I have just heard that an old schoolfriend has abandoned one of her children because he is autistic.

[mytwopenceworth]

i am feeling so many things. sad, upset, but mostly angry.

general consensus is that she can't be bothered so she just left him at his dads and never went back for him. (he is one of twins and she's kept the other - non autistic - child).

her mother (the boys gran!) has said she doesnt care if she doesnt see him. and had been known to refer to him as the slug (back when he was younger and couldnt walk-he was very delayed in his development) as in "look at that on the floor like a big fat slug" (said in disgusted tone)

shes always been selfish but this is too awful. i think it bothers me more because my boys are both autistic and to think that a child could be rejected because of that, it feels so personal.

i cant stop thinking about it and wishing i could offer to take him in, but my mum says if i asked, they'd just get nasty.

im not sure if i am asking AIBU, or what would you do, or just what do you think of this for horrible mother of the year. it's just wrong. isn't it?

It so difficult to comment on mtpw though isn't it?

Maybe she just simply couldn't cope, some people maybe can't and if she hadn't bonded with her child as an infant it patently just got worse for her.

Is the child now in the best situation for him? He is with his father isn't he? Does his father have the same attitude to him. Maybe she should win mother of the year for apprecaiting that she doesn't have it in her to be the best for him?

impossible to judge

we don't know the story

it sounds awful, but the little boy may well be better off with his father.
I wonder if she wasn't getting the support she needed.

It's made me because I call my twins the slugs - when they were tiny, they wanted to be tightly wrapped in blankets all the time, and looked just like little slugs, but it seems horrible to use it in such a negative way.

oh, i dont know, i guess im biased. i just cant see how you can turn your back - and i mean turn your back - she doesnt want to see him again, on your child - because they have additional needs. i mean, they need you even more. and the father is typical of blokes in the town. by that i mean not too great. booze, gobshite and the odd slap.