talking about children and mindless conversation

The fog has lifted a little for me. I feel like a semi-normal part of the human race. Thoughts of sadness do not occupy my mind 100% of the time anymore. Most days I can deal with stupid people. Today one of my coworkers was talking about her kids and how she likes to baby them because they aren't at that stage for long. The patient she was talking to agreed, and said she would have liked to have more kids, but couldn't afford them. I didn't say a word. I simply listened and thought to myself what I would say if the patient asked me if I had kids.


I never decided what I would have said. I still don't know what to say.
The tax lady asked me yesterday if we had children. I felt guilty saying no, but for tax purposes, we don't.

I will never think the same way about making polite mindless conversation about people's lives. And asking, "How are you?" is a loaded question. Why do we ask it when we don't really want to stick around for the honest answer?

My coworkers are pretty good about being normal around me--i.e. talking about babies and pregnancy and all that...and for that I am thankful. But some days it sucks.