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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think ND parent's have a bad reputation.

8 replies

RedDeer · 04/12/2025 17:08

To think ND parent's have a bad reputation.

As a ND parent I have noticed that a lot of posts on parent's behaving in abusive manners are often assumed to be ND, Epilepsy men. (I'm a female BTW).

As a mother and wife with an Autism diagnosis and a child with autism, I find this hard to understand. I am not a abusive parent, and I'm a good wife, I'm not perfect, I recognise being Autistic can make parenting challenging at times, but like a lot of good parent's I'm always learning, and trying hard everyday to be the best parent I can be.

In no way am I making excuses for abusive behaviours, however I feel its unfair on ND people assumed that any abusive parent's, partners are ND.

As both ND and NT can both behave abusive towards others.

I hope this makes sense, its just something I've notices more lately.

OP posts:
Sillysoggyspaniel · 04/12/2025 17:40

In that thread the child was ND and there is a proven strong genetic link with the OP saying she thought he was too. As well as being ND he was also abusive. Two separate things.

pondscaters · 04/12/2025 18:05

I voted the opposite to what I wanted🙄

AuntyAngela · 04/12/2025 18:13

Where do you feel this accusation is coming from. It's not a thing ive heard.

Also could you explain what "Epilepsy men" is/are?

InterestedDad37 · 04/12/2025 18:15

AuntyAngela · 04/12/2025 18:13

Where do you feel this accusation is coming from. It's not a thing ive heard.

Also could you explain what "Epilepsy men" is/are?

I think OP meant that when people post about parents who are abusive, people reading it assume that the abusive person is ND, or has epilepsy, or is a man.
Not that any of those make sense, but hey, 🤔🤷

BusMumsHoliday · 04/12/2025 18:23

I think ND people generally have a bad reputation, sadly. And I say that as someone married to an ND man with an ND child.

There are certain traits of ASD that make some aspects of parenting more challenging for some people. I also think some ND households can look quite different to what NT families picture as an ideal home, and other ND families where doing your best might not meet NT families expectations (while also not being abusive).

For the post in question, I think a lot of posters were quite clear that the husband may be autistic but his behaviour is also unacceptable and his refusal to acknowledge his behaviour is a problem they may not be able to move past.

RedDeer · 04/12/2025 19:35

AuntyAngela · 04/12/2025 18:13

Where do you feel this accusation is coming from. It's not a thing ive heard.

Also could you explain what "Epilepsy men" is/are?

Sorry typo i mean especially.

OP posts:
usedtobeaylis · 04/12/2025 19:37

I agree. Every single thread I read where the husband/dad is abusive, someone will suggest neurodivergence. It is absolutely a go-to 'explanation' for poor adult behaviour.

AmusedAquaTraybake · 12/02/2026 16:12

Why search for a label?

Well, if someone's brain is well-balanced, the person can take in different viewpoints but still make up their own mind, they can regulate emotions without pushing them down or exploding, they can take in new information without overwhelm, they are flexible when needed, but hold good boundaries when needed. If the brain is not in balance, there's a good chance there are struggles. "Neurodivergent" is just a more positive term than "brain imbalance"

Now, that being said, who do you know who's perfect? Nobody, right? I mean, when is it a brain imbalance and when is it just a different way of being that's equally valid? So, indeed, why does the label "ND" have to be slapped on?

Because we want to understand what's going on so that we can adjust our expectations and behaviors. If someone is neurodivergent, you can start to anticipate their behavior, because you've got a framework to explain them by. It actually helps to remove some of the blame from the person. They didn't choose to be easily overwhelmed, or quick to get angry, or shut down, or....

It takes a lot to be a well adjusted person. Acknowledging that there are powers outside of just "try harder" that make up a human being helps deal with it all.

Abuse and ND?

You could see this as two one-way streets.
If there is abuse, there is often something wrong with the brain.
But if there's something wrong with the brain, there isn't necessarily abuse.

So what if you encounter abuse, is it logical to investigate if there's something wrong with the brain? I'd say yes. Even today, there are people with traumatic brain injury, for example, who get no follow-up, no psycho-education, no reach out to family. People are on their own and they don't always realize that it's brain injury that's at play, even if they do tell each other "(s)he changed after the accident". The person with the brain injury is often blind to their own behavioral changes and might suffer from dissociation or splitting. Same for hereditary issues and environmentally acquired brain disorders. Someone suggesting to an OP it's "ND" might actually be the first time that the OP hears of it. Yes, the internet repeats itself, because frankly, people's lives repeat themselves over and over..

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