She Cut Off Her Parents Because They Kept Pressuring Her To Give Her Son With Autism Up For Adoption, Calling Him A Burden
This 32-year-old woman is a single mom to her 7-year-old son, who is on the autism spectrum, and he means everything to her.
She and her ex-husband got divorced three years ago, and she’s been raising her son basically all by herself ever since.
“My ex and I tried to make it work, but the stress of raising a special needs child took a toll, and he bailed,” she explained.
“Now, it’s just me and my son, and while it’s not always easy, I wouldn’t trade him for the world.”
Her parents, on the other hand, have a different perspective. Following her son’s diagnosis, they began making rude remarks, implying that her son was simply too much to handle.
They started off subtly, saying things like, “He must be exhausting,” or, “You need a break.”
More recently, her parents have escalated their comments, flat-out suggesting that she consider putting her son up for adoption! According to her parents, he is “too much of a burden.”
She was beyond shocked when her parents proposed adoption, and she had no clue how to even respond.
“I love my son with every part of me, and the idea that they think he’s disposable or a problem to be solved with adoption made me sick to my stomach,” she said.
StockPhotoPro – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual person
She told her parents how hurtful it was, too, yet they wouldn’t stop broaching the adoption topic. They hinted that she was making her life more difficult for herself by keeping her son each time they spoke.
Once, her parents even stated, “You’re still young; you could have another chance at a normal life.”
The real tipping point for her came just a few weeks ago, though, when her parents had the nerve to sit her down and present the “research” they’d done on homes for special needs children. Her parents also claimed that her son would get “better care” there, so it would be “better for everyone” if she gave him up.
She couldn’t believe their audacity and totally lost it.
“I told them they were cruel and heartless and that if they couldn’t accept my son as part of our family, then they weren’t part of our lives anymore,” she recalled.
She proceeded to cut all contact with her parents, too. Nonetheless, they won’t stop blowing up her phone with texts and involving other relatives, who’ve begun accusing her of overreacting when her parents were only “trying to help.”
Her parents are badmouthing her as well, calling her ungrateful and saying she has no clue what it’s like for them to watch her struggle. This has pushed some family members to urge her to forgive her parents.
“But I can’t get past the things they said. My son isn’t a burden, and he definitely isn’t something to be ‘given up’ because life’s a little harder with him around. He’s my son. My whole world,” she vented.
Despite that, she can’t help but wonder if cutting her parents off was too harsh and whether she should give them another chance.
Could you ever forgive your parents after this? What advice would you give her?
You can read the original post on Reddit here.
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