I keep finding myself thinking about old age a lot these days. I think it's crucial to build a support system of your own, whether you have kids, a partner or not. There is no guarantee that anybody will be here for us just because it's their duty. I'm not a very social person so I sometimes worry that I may not be able to keep my friendships that long, although I try. When parents put all the responsibility on the child's back, do they not miss out on having hobbies, friends, a community of their own?My mother has been a judgy witch all her life about people without kids even though two of her own kids don’t have any. She’s always remarked into retirement that the neighbors across the street chose not to have kids (she has no idea whether they chose to or not, but she assumes) and now they are lonely. My mum’s husband (my abusive dad) died last week, and where are her kids to support her? I live thousands of miles away in another country, and the other two live an hour away and are resentful about visiting her and supporting her. Meanwhile those poor lonely childless people across the street get regular visits from their nieces and nephews and friends. Don’t bleeping assume your kids will be there for you, because it’s more than likely that they won’t.