
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, June 2, 1995                   TAG: 9506020066
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: NANCY GLEINER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

FREE FROM ALL THE WORRIES

For all you DINKs* and SINKs* who feel cheated out of flowers or yet another tie when Mother's and Father's days come around, Sunday is your day to celebrate.

ChildFree Adult Day is your chance to enjoy NOT having any diaper bags to cart around or any juveniles staring at the insides of a stuffed refrigerator, proclaiming, ``There's nothing to eat!''

Leslie Lafayette, founder of The Childfree Network, a national support group for childless adults, founded the holiday to recognize their contributions to families and communities.

Nearly 20 million American adults over 35 are ineligible to claim these little tax deductions, but they do pay a whopping share of taxes, pollute less, consume fewer resources and haven't produced anyone who throws up in restaurants or drives a car with superwoofers cranked up high enough to rhythmically lift you off your seat while you're at a red light.

Lafayette, author of ``Why Don't You Have Kids?'', suggests honoring a child-free adult for something he or she has done for you or for the community - brunch (no long lines on this holiday), a visit, or planting a tree. If you're child-free, just sit back, relax and enjoy the day - with no one tugging on your arm or moaning about starving to death right in front of your eyes. Close them and listen to the nothingness.

*Double income, no kids; single income, no kids

by CNB