Anonymous
I'm childless and single and work with a group of women who all have children.
I am often told how "lucky" I am to be in this situation a typical comment is "Oh what bliss, all that peace and quiet you must have at home, I go home to a husband and two teenagers" what is often forgotten is I go home to an empty house with no support and no one to talk to.
There aren't children to buy birthday or Christmas presents for, there aren't trips out to the zoo at the weekend or hugs when you get home or anyone to listen to me or help me at home. Also those of us without families are looking at an old age on our own with no support when we get ill. If anything happens to me there is no one to help.
I know this sounds a bit bleak, there are benefits to being single, I can pretty much do what I want when I want and I don't have to think about any one else's needs. But I am conscious that I have to pay for everything, do all the planning, make sure everything gets sorted out in the house. This can be hard especially when I hear parents talk about their children helping them round the house.
There is a hidden level of loneliness that is having a life with no support and all the additional stress that comes with that.
