AIBU to think people who say they're 'only' having 2 children for environmental reasons drive me nuts?

[thedaisychain]

Surely, if you were genuinely concerned about the environment, or it was a big factor when considering the size and shape of your family, you'd have no children or possibly just one?!

Saying you're not having more than two children for environmental reasons really grates me. Given the total fertility rate for women in the UK is 1.9, it's not like they're doing anything fucking special! They're just the average!

People who say this, get down from your high horse!

(P.s. Prolific name changer)

[LightsInOtherPeoplesHouses]

If anyone wants to calculate their carbon footprint.

I did quite well, but it didn't have an option for 'household has a car but I don't drive' which would probably have pushed it up a bit. Most of the time I walk or use public transport, but obviously have access to DH driving me places.

I never fly anywhere though so I guess that pushes me below average.

[Dyrne]

Cohle Well it’s pretty obvious when you’ve Known someone for a while, they have 2 children aged over 10; they’ve repeatedly commented in the past about how they always planned on only 2; make jokes about “not wanting them to outnumber you” etc etc... and suddenly in the last 6 months are now the environmental messiah spouting a load of bullshit about how they stopped at 2 because of the poor orangutans?

Or the people you’ve known for decades who always planned on 2 for lifestyle purposes; had 2; and are now pretending its a purely environmental decision?

Or certain high profile people who spout a load of crap about planning on only having 2 because of the environment... right before taking several private jet flights?

I appreciate not everyone has to deal with bellends like this; but hey - what is mumsnet for if not to bitch about people in your wider social circle who you are forced to interact with now and again to keep the peace?

[Cohle]

I think it's pretty rude to think you know more about other people's family planning than they do.

It's a complicated and often sensitive issue. What people are willing to share with their (clearly pretty judgmental) "wider social circle" may not be the whole picture.