On Monday night's Q&A, Prime Minister Julia Gillard was again questioned on her ability to understand the experience of families, and the particular problems of parenthood, given that she is childless.

Apart from wondering if there are perhaps more pressing questions to ask, I was struck by how insulting, hurtful and unimaginative this question is. Not necessarily to Ms Gillard who seems to be accustomed to it, but to every man and woman who, for one reason or another, has found themselves living their lives without children.

And it's always (or at least mostly), those with children who seem to think it's appropriate to question others about the lack of children in their lives. Is it really our right as parents to police the different choices or circumstances of others? In asking the question, do parents, does anyone, consider the painful wound they might be opening, the grief and sorrow that could be part of a childfree existence? Or that it is quite simply none of our business.