Because I’m an elementary education major, most of my friends and acquaintances assume that I love kids. And I do—for the most part! There’s no denying that kids can be frustrating, loud, irritating, bratty and difficult. However, they still have this special uniqueness to them that usually only children are able to possess. I have known some people to have a vehement anger towards children, and actually have stated-- out loud when we’re out and about and some kids are being somewhat noisy near us—that they hate kids. I’ve always been in shock at this statement, and to the people in my life who’ve said this before, this is for you:

To this person who hates kids,

I wonder what you were like as a kid. I’m sure you were well behaved and quiet, much unlike these other kids you so clearly detest. You must not have had a very fun childhood at all, because when I look at the kids who you are deeming noisy, I see my own childhood in them, a fun and adventurous childhood where kids are encouraged to play and create. I see the imagination still coursing through their veins and the curiosity, ingenuity and playfulness emanating from their very cores. While we’re at the beach tanning, taking selfies and scrolling on our phones, the kids you hate are making sand castles, forts, collecting sea shells and splashing around in the waves.

They’re analyzing things about society that we don’t even recognize, subconsciously commentating on what they observe, as they play their dress up and doctor’s office and with Barbie Dolls and action figures. Kids are people we shouldn’t criticize, but those we should actually learn from. When we grow up, we lose the sense of joy that kids have of the world. We become boring, fall into routines, stop asking questions and stop making things. The next time you see a kid being loud, maybe they’re asking too many questions (because they still have the drive to learn about anything and everything) or maybe they’re making a mess by drawing outside of the lines (because they aren’t yet worried about how society will judge them).

Maybe they’ll be laughing in a way you find irritating, but for them, they’re just enjoying their time on Earth and experiencing every moment fully, while you’re bitterly scoffing at them. To the people who hate kids, please try to learn something from them instead, because they have plenty to offer and much for us to admire.

Sincerely,

A hard-core supporter of letting your inner-child out whenever you can