I never had children either, not by choice. All of my friends did. Back in the 80's when I was part of a committed Christian community, It used to really hurt when I would find out (after the fact) that the other women had all met together at some park or beach - and I was sitting at home in my empty apartment with no car, but nobody ever thought to invite me because they thought I wouldn't enjoy being around all of their kids and kid-talk. But they were wrong. I would have LOVED to have been invited. I would have loved to play with all of their children in the parks and the water. Being left out of their gatherings hurt me so much more than not having any children of my own.

Now that I have my own step-granddaughter, I have my own "bragging rights" and can jump right into those kid-talk conversations. But I still don't get invited to any parks or beaches - now it's my single women friends who don't invite me!