I am single and childless, too. Or childless and single, but you can be single and not childless and childless and not single.

I do, however, have a nephew and niece and after gastro, conjunctivitis, colds and the like, I can truly say thank goodness I have a condition that requires IVIG every few weeks, as catching these things from kids is no fun. Last year, my nephew brought gastro home from child care, and my brother and sister-in-law contracted it, and even though I said to my brother, "It's too soon," he came over and my parents contracted gastro, but I was spared.

And, at least I get to give my nephew back to my brother (my niece is like my brother was when he was little, he always bowed his head and if anyone talked to him, he'd cry, and unfortunately, with my niece, that extends to anyone except my brother and sister-in-law) and he can take him home. Don't get me wrong, I love my nephew to bits and I can teach him things, but he has always been more engaging. He likes being read to, making things with blocks and the like.

I think, though, once people have kids, it's important to try, where possible, to have a life that goes like this (assuming at least two sets of grandparents and they love the kids, too): one night a week where the kids can go and stay with a set of grandparents (hopefully, they can alternate) to allow their parents to do things as a couple, one day a week that is family day without commitments; if a parent say has two kids and one is sporty and one isn't, the parents can alternate taking the sporty kid to matches and if, in the event of them doing things as a family, they all go, the non-sporty kid is catered for by being able to read a book, play a computer game or something (I remember a soccer carnival where I sat and read a newspaper from the front to the sports section and then a book, while my brother played), one night a month to catch up with friends, and the like.