I can't stand kids visiting my home – is that so wrong?

Hey, I hope I don’t get too much hate for this, but I really struggle with having kids over at my house. The truth is, I’ve never liked children much, and I find the newer generations to be way too entitled, loud, and out of control.

My partner and I don’t have kids (and never will), but we have plenty of relatives—both cousins and in-laws—with children. They love visiting us because we live on a large farm with lots of space and animals, which, in their eyes, makes it the perfect playground.

I have no issue with the family relationships themselves. When we meet at restaurants or at their homes, it’s fine. I don’t have to stress about anything, and I can actually enjoy the time together.

But when they come to my house, my anxiety goes through the roof. I feel like I have zero control. I constantly worry they’ll get into places they shouldn’t, rummage through private rooms, stress out the animals, break things, or just generally be messy and disruptive. My home is my sanctuary—I’m a very private person, and it honestly bothers me how they treat it like some kind of amusement park where they can just let their kids run wild. If the kids were calm and respectful, it might be different.

And yes, I have tried setting boundaries. I’m not a pushover, but I also don’t want to be "the mean aunt." I’ve calmly explained that they need to be gentle around the animals, I’ve stopped them when they try to go places they shouldn’t, and I’ve caught them outright ignoring me—which, of course, has led to me losing my patience. They pull pranks and push limits in ways I don’t find remotely funny.

Is it really so unreasonable that I just don’t want kids in my home? Does anyone else feel this way? I get overwhelming anxiety when they visit, dread their arrival, and feel so relieved when they leave. I’d rather meet them elsewhere, but I don’t want to cut ties with my family or make them feel unwanted.

I just want my house to be my peaceful, kid-free space. Is that too much to ask?