I'm 32, married with 2 children.
Before anyone points it out I fully agree that being married/having children are by no means essential or even desirable for many people.
However I do think that society is still very much structured under the assumption that most people will have a long term partner and children and that if you don't fit that mould for whatever reason then there is danger that as you get older the potential to feel lonely and left behind is quite large.
I do think that as time goes on it will become far easier for people to lead single/childfree lives and that can only be a good thing.
Out of my all the people know, born in Ireland in the early 80s only I and one other couple are in a relationship. AIBU to find this a bit worrying because as time goes on the potential to find someone/have children will fall rapidly and many of my contemporaries might find themselves very lonely in their 50s?
I think we're in the process of shifting towards new ways of living, brought about by longer life spans, greater freedom and different attitudes to work and that's inevitable and ultimately positive. But I do feel my generation are likely to be casualties of this process of transition.
AIBU?