Husband, wife start chapter of No Kidding
Kim Arnott, Special to the Post
Aug. 8, 2001

It isn't that Theresa and Darrin Cahill don't like children. In fact, the Burlington couple say they like them just fine. But they're also pretty convinced that they don't want any kids of their own. And they're looking for some friends who have also chosen to remain "child-free."

The Cahills have started a Burlington chapter of the international organization No Kidding! The group, which was founded in Vancouver in 1984, and has since spread across North America and the rest of the world, organizes social events and activities for people who do not have children.

"As our friends got older and started to have children, we just seemed to drift away from them," explains Theresa. Unable to relate to talk of toilet training and school activities, the Cahills say they found they had less and less in common with friends who had kids.

While surfing around on the Internet, they discovered the No Kidding! organization.

"We thought it would be kind of cool to have one in Burlington," says Darrin. The Cahills, both in their mid-30's, envision the group will organize various social activities, such as wine tours, hiking trips, card nights and cycling outings.

A first meeting is tentatively planned for Sept. 29, and couples or singles of any age, provided they don't have children, are welcome.

"We don't hate children," says Theresa. "We just want to meet some new friends who have the same interests as us."

Right now, they don't know exactly how the group will work. Much will depend on how many people want to participate and what everyone is interested in.

But the Cahills hope the chapter will provide a social outlet for people without children, who may otherwise find it difficult to meet friends whose lives aren't always organized around offspring.