weird dick but like, i have a HUGE problem with the way this is worded i really, REALLY dislike this implication that because you treat children well and engage with them, you must Secretly Like Them. i dont like kids. im good with kids, i treat them well and with respect usually, i try and engage with them when appropriate, but i dont LIKE doing that. its draining. but i still do it because theyre people too and its whats right. i think phrasing things like this encourages people who earnestly dont like children to MISTREAT children, because they see things like this and know that they dont secretly like children deep down, so they think they dont have to engage with children this way, OR, EVEN WORSE, that if they engage with children like this then they will be perceived as secretly liking kids. it encourages people to think treating children well is a behavior that isnt relevant to them, because they dont secretly love kids deep down. it’s such a minor thing, i know, but it REALLY bothers me when i see it. ESPECIALLY when it’s targeted at women like this— how often do you see posts like “john ‘i hate kids’ smith playing with kids”? not nearly as often. the assumption that women who arent maternal are all secretly maternal deep down is, quite frankly, utter bullshit and incredibly rude. she doesnt have to secretly like children to watch them play dress up, or even to have an interaction with a kid that she enjoyed. idk who this lady is or what show this is, but take her on her word and allow her to interact with children in a respectful way without assuming she secretly loves kids deep down. you Fucks