I like them a bit. I have three of my own

I will say this: I get crabby if I don't have time to myself, down time, time with my own friends, time with my husband without the kids--time to do things I want to do. And if that means hiring a babysitter, then I can do that. I'm not defined by my kids the way lots of moms are. I love them and I enjoy them and do my best as a mom but for me that means maintaining a sense of who I am. Otherwise I start to feel kind of resentful. I actually think it's better for the kids when a) the world doesn't revolve around them b) mom has a life that she enjoys and c) they are given the freedom to learn from their mistakes.