I never "liked" kids. They annoyed me when I was in a restaurant, or when they were running around on the sidewalk, getting their diaper changed when I'm in the park etc.
But I knew I wanted to have kids, sometime, because I knew that I would feel my life had been a waste if I didn't.
Now I am a proud father of a 9-month old, and learning the ropes. Being the stay-at-home part of the parenting team really helps, too.
So now I appreciate other kids more, usually in the sub-5 age area. Somehow they all smell weird and act weird and annoy me still once they reach 8 or nine.
Yesterday a group of 10-year-olds were passing me on the sidewalk, me pushing the carriage and carrying 3 shopping bags in my left hand, and the one closest to me just barely made room for the stroller, but made a point of whacking my bag-carrying arm and show off to his friends how cool he was.
Maybe it's a good thing I usually find the right replies/reactions about an hour after the occurrence, otherwise I might have an angry parent standing on my doorstep, or worse, the cops.
