A woman has blasted her ‘groomzilla’ brother for banning her seven year old son from his wedding. She detailed how her brother unexpectedly called her one day and uninvited the young boy from his big day due to concerns he would cause a scene.
Sharing her story on Reddit, she said: “My brother is getting married next month, and originally, my whole family was invited, including my seven-year-old son, Alex, who has autism. Alex can sometimes be loud and energetic, but he’s a sweet kid and generally manages well at public events with some accommodations, which we’ve always handled discreetly.
“A week ago, my brother called me up, out of the blue, and explained that his fiancée’s family is worried about having a child who might be disruptive at the ceremony. He said it would mean a lot to him and his fiancée if Alex didn’t attend. Instead of discussing it with me, they’ve decided unilaterally.”
In an attempt to lessen the impact, her brother assured her everyone else, including her other children, were still welcome to attend. However, this had the reverse effect. She added: “I was stunned and hurt. I tried to assure him that we’d take all necessary steps to minimize any disruptions, including sitting at the back and stepping out if Alex became too much to handle. Despite this, my brother stood firm.”
Feeling cornered, she told her brother: “Feeling backed into a corner, I told him that if my son isn’t welcome, then neither am I. Now, my parents and other family members are saying I’m overreacting and that I should not miss the wedding over this. They’re pressuring me to just go and leave Alex with a sitter. I feel like attending would be endorsing their discriminatory attitude toward my son.”
Now, she’s facing pressure from other family members who believe she’s overreacting and should attend the wedding without her son. She took to social media to seek advice on the situation. One user responded: “It’s so messed up for your brother to uninvite your son just because of his autism. Family should be supportive and inclusive, not make you choose between your child and them. You’re standing up for your son, and that’s what matters most. If they can’t understand that, it’s on them, not you.”
Another user suggested: “Is the kid a screamer? A wedding isn’t just some public event, and if the kid is prone to outbursts I can see where they’re coming from. Yeah you love your kid but take a moment and take stock of things, and if the kid can be disruptive, admit it.”
A third user added: “You’re not the a***hole for refusing to attend. If other children are allowed, then the only thing he’s saying is that he doesn’t want the disabled kid there. I understand that autistic kids have less internal regulation, but no child is perfectly behaved.”