ScriptParents

Family says we're coddling our child

A discussion guide for parents exhausted by relatives who think a diagnosis is an excuse.

SupportNest Editorial
Reviewed by people in this role
4 min read

'Back in our day, kids didn't have these diagnoses' is a sentence that drains a year off your life. This thread is for trading scripts and solidarity.

Extended family keeps saying we're 'making excuses.' We're exhausted from defending our own parenting. How do you deal with this?

Prompts

  • What boundaries actually worked with judgmental relatives?
  • Do you have a go-to line for the dismissive comments?
  • Does it ease as the child gets older?
  • How do you protect your own mental health while you wait for them to catch up?
Validate the frustration first. Then celebrate the families who held the line together.
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A note on how to use this

This is a plain-language explainer written and reviewed by the SupportNest community. It’s educational, not medical or legal advice — bring decisions to a qualified professional. Found something that’s out of date or could be kinder? Tell us in the forum.