Hello, lovelies! It’s Roger here, diving headfirst into a doozy of a family drama that’s sure to raise your eyebrows—or maybe even your blood pressure. Imagine thinking you’re stepping into a simple Reddit thread, only to find yourself in the middle of a generational tug-of-war. And boy, do I have a tale that redefines the term ‘overbearing parent’ for you today. This story, *straight from the depths of Reddit*, features a grandparent-to-be who’s not just dipping their toes, but cannonballing into the deep end of the ‘My Daughter’s Pregnancy’ pool without any invitation. Buckle up, because we’re in for a juicy ride!
First up, let’s set the stage: a daughter, pregnant and glowing with the anticipation of new life, decides with her husband to pre-screen their unborn child for any genetic abnormalities. A reasonable move, considering the genetic lottery can sometimes deal a challenging hand. But wait—enter stage left, a parent whose reaction could rival any soap opera villain. Aggrieved by this decision, they hurl accusations, calling their daughter *’callous and cruel’*, comparing pre-natal screening to *’pre-biblical times’* (because apparently, we’re still living in the age of Spartans tossing babies off cliffs?).
Now, let’s pause for a second. The concerned grandparent fears the pre-screening might harm the fetus, a concern that’s not entirely unfounded but dramatically overshadowed by their main gripe—that this could lead to abortion, something they staunchly oppose. Add to that a dollop of religious righteousness, and we’ve got ourselves a family feud stew simmering on high heat.
The daughter, on the other hand, stands her ground, highlighting a history of genetic disorders in their family and expressing a desire to spare her child any potential suffering. A noble cause, one might think. But nope, not in the eyes of our protagonist, who’s now been blocked faster than an annoying pop-up ad, left shouting into the void (or at least trying to, via WhatsApp).
And just when you thought it couldn’t get any more tangled, there’s the subplot about the care of two other family members with Down Syndrome, and the silent fear that they might be placed in a home rather than being cared for by family. The layers of complexity and conflicting feelings here could rival any Shakespearean tragedy.
So, dear readers, where do we land in this whirlwind of emotions and ethical dilemmas? Here comes *Roger’s Hot Take*: You, dear grandparent, need to grab a cup of tea, take several seats, and focus on supporting your daughter rather than imposing your views. Parenthood (and grandparenthood) comes with a fundamental responsibility to guide and support, not to dictate and alienate. Your daughter’s decision to pre-screen her child is steeped in love, a desire for preparedness, and a pinch of pragmatism—qualities any parent should admire.
Furthermore, comparing modern genetic screening to barbaric ancient practices? A stretch longer than the Nile, my friend. And while your concern for the future care of your other children is valid, it’s a bridge to cross when you get to it, preferably through open, non-judgmental dialogues.
To wrap this up, navigating the treacherous waters of family dynamics and moral quandaries is no easy feat. It requires patience, understanding, and sometimes, biting your tongue so hard it bleeds (metaphorically, of course). In the end, the health and happiness of that unborn child should be the north star guiding all decisions. And perhaps, just maybe, it’s time to consider that your role as a grandparent is to sprinkle love and support, not unsolicited advice and critique.
Until next time, keep your judgements kind and your takes hot. Roger out.
Original story
My daughter (28f) is currently pregnant, she and her husband (32m) are also going to pre screen the fetus for any genetic abnormalites.
Now admittedly I was very upset at this as 1) we do not believe in abortion and 2) prescreening can hurt the fetus in the womb and I told my daughter this but she is adament as she states that “genetic disorders are common in our family and she does not want to give birth to a child that will suffer”.
I called her callous and cruel and stated that her wanting to pre screen her unborn child reeks of non-believer nonsense. Very similar to pre-biblical times when infants were killed if they were born a different gender or if they were special needs.
She currently isn’t taking any of my calls and I believe she may have blocked me as I cant send any of the research i found supporting my claims on whatsapp.
I believe she’s doing this out of spite as we do have 2 children who have DS but they have great lives (granted they are not fully indepedent) and the topic has come up about their care now that are reaching retirement…I was hoping she and my son in law would take care of her brothers but after she discloaed this I worry they would not be safe in their care and would place them in a home once I pass.
My DH is on my side but also loves his daughter and so is being the gentle parent whilst I am left being the only one willing to advocate for my sons and grandchild.
So reddit AITA or does my daughter need a reality check?