‘If you don’t have children, do you ever really grow up?’

General levels of maturity aside, I’m wondering whether avoiding procreation gives me a pass

My friend Cass told me she wants a ‘children’s birthday party’ for her 30th. This made me laugh because on the one hand, I know what she means; she wants bouncy castles, mini versions of our favourite food, colourful decorations and a general sense of fun. However, I have attended children’s birthday parties (and played host to some in my teens when I worked at a bowling alley with McDonalds next door) and I know that my parent friends would see this very differently. Tantrums, hysteria, vomit and chaos are some of the words I imagine these carers of small people would use to describe children’s parties. Not something Cass would envision for her big event.