Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To wish I didn’t have my 3yo son?

337 replies

Thehonestbadger · 02/09/2023 17:29

I’m aware it’s horrible but if someone gave me a button to press and he simply wouldn’t exist anymore I am confident I would, without so much as a second thought.

I love him; I do but I simply cannot pretend my life isn’t incredibly hard and shit because of him. He has ASD, is non verbal, has very little understanding of what’s going on around him or concept of danger. He suffers with PICA too so is constantly eating EVERYTHING and yes I mean everything.

He’s massive for his age; the size of a 6 year old and fights me tooth and nail over things like bum changes. I can’t go anywhere or do anything unless it’s exactly what he wants and there’s very very little engagement between us despite endless trying on my part. No one wants to look after him, my mum will occasionally as she knows how much I’m struggling but it’s hard for her I know that. Ive stuck him in nursery where he had a specialist 1:1 worker 5 days a week but it’s just a few hours and honestly the sound of him screeching and the insane anxiety over his constant unpredictable behaviour just ruin my life.

Worst of all, he has a 2yo sister, whose life is being so detrimentally impacted. I often just think to myself how amazing it would be to just have her; the freedom of things we could do; places we could go. All the ties and limits and restrictions lifted. I often feel like I might as well not have had my daughter because I never get to enjoy her and she’s always shafted off to family whilst I Labour on with DS in this weird kind of isolated purgatory, because family are willing to look after her.

we have all the appropriate support functions in place; all the experts and social services…etc. We’ve been on this path a long time now as it was clear from around 10 months that DS was not developing properly.
(I was already well into DD pregnancy by then).

Other than my mum family/friends don’t even want to spend more than 30 minutes in our company and I really feel that ‘oh god wtf is your life now? This is hideous’ feeling whenever they do.

I want to be one of those social media disability mums who are like intensely positive but I just don’t feel that way. The physical and emotional care he needs is just so depressing.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
x2boys · 02/09/2023 17:43

My son is 13 now severely autistic and completely non verbal.,very complex needs ,I won't say its got easier but things got more manageable when he started school( special) he did calm sown and routine helps a lot plus I got a break everyday
The six weeks holidays have been fraught, and I'm counting the hours untill.he goes back.to.school on Wednesday .

MNetcurtains · 02/09/2023 17:43

My heart goes out to you OP. It sounds like a living nightmare. No advice to give, but another unMumsnetty hug.

TigerRag · 02/09/2023 17:41

monicagellerbing · 02/09/2023 17:40

Is adoption an option?

Is this a joke?

monicagellerbing · 02/09/2023 17:40

Is adoption an option?

HermioneWeasley · 02/09/2023 17:38

I’m sorry. That sounds incredibly hard.

scarfonthestairs · 02/09/2023 17:38

I feel you totally. In a similarish situation. I often think how different my life would be just with dd. It's not fair when people only want to look after the easy one is it? Do you get respite? Is he in an sen nursery? Sending you lots of love

x2boys · 02/09/2023 17:36

Cazzovuoi · 02/09/2023 17:34

OP nobody will think worse of you for how you feel. It’s death by a thousand paper cuts isn’t it?

You sound worn down and mentally exhausted.

Would residential care be an option? Even for a few weeks to give you a break.

What kind of residential care do.you think might be available?

NoDoorHooks · 02/09/2023 17:35

Cazzovuoi · 02/09/2023 17:34

OP nobody will think worse of you for how you feel. It’s death by a thousand paper cuts isn’t it?

You sound worn down and mentally exhausted.

Would residential care be an option? Even for a few weeks to give you a break.

I have no direct experience but I hear that residential care is almost impossible to access. Even if parents can fund it. So people sometimes get fed up of this well-meaning but impossible suggestion.

NoDoorHooks · 02/09/2023 17:34

That sounds so damn tough. I don’t have any experience but wanted to say you are not being unreasonable. And I know you love your son. Otherwise you wouldn’t find his screaming unbearable. But yes your life would be much easier right now without his challenges. Good luck xx

Cazzovuoi · 02/09/2023 17:34

OP nobody will think worse of you for how you feel. It’s death by a thousand paper cuts isn’t it?

You sound worn down and mentally exhausted.

Would residential care be an option? Even for a few weeks to give you a break.

SleepyJim · 02/09/2023 17:32

I’m sorry, OP, that sounds so incredibly hard. I don’t have any useful suggestions but just wanted to say I hear you. It’s ok to grieve the life you thought you would have.

Sexnotgender · 02/09/2023 17:31

God that sounds hard. Sending a big unmumsnetty hug.