Woman Refuses To Take Care Of Her Autistic Brother After Their Parents Pass Away

The woman believes that her brother doesn't actually have autism.

Senad

• Published in Interesting
• April 12, 2023

Have you ever been in a situation where your family members insist that one of your siblings has a condition that has never been formally diagnosed? That's what happened to a 30-year-old woman who decided to share her story on Reddit.

Her parents have insisted for years that her younger brother, Peter, has autism, even though he has never been formally tested. They have never allowed him to do anything for himself, claiming that he is helpless.

Recently, her parents asked her to take care of her brother when they pass away. She refused, saying that her brother is perfectly capable of caring for himself and that her parents are the ones who have refused to teach him anything.

Her parents called her selfish, and other family members called her out. OP argues that her parents have clung to the idea that her brother has autism because they want to feel needed and depended upon.

They have refused to let him do anything for himself, despite evidence to the contrary from his teachers and others. OP's refusal to take care of her brother has caused a rift in the family.

Some family members believe that she is being disrespectful to her parents and that she should take care of her brother because "family is family."

However, OP points out that her parents are the ones who have kept her brother from becoming independent and that it is their responsibility to take care of him. She argues that it is not fair for her to take on that responsibility when her parents have never allowed her brother to learn how to take care of himself.

The situation is complicated because her parents have never had her brother formally tested for autism, so he may have the condition. However, even if he does, that doesn't mean that he is incapable of taking care of himself.

Many people with autism are capable of living independent lives with the right support and training.

OP has three siblings, and her parents are convinced that her youngest brother, Peter, has autism

The parents insist that Peter was incapable of doing any chores and that he was helpless on his own

Even Peter's teachers say that he's capable of doing all of the work on his own

OP's mother got into a car accident recently and it gave her parents a reality check

OP's parents came to her one day to tell that they expect her to take care of Peter when they pass away

OP refused, and her parents called her out for being selfish

Other family members agreed with OP's parents

Google it

What does Peter have to say about all of this?

Actively harmed

OP's refusal to take care of her brother is not necessarily selfish. Understandably, she would not want to take on such a huge responsibility, especially if her parents have not prepared her brother to be independent.

OP strongly believes that Peter can take care of himself and it seems like it's better to prepare him for a life on his own, instead of having someone take care of him forever.

Senad