The Six Stages of Childfree Life

After years of research and analysis (aka bellying up to a nice bar with a vodka gimlet and talking to women friends of all ages) we've determined that there are distinct phases in the childfree life. For most of us the decision not to have children isn't made once, it's made about a million times with varying levels of fervor. True, this is hardly a revelation, but you probably didn't know there were six stages. Actually, neither did we until we decided to write about it and figured we needed a catchy way to describe it. So without further ado, here they are:

1. Whatever
The blissfully clueless stage up until age 25

2. Later
The party-hard pre-reality stage from age 25-30

3. You’re on my last nerve
The too-many baby showers anger stage from age 30-35

4. Don’t go there
The reality bites denial stage from age 35-40

5. Oops, I forgot to have children
The last chance will-you-won’t-you stage from 40-45

6. Happily ever after
Ah, finally, the acceptance stage from age 45 - eternity