Something that I feel should be said:
"I find children irritating/I do not want children"
"Children are not awful and need extra care, concideration, and patience"
are not mutually exclusive.
I have had to parent my siblings (including an older brother) since I was ten, and expected to care for my cousins and watch them instead of playing and being a kid even earlier. Because of this, and my general temper, I do not like kids, especially my younger sibling who is incredibly spoiled. I do not ever want children, do not like watching kids alone for more than a couple hours, and in general have a low fuse for kids that are loud and energetic.
However, I am also a HUGE advocate for kids and teens. I know they need empathy and consideration, not the least beacause older people will just talk down to them an minimize everything in their lives, from anything they're passionate about to struggles they have. I'm in full belief that school needs to be completely transformed, from shorter overall time to less needless homework to the grade structure in general.
When I say I don't want kids, or that I don't like being around kids for too long, people always tell me I'll change my mind, or ask me why I hate children. I do not.
I fully know and understand why kids are so loud and energetic all the time. I empathize with them asking a bunch of questions and being "nosy" and curious. I just have a very low temper for those sort of things, and do not want to take my anger issues out on innocent people who are just acting like normal kids, so I limit my time in close proximity.
