Seeing that as a red flag with nothing to back it up is idiotic thinking. Judge the person and their character and whether you want to be in a relationship with them AFTER you get to know them. Simply not having ever been married or having kids doesn't mean there is something "wrong" with the person.

I think you are smart not to have kids. So what if you haven't married, I wish I never had the 1 time I did. I don't count it. ?

I hope not. I’m in the same boat as you not haveing been married or having kids.

Many women are under the mistaken impression that older men who have never been married are bisexuals who engage in homosexual sex.

She sounds like a complete, right wing, brainless imbecile. She comes from the place where parents wear their children like medals awarded by society.

She is a closed person and not worthy of you.

I would not think it is a ‘big red’ flag! This person was most likely thinking about all the scenarios, surrounding families and I must admit that they never end, no matter how old or how far away each of them are! Maybe, this person was not ‘up-to’ learning a ‘new game in town!’ You could be overwhelmed and then maybe not...with a ready made family! Just keep looking, the right person, at the right time will take your heart...

It's not information that would immediately result in a disqualification as my potential future partner, but it would inspire some follow-up questions. There's a story there, I'm sure. I have a story about why I never had children of my own. I'd hate to be penalized before having an opportunity to expound.

No right or wrong. Just her thing.

Nope. I'm also single and have never had kids.

Hell no! Having kids is a big red flag for me, personally

It really depends. My last boyfriend was never married and had no children. I found out fairly quickly why. He was a malignant narcissist with delusions of Godhood. He also believed the only right way was his way; everyone else was wrong. When I cooked, if it wasn't done the way his mother made it, he would complain and get the recipe. The last straw was when I realized that he never told me the truth in anything. His explanation....... I knew it would hurt you.

I'm not saying you are the same way as I don't know you, however other women may have been burned one to many times and are hesitant on having a relation with an older man that has never been married.

When you said "her kids are grown up, out of the house." I thought I know exactly where she is coming from. You don't get to stop being a parent just because the kids have left home, doesn't work that way, at least not for women, they are still your kids and top of the priority list. If you don't get that then yes the cultural difference is huge.
Not married, wouldn't care less about, but never in a long term relationship would be a red flag for me, it says something about your priorities. Even if it turns into a train wreck a long term relationship has either taught you something about habitually considering the other person in your life and not finding that a burden, or it hasn't and that is why it was a train wreck.

To each their own I suppose, but I would be thankful if someone dismissed me as an option for those reasons. It saves me the investment of time and energy only to become disappointed later when I realize how shortsighted they are and how quickly they jump to conclusions.

Not mine, but I'm not like other women.
I'm also not looking for anyone.

When someone takes issue with any aspect of who you are as a reason not to move forward don’t fight it, they just shot a torpedo across your bow, wish them luck and say next.

In other words, she wants what is past and gone, does not accept the changes that have occurred, and does not want to be intellectually challenged. Sounds like you dodged a bullet. Count your lucky stars!

It's B.S. You have to ignore it, mainly because you can't change it but more importantly because, if you've been dating forever you know that some women have all different kinds of rules: 1) You have to be divorced for a certain period of time before you're ready to date (how they can tell a total stranger when they are ready to date is beyond me) 2) If you don't have kids and never raised them you are not qualified to talk to or have any relationship with children (I'd love to know where this "science" comes from, just like anything else you've never done in your life, you can't possibly do it) 3) If you've never been married you must have commitment issues (impossible that you haven't met "the one" yet) 4) The ones who have read Men Are From Mars... or have gone to relationships classes and are following the script they learned (they dont' know how to have a relationship so they take this class, read the book etc and all of a sudden, "poof" they are experts, sadly if it's not spontaneous etc it doesn't work). You just have to be prepared to explain why it is youve never been married because it's normal for "her" to wonder what the catch is. As you would if you met a woman in a similar situation. Good luck. When my dating book comes out, I'll include your dilemma.

It wouldn't necessarily be a red flag for me. It could be a major bonus. No worrying about blending families, for starters. I would be curious, though, just as I would be curious about the divorce(s) and kid(s) of anyone I might date. Getting to know each other is always a good start. Sounds like she wasn't willing to do that, so I'm guessing you dodged a bullet, as others have said.

It speaks to her own limitations, and how narrow her world view is, rather than the mindset of women in general. I expect she would be shocked to hear that I don't have children, and never wanted any. Probably a very good thing she said this up front, rather than continuing before finding out. This is her problem, not yours.

I don't understand this logic.

To me it makes more sense to ask why that's the case before you consider it's a red flag. For example, a woman might wonder why a man has never married and had no kids. If she finds a severed hand in his refrigerator, then she'll find out the answer. But if he says something like, "I was in a long-term relationship that never turned to marriage. We both wanted to just travel and walk around the house naked which is why we never had kids"... Or any other plethora of answers would also be understandable.

Just get to know the person, ffs. BTW, her saying that was great. When people show who they are don't make it as something that's wrong with you.

One person's comment does not speak for the entire heterosexual female demographic.

To some maybe. Families do get together for holidays and there are bound to be grandchildren around.

She thinks you will not be able to share, nor understand, some of her feelings and perspectives.

And she is correct.

That woman is WAY TOO NORMAL for you, she did you a favour so move on. There are plenty of fish in the sea, sounds just like a dating app my niece uses.