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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Would you REALLY sacrifice your partner for your child’s life?

218 replies

SleepyBaaaa · 24/07/2020 06:58

Lonnng time lurker, first post.
Read an interesting thread about whether children or partner come first. Lots of comments along the lines of ‘I’d die for my child. If I had to, I’d push my partner under a bus to save my child.’ Like the trolley problem argument.
Obviously very, very unlikely you’ll ever have to do this- fingers crossed!!
So here’s another unrealistic scenario but based around health issues- a far more realistic threat to life than a runaway bus!
Your child needs a rare medical match to save their life. They have limited awareness of the world but experience happiness and could live a fairly long life with the provision of care. Your partner is a match. You can’t be a living donor. If you could get away with it, would you murder your partner so the transplant could take place and save your child’s life? Or would you encourage your partner to commit suicide? What if you were the match?
In other words, if you’re happy to be a hero to save your child’s life, is the urge strong enough that you’d also be a villain?
Would you go to jail for your child for a very serious crime and pretend you committed their crime, because you think they’d not survive in jail?
AIBU to think a parental urge to save and protect at all costs is only truly held by a relatively small number of people?

OP posts:
HeckyPeck · 24/07/2020 12:51

@Frodothedodo

Would you rather fight a lion or a bear?
Lion! I think they’d kill me off quicker than a bear.
JamesArthursEyelashes · 24/07/2020 12:55

The pp who said they would torture another child to prevent their child being tortured. WTAF?! Why hypothesise about something so disturbing? I can’t imagine any scenario in which the situation would ever be a reality, but it doesn’t prove your love for a child or worth as a parent. It actually just shows a disturbing lack of morals to fulfil your own needs.

This whole thread is disturbing. Some people must be really fucked up.

HeckyPeck · 24/07/2020 12:57

I’m childfree, but would I save DCat or DH if they were drowning? 🤔

I’m pretending to think about it but both DCat and DH know who I’d save 😸

HeckyPeck · 24/07/2020 12:59

I wouldn’t murder DH to save DCat though.

Unless DH was trying to murder DCat and that was the only way to stop him.

DCat would probably murder us all for fun if he was big enough and he was in one of his moods.

OneForMeToo · 24/07/2020 13:05

Honestly it would depends on what quality of life my child would have. If they wouldn’t be able to engage in life and where basically just being kept alive for the sake of it no. If they would lead a completely normal life I’d do what I could.

OneForMeToo · 24/07/2020 13:06

Although it’s a bit.

Would you rather. Willies for fingers or ball bags for toes Grin

AGnu · 24/07/2020 13:06

If I had to choose between DH & any of my DC, it would be the DC every time. I don't think I could actually murder anyone though.

I'm pretty sure my DM would say the opposite. She's certainly mentioned in the past that she believes a woman's first loyalty should be to her husband over her children, since he's the one she made vows to.

OntheWaves40 · 24/07/2020 13:11

I find this thread disgusting, there are lots of children out there waiting for transplants. Of course people don’t go round killing each other to harvest organs what sort of sick nonsense is this. Sad

RubieRose · 24/07/2020 13:20

Another one who thinks this thread is sick.

I'm not murdering anyone or committing suicide Confused

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 24/07/2020 13:22

Yes. I love my husband absolutely but the children are our babies. I would do anything to save them, and I'm sure he would. He knows I could never live with him again if there was some highly unlikely scenario where he saved me not them.

NeutrinoWrangler · 24/07/2020 13:24

Times like this, I'm really glad I never had kids. Whew! No suicide, murder, or taking the fall for a crime I didn't commit!

And I get to sleep in (if only it weren't for the dogs)! Wink

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 24/07/2020 13:24

Ooooops hang on didnt read the op properly (so tired!)

I dont know what I would do in that situation. Big difference between something so premeditated and something indirect like saving kids vs husband from runaway bus (which is what I would do).

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 24/07/2020 13:25

Oh & no I wouldnt go to prison for my child. If they commit such a crime sadly they must bear responsibility for it (may that day never come...)

Morgan12 · 24/07/2020 13:27

Yep.
I'd kill anyone to save my kids. Literally anyone in the world.

eandz13 · 24/07/2020 13:29

Shocked at people saying they wouldn't, especially the person who said their kid would be entitled if their parent was to die for them. Wtf? It's obviously hypothetical and not something to get all offended over.
My answer is yes in a heartbeat to all, I know my children's father would do the same to me, too. Wouldn't even be murder, I'd agree in a flash to be killed and so would he. I know my mum and dad would die for me too, even though I'm a grown adult, I don't feel entitled about it, I appreciate how much they love me with my whole heart. I'm crying now because I'm all pregnant and hormonal! Grin

MsEllany · 24/07/2020 13:30

I couldn’t murder anyone under any circumstances - I could kill someone to safe a life in immediate threat. Not even sure I could commit suicide to aide my children because I’m not sure how you could be 100% certain your body was still usable?

I hate questions like this!

RubieRose · 24/07/2020 13:33

@Morgan12

Yep. I'd kill anyone to save my kids. Literally anyone in the world.
How about a baby or another child? Little old lady? Your own Dad or Mum/ Sister or brother? Niece/ Nephew?

All fair game?

I must be a terrible mother 😂

Bakedtreat · 24/07/2020 13:37

@eandz13

Shocked at people saying they wouldn't, especially the person who said their kid would be entitled if their parent was to die for them. Wtf? It's obviously hypothetical and not something to get all offended over. My answer is yes in a heartbeat to all, I know my children's father would do the same to me, too. Wouldn't even be murder, I'd agree in a flash to be killed and so would he. I know my mum and dad would die for me too, even though I'm a grown adult, I don't feel entitled about it, I appreciate how much they love me with my whole heart. I'm crying now because I'm all pregnant and hormonal! Grin
It's the ultimate in entitlement - you think one person is entitled to life over another.
eandz13 · 24/07/2020 13:40

@Bakedtreat hypothetically, if somehow mine or DP's death could save our children's lives, I'd rather my kid be entitled and alive than us. To me, my kids life is worth more than anything. I don't understand parents who don't think that way.

AryaStarkWolf · 24/07/2020 13:42

I find this thread disgusting, there are lots of children out there waiting for transplants. Of course people don’t go round killing each other to harvest organs what sort of sick nonsense is this

Exactly. It's not that much of "it could never happen" scenario when you look at it like that.

CuppaZa · 24/07/2020 13:42

Yes

GlendaSugarbeanIsJudgingYou · 24/07/2020 13:43

@OneForMeToo

Although it’s a bit.

Would you rather. Willies for fingers or ball bags for toes Grin

Now, this is the real question.

Ball bags for toes? I don't know...

BarbedBloom · 24/07/2020 13:56

I found this thread a bit disturbing and am very glad I didn't have children. I do know someone who had to make a horrible choice as during birth the doctors could only save his wife or his child. He chose his wife and has never regretted it. I am pretty sure I would have done the same

MysweetAudrina · 24/07/2020 13:57

No, I would never take anyone's life to save another and I wouldn't give my life either. I have other children who need a mother and I like my life thank you very much. I wouldn't allow my husband to commit suicide either if he would listen to me.

knittingaddict · 24/07/2020 14:25

No, I wouldn't sacrifice my husband in that scenario. It's terrible to think of my child dying, but it would be unimaginable to encourage the person I love to end his life like that. It's too clinical and deliberate. To be honest I didn't need to think about it for more than a few seconds.

I also wonder why you would ask a question which seems so distasteful and far fetched.