Do people [not so] secretly hate their children?

With some it's not a secret.

When I was growing up my parents acted like they hated me and my siblings, and resented having to deal with our constant needs. Same for all my friends at school, which was probably why we had so much in common and became friends in the first place. So yes, I think quite a lot of people secretly hate or resent their kids, but most people know better than to say so out loud.

No, I don't have any kids myself. Why would I.

I know where you're coming from, in fact just last night I saw a woman on TV say something like "if you can't be a sub-standard parent during lockdown I don't know when you can".

I think it's all a bit of banter to alleviate the situation though. The parents who really hate their children were a danger to them before the virus and will continue to be after it's all over, and they are the least likely to admit to hating them publicly.

overwhelmed maybe.

I think it’s just a lot of frustration. Kids can be real assholes and hard to deal with. I don’t think it’s hate. I threaten to kill my Daughter over nothing all the time.

I think kids are like anything, too much of the same thing (or person) can be too much.

Some kids have terrible mood swings and act irrationally.

It would be very hard to deal with children's schoolings while you're also really stressed out about work.

I don't have kids, but my friend has two small kids. I like to visit but at the same time, I like my 'me time'. She's stuck with them a lot and they can be very demanding.

I one day would like kids but I really hope I get good ones :D

You don't get to choose your kids.

Among my friends, you have both the 'I'm in love with my kids' and the 'I'm sick of my kids'. Not much middle ground, though.

I adore my daughter. As for my childhood, maybe a topic for another time.