I would say cats are very easy, we have two, both very social types and the only hard part about owning our two is having to harden my heart and lock them out of the bedroom in the middle of the night so I can sleep without being harassed for cuddles!!
If you want one more okay on it's own, when you go to the shelter to look maybe find one that doesn't come running right up to you, but also doesn't run away/attack you if you go up to it... That way you'll have an independent cat that should still be okay with kids... And if you want low maintenance shorthair is the way to go, no matter how gorgeous that longhair cuddly kitty looks! Ours are mediumhair and we have a house overrun with catfur dust-bunny tumbleweeds