ATAH for wanting to break up with my husband after he called our autistic son a burden and said he wants to give him up for adoption?
A 30-year-old woman (OP) and her 32-year-old husband have been married for five years and share a 5-year-old son who was diagnosed with autism two years prior.
The core conflict began when the OP accidentally overheard her husband speaking critically about their son to his friends.
During this conversation, the husband expressed that their son was "too much to handle" and a "burden," even suggesting adoption. When confronted, the husband dismissed these comments as mere venting due to stress, but he did not apologize.
The OP is now struggling with the decision of whether to stay in the marriage despite this serious revelation, questioning her husband's commitment to their family.
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The OP is emotionally devastated, facing a fundamental conflict between her unwavering commitment to her son and the betrayal she feels from her husband, who views their child as a source of stress and a potential burden.
Her inability to trust his future commitment to their family structure is now causing her to consider separation.
The central debate hinges on whether the husband's extreme statements were simply stress-induced venting that can be overcome with support, or if they revealed an irreconcilable difference in commitment to their child's needs.
Should the OP prioritize her marriage and attempt intensive couples counseling, or is the expressed desire to abandon their special needs child a dealbreaker that necessitates ending the relationship?
Commenters Came in Hot with Their Takes:
The thread exploded with reactions. Whether agreeing or disagreeing, everyone had something to say — and they said it loud.