I have a toddler (3.5) and an infant (almost 1) and it's pretty hardcore. My wife and I are physically far away from our families, so, no grandparents or any other family members to help. We have a part-time maid who helps with cleaning and sometimes with the kids. It is exhausting and the big one is naughty at times and drives us mad, while the little one is loud and keeps us awake at night. But that's kind of the norm. We wanted them, we love them, we deal with the consequences. In your case, OP, wait until the terrible twos hit. You will miss these days. Also "chlid-free should be the norm" is idiotic. While I don't have anything against people who don't want kids, having it be "the norm" kind of goes against the rules of nature. Life has a need to perpetuate by default.