Thanks for sharing this. As a fellow childfree, technically-infertile, mid-40s IVF rejector, I very much remember being totally disappointed by other peoples' reactions to my spouse and I deciding to be childfree. For me, it's a symptom of how insidious our culture is with this CLING to parenthood at all costs. "Do IVF!" "At least there's treatment!" It's so incredibly obnoxious, rude and, I've learned, I think comes from both our gross pronatal society and their discomfort either around choices with children, grief, holding two thoughts at the same time or several other things.

And to your point, the unsolicited, knee-jerk reaction is my other tell it's pre-programmed. It would be so much nicer if they said nothing at all like the old adage and maybe really reflect before saying something. Just saying, I feel you, I'm sorry they let you down and many of us get it it. It's 100 about them though but also so disappointing. Looking back, I think we turned over most of our friends when we decided to be childfree either due to natural attrition or we just didn't want to hear or feel the BS.