Is it normal to not like your child?
It’s normal to feel dislike or resentment toward your child sometimes, especially when you’re exhausted or stuck in a difficult stretch. If that feeling is constant or making it hard to care for them, you deserve support—not shame.
You can love your child and still not enjoy being around them sometimes. Kids can be loud, defiant, demanding, or just a poor match for your temperament, and parenting can wear you down. A rough patch or a flash of “I don’t like you right now” doesn’t make you a bad parent.
If the feeling is there most of the time, or it’s affecting how you treat or care for your child, don’t try to muscle through it alone. Talk with someone you trust or a therapist, doctor, or parenting counselor; stress, burnout, and other pressures can make the relationship feel much harder. If you’re worried you might hurt your child, get immediate help from someone who can keep both of you safe.