Parents: please don't try and tell me it's different "when they're my own", especially after you've spent the last ten minutes complaining about how hard your life has become now that you've reproduced.
Please don't assume my life is carefree/boring/meaningless because I don't have kids.
Don't tell me "well, you won't be able to do *insert fun thing here* once you and SO have kids!". Are you trying to talk me out of something I wasn't going to do anyways?
If you tell me "must be nice to be able to do that!", I'm going to assume you meant it in a non-passive-aggressive way and say "yes, it's awesome!", give you a big smile, and walk away.
You are not better than me because you reproduced.
If a dating profile says "I'm not interested in dating someone with kids", move on. Don't send a message to the person that includes the phrase "my kids are different!". You're only wasting your time.
Childfree:
Don't make a big scene out of some child having a public meltdown. We all did it at one point or another. Just go on about your day and go home to your quiet, non-childed home.
Don't rant about "irresponsible parents of the human variety", "moos", and various other derogatory terms for parents and children. At least not publicly.
While it's certainly not required, it is NICE to host events where children are welcome IF you are able to do so.
You are not better than someone who has reproduced.
Why should a childfree person be planning and hosting things with kids in mind. While it may be easier for the parent, it's not the kids that a childfree person is friends with. I would feel really weird about hosting or being hosted by kids.
I really think this is one of those things that can not be reciprocal. Part of good etiquette is reciprocity and when one person is expected to do(spend, plan, change activities based on a third parties needs) much more in order to be "nice" in a rel
ationship...it can cause resentment on the part of the one expected to change. That childfree person is often having to accommodate the parent in many way already, even if it's taken for granted that the parent's life will change, so does the childfree person's social life change if they are going to remain friends. The expectation that they have to host the parent's child in order to be considered "nice" is a bit much...the converse of that is if you don't you're not "nice".
Also - many people have their homes as childfree,,,so now they have to change that because it's easier for the parent to have some events hosted at the childfree person's home be ok for the kiddos? Or the childfree person is not "nice" - as a childfree person, I would resent the expectation. Luckily for me,, my parent friends are the type that like having my place be the place they come to have a childfree evening "out" with out spending a ton of money at a bar.