Would you judge someone for having a third child now?

[Somanythingsonmywindowsill]

Would love a third child, can afford it and think on balance it will benefit our two young DC. DH is equally keen

But I can't help worrying that it would be wrong for environmental reasons etc and wonder if others would think that if we did have a third DC. I do also worry about whether it would take time and resources from existing children if things suddenly majorly changed, though we have life insurance and illness cover etc and are otherwise financially stable

On more anxious moments I even wonder about a dystopian future where third or later children had to be handed over to the state - but of course I know I'm being ridiculous really

I think 3 is too much. Enjoy the two you have.

[quote LemonMeringueThreePointOneFour]@Doomsdayiscoming - did you mean mine, or the one I quoted?[/quote]
The one you quoted!

Those who are a no on environmental grounds, are you environmentally conscious generally ie avoiding long haul, electric or less cars etc?

We don't drive - huge no on here - I haven't been on a plane in 20 years but I'm not convinced it offset the third child carbon element. Though IL who had one child have spend last 20 years jetting off 2-3 times a year around the world partly as they had more disposible income and having one child helped with that.

While I'm not completely convience by the counter arguments - the whole extra child not green thing does have some debate around it anyway.

Why climate activists can’t agree if we should be having fewer children

Having fewer kids will not save the climate

Apart from trying to do the right thing by the environment there is a selfish element in that I wouldn't want my DC, especially a third, to feel that there was too many of them or to question our integrity as parents by choosing to add to the population

I don't think mine can concived of life without youngest partly as they get on so well - not guaranteed- and partly as they are so close in age they don't remember time without all three of them. Plus being one of three children or even more isn't unusal where we live. More unusual parents still married and both DGP still married to each other when they comes up it's very much remarked upon.

Everyone has opinions on what others are doing. I've never regreted my third - but that won't be true of every family. I think you have to make choices for your family - and there are implications resource time money have to strech further and more children more childcare costs and more impact on mother's careers more children you have.

We do our best (cycle if at all possible, only one car, less meat, refillables for household and toiletries where possible, reusable nappies when they were babies, mooncup etc). Not perfect by any means we try to drive / get train for holidays but teens now desperate to visit New York - I can feel my green credentials flying out of window on that transatlantic flight! Oh and my mother (3 kids lots of flying) thinks we are utterly mental 😁

Those who are a no on environmental grounds, are you environmentally conscious generally ie avoiding long haul, electric or less cars etc?

Don't own, and never have owned a car. Have taken two long-haul flights, both for charity work. Three medium-haul, both for holidays. Try to minimise use of fossil fuels. Not vegan. Recycle fairly assiduously.