Well, on the one hand: kids are cute and awesome sometimes.

And surprisingly intelligent and manipulative from what I've observed! I'm quite impressed and shocked with their cunningness at times.

I'm also highly impressed with many of their social observations, that they will simply honestly blurt out, without any filter what-so-ever. I like that. It's refreshing (but also a bit painful to hear if it's directed at you!).

And as for the negative qualities of children--of which it seems there are plenty!--let's not forget that you and I were both once those very same snot-nosed kids throwing huge sudden and unpredictable temper tantrums at supermarkets and restaurants!

But on the other hand...

Ya... I have to say... if I'm being honest... like you, I don't think I really like spending huge amounts of time with kids. Sometimes when kids are at their worse I don't really like them all that much either! So yes... I hate to say it.

I mean, to spend huge amounts of time day and day out... seems a little tedious and stressful to me.

Rather than spending any time with kids, I'd MUCH rather talk about hugely fascinating subjects and ideas with adults, as opposed to children.

And yet... again... sometimes I'm just blown away by kids.

For example: my brother's daughter recently made a video with an entire elaborate dance routine, in which she changed the wording to a popular song. My brother said it took her hours and days of rehearsing and obsessing about it, to get it right.

And it was good... like really good... my jaw dropped... and there was just something so pure about that experience I remember from my own childhood as well.

So I guess amidst the turmoil of temper tantrums there are profound moments like those, that only parents can truly experience and understand.