AIBU to keep flying annually to visit my elderly birth mother abroad?

[NothingLeftToInheritDarlings]

I was adopted here in the UK and in later life, I found my birth mother. She is an Australian who was over here working and was seduced by a chap who didn't want her to have his baby. So she reluctantly left me behind and went home, married and had 4 more children. She's now 93 and still on fantastic form and we get on incredibly well.

I take a long-haul flight every year to go and see her - my DH comes too and we try to switch around where we break the journey so that we can also visit places like Indonesia, Sri Lanka etc. When we are in all these countries we opt for train or bus travel.

Recently I have had some very negative comments from a couple of local acquaintances about these flights; telling me I'm contributing to global warming etc.

Realistically, my birth mum probably won't live a lot longer, and when that happens, I'm unlikely to fly again. When we visit Oz and other countries we use public transport and we are well-behaved recyclers, buy second hand clothing, grow our own veg and waste almost no food.

Are others here in a similar situation - and what are we suposed to do about it?

Comments by couple of local acquaintances would prevent you going to see your mother? That’s messed up. Go if you want to.

Ignore them or tell them to do one! Absolutely none of their business and why on earth should you miss out on spending time with your biological mother and explore the world? Sounds like you are doing lots to counter your personal carbon footprint but life is for living, and sharing with loved ones. It's not like you could build a raft with your recycling and get their under your own steam. Honestly, igmore them and enjoy the time you have left together.

They’re acquaintances not friends, you can just ignore them

Why on earth would you care about the opinion of some random acquaintances?

Either ignore them completely or tell them to fuck off. Honestly, who do people like this think they are?

Tell the acquaintances to go fuck themselves!! As you say your birth mother won’t have much longer so you need to enjoy every damn moment with her!

Ignore the comments. You are doing nothing wrong.

In the nicest way possible, but for your own good, grow a backbone.
Given your story, anybody trying to guilt trip you into no longer visiting your elderly birth mother is no friend of yours so their opinion should be disregarded as utterly irrelevant and you should have some confidence in telling them to piss off!
As long as both you and your birth mother are enjoying these visits, continue them as long as you like!

Of course yanbu.
Are these acquaintances friends of your adoptive parents? I can't think of any other reason why someone would have an opinion on this.
I would have to make a comment about how often they drive their cars / their penchant for fast fashion / the miles their food has travelled.

Are others here in a similar situation - and what are we suposed to do about it?

What are we supposed to say about it?

Do you think we're going to say that a couple of local acquaintances are more important than your 93 year old mother and that when she dies, you should watch her funeral online?

Very odd question to be asking OP.

I'm all for keeping our carbon footprint down, and we don't fly for that reason. But if I had a mum in Australia,I sure would. There are other ways to do your bit for the planet, and to keep your carbon footprint down over your lifetime. Do these moaners eat meat? But new clothes? Drive a big car? Use a hosepipe and 'new' water to water their gardens? Have children? . . We all do our bit, however we can.

Ignore these people. Tell them to to go fuck themselves if they persist.

This is likely to be the last few years of being able to spend time with your birth mother and you know you would regret it big time if you didn't go.

So go. Enjoy it. When someone gets to the age of your birth mother you really have no idea how long they have left but you do know that logically, and realistically, it won't be years and years. Seize the opportunity while it is still there.

I'd be willing to bet that these "acquaintances" do not actually have an elderly parent on the other side of the world.

I’m very green, we don't fly anywhere, we recycle and grow our own food and are vegetarian, etc etc. You have my full and supportive blessing to keep seeing your biological mother!

You didn't ask to have a mum in Australia. F*ck them . Ignore !

I wonder how many times those complainers have flown for hen weekends instead of a UK venue, or gone to Turkey, Egypt or further afield for sunshine they could get in France?

Or supporting a football club that flies under 100 miles for a game, as some Premier League clubs have done.

Tell em to feck right off

Tell them to fuck right off ignorant cunts.

carry on seeing your mother - so lovely that you found her :-)

Tell them to bore the feck off. Jump on that plane and go and see your mother

Recently I have had some very negative comments from a couple of local acquaintances about these flights; telling me I'm contributing to global warming etc.

Seriously? Why do you give a hoot about comments from 2 ‘acquaintances’? That wouldn’t even register with me.

Do ignore them. I’m pleased for you that you are reunited with your birth mum.

In the UK, 70% of all flights are taken by just 15% of the population. These are the people who are causing most of the flight related emissions, not people like you who are flying once per year.
https://www.wearepossible.org/latest-news/elite-status-how-a-small-minority-around-the-world-take-an-unfair-share-of-flights

We live in Canada. DS lives in Amsterdam. DD, my parents and sister live in Brussels. We have a property in London and a home in the South of France where we meet up with extended family.
Nothing is more important than seeing our family.
OP - visit your mother as often as you can.

Are they the kind of (mainly quite elderly now) people who think you should be satisfied with and grateful to your adoptive parents and not go chasing off after the wicked woman who got pregnant and gave you away?

Yes, this sounds like unnecessary drama.

Who ponders not seeing their long lost mum because of some random acquaintance comments.

Why are you even giving them head space?

Tell people to mind their own business.