To ask how many people you know....

[MovieQueen12]

Who are single with no kids in their thirties and what do you truthfully think of them?
I honestly know no single people my age and I know a fair amount of people.

I know two women, early 40s. They seem very happy in their lives, both have very time-consuming hobbies which they seem to really love, and they're both doing very well in their careers and own their house nice houses. Neither is dating and haven't for a few years, so I assume they're not interested. I actually haven't known one of them have a partner, and I've known her since our mid-20s.

I did know one man, late 30s. I felt sad for him because I knew he really wanted to meet someone and it just didn't seem to be happening for him despite having so much going for him (own house, really good job, well travelled) and so many dates. I'm so pleased for him now that he's engaged to a lovely woman.

I think you need a new social circle! At least a third of my circle are single and among the 30-40s probably only a quarter have children. We're mostly very highly educated, high earning sporty city dwellers. The ones with kids are pitied for being boring, having no money, having to do child friendly holidays and always fussing about child care.

Plenty, inc older people in their 40s, 50s and 60s. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being single and/or childfree.... most of us love it. OP, I think you need to widen your social circle and get some more interesting friends!

A few - and I love them x

Why is it "a shame"? If she enjoys her work, then good for her - sounds like a great life.

I'll get slated for this very unpopular opinion but I have a friend who is single, no kids, good job and owns her own flat.

And I increasingly find I don't respect her... she has strong opinions on the going's on of others peoples relationships and how people raise their children etc. which is really grating seeing S she has little to no life experience in these things.

I know a few. Don’t think anything really because it’s not my business and I don’t care. Unless they came to me to discuss it, I really wouldn’t give it a second thought .

Most of my friends in their 30s are single and childless. I dint think anything. Why?

I don't think you'll get slated, people without children are pretty ill-informed when it comes to the reality of bring up children after all.

I know a few, I don't think much about it except for how nice it must be to only have to think of yourself, and to be able to go on nice holidays and not answer to anyone!

My sister is 41 now and has never married or had children, she hasn't been in any sort of proper relationship since her mid 20s. In all honesty she's pretty hard work to live with (Def some emotional issues going on) BUT she also has a life full of seeing friends that she loves and being a fabulous surrogate aunt to their children.

What she doesn't have is the security of a dual income so she struggles sometimes on her single wage and has a second job.

@douglasadamswasright as someone with no kids, but with a DH, full time career, home and garden to keep on top of, aging parents to see regularly, dog to look after and exercise regime to maintain - I have a tonne of structure in my life, thanks.
Too much.

Loads. Why would I think anything of it? Completely normal for my generation, industry and social circles.

Its obviously the norm to settle down, have kids etc but its only one path really. The older I get, the more I realise how different everyone is and what suits them is different. I would be more likely to pity someone if they had settled down with the wrong person just because it was what you did by x age.

I don't know many people but the odd one or two are single women in their thirties. I like them very much, and don't query their situations. They are as they are, it's good.

I’m 49, single & childfree & wouldn’t have it any other way. I think people who automatically pity anyone who doesn’t have a partner & kids are being stupid and unimaginative.

I honestly find that so weird!

Almost everyone I know is in their 30s and child free. Why would it be pitiful?

That's how people view it unfortunately which is why I am surprised to see the majority of comments here are nice and positive.

Loads - and some in their 40s and 50s too. I don’t really think about it?

I know a few. I feel sorry for one (a relative) because I know her life plan was to find "the one", marry and have kids and it's sad that the ship is sailing without her, but mostly I am irritated with her parents that they raised her with such a dated and unrealistic view of men (men can't do housework, she thinks she's unusual because she's a woman who owns a drill, etc), and a controlling streak a mile long, and to have an opinion on everything (e.g. how others parent their kids), and the unerring knack to get into pointless arguments with people, that no man in his right mind would stick around for more than a few months before running for the hills. She's crushed that she's almost 40 and hasn't found "the one" yet and she can't see that it's her that's the problem. I don't feel sorry for the ones I know who are happy and fulfilled though.