Imagine if you never had children

[Imagineif]

... I'm new to Mumsnet and the reason I'm here is this...

I have children but a great friend of mine found out a year ago she cannot have children. It's a long story and she's asked me not to go in to it here BUT what she is interested in knowing what we would all do with our lives if we didn't have children. I know this thread mightn't be for everyone but if you'd like to humour me and imagine a life without our little darlings, what might the advantages of that other life be? My friend agreed that this could serve to really cheer her up. She also said that if the suggestions are good, she's thinking of starting up a blog where she tries out each and every suggestion, no matter how crazy.

I'll start it...

If I didn't have children I would...

1. Wake up when I wake up at the weekend.
2. Browse clothing stores after work when the mood takes me.
3. Read an entire novel from start to finish in one sitting.

My light-hearted answer;

I'd have more time and more money.
I'd be able to pick up the crafts I keep wanting to start but then having to put aside for the young one.
I might even try dating(!)
I'd spend my weekends with my friends (from a very specific hobby that I cannot do since having the kid.)
I'd probably weigh a lot less!

I would spend time with friends more. Would go for spa days every now and then. More holidays to cities or different places.
I have 2 family members, who are sisters and they both decided to not have children for whatever reasons which I don't know. One is 50 the other a little older and they now have great lives with their husbands. They don't need to work much now so can relax and travel etc. They don't regret not having kids and don't have to worry about money or providing for kids.

This makes me laugh! The other day, nothing particularly out of the ordinary but we weren’t coping very well, we had a crying baby, two hyper children, a dog covered in mud and god knows what else. Anyway, DP said (light heartedly) “imagine if it was just us?” And I laughed and we started chatting about how we could take baths when we liked, how much money we would save, holidays! Travel! Making cups of tea and drinking them hot. Going out for the day without taking hours getting ready. Eating lunch and dinner at a leisurely pace. Kids bedrooms would be more spare rooms for various things. Cuddles whenever wanted. Going shopping. Walks without a breakdown. Days without anxiety in general. Having time to browse nice recipes for dinner. Getting dressed up and going out for dinner at a nice place (where kids aren’t welcome ). Having time to take up a hobby again. Having time to nap during the day. Having time to do NOTHING! Maybe sit in the garden and do absolutely nothing (wtf does that even feel like?!)

There was A LOT of random things We kept throwing things in throughout the day which made us laugh about it

FranticallyPeaceful it sounds busy!

Hmmmm....I'd probably get at least one more dog, if not two more and spend much more time with my friends.

I'd go for spontaneous walks/cinema trips/lunches etc regularly.