Furious woman asks Mumsnet if she should confront her in-laws after they told her 11-year-old son he shouldn’t be given Christmas presents… because he doesn’t believe in Jesus
The autistic child was left 'sobbing' on Christmas Eve
A FURIOUS mum has taken to the internet to ask for advice after her in-laws upset her autistic son on Christmas Eve.
Mumsnet user Dawn Eloise's in-laws had taken her 11-year-old son, who is 'on the autism spectrum', out for a drive - so she could do some last minute prep ahead of Christmas Day.
But Dawn's Catholic father-in-law, who is her husband's step dad, took the opportunity to tell the young lad he doesn't deserve to get Christmas presents - because he doesn't believe in Jesus.
Under the Mumsnet post 'still raging!', Dawn added: " I know what Christmas is about and so does my son as they teach it at his school in RSE.
"To top it off MIL (my mother-in-law) backed up her husband and my son was sobbing his heart out on Christmas Eve because of this.
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"To be honest this will probably be his last year of believing as he goes to high school after summer.
"I really feel that they ruined it for my son. I've not said anything yet but I'm raging inside and it's eating me up. Have I left it too late to say anything on the matter?"
Many of Dawn's fellow Mumsnet users were shocked at the story. Among them was Titanias Closet, who said: "That's so rude. You need to raise this with MIL. What a nasty thing to tell a child."
8 Miss Kitty 8 agreed, adding: "What a t** your step FIL (father-in-law) is. No presents for step FIL next year.
"Christmas presents/Santa has nothing to do with Jesus, so step FIL is wrong on that one."
While Sapphire September wrote: "The whole 'You can't celebrate Christmas because you're not Christian' thing winds me up!
"Of course you can! It's based on Yule and we nicked the idea from the pagans in the first place.
"Lots of faiths have festivals at this time of year, it's cold, dark and miserable, so a good time to cheer ourselves up by having a massive party."
And Tali Di Nozzo took a firm stance, warning: "Leaving aside any religious issues here, what is he thinking saying that to a child, especially on Christmas Eve?!
"And no I wouldn't let it go. I would also be having strong words with MIL as she should've stood up for your son rather than backing up her idiot husband.
"I would be wary about unsupervised contact. If they are capable of wilfully upsetting a child like that I'd be concerned what else they would say."
Baylisiana agreed, writing: "There is no more evidence for God existing than there is for Father Christmas.
"I would be absolutely clear they will not see your son at Christmas again unless they can convince you they are genuinely remorseful and understand why it must never happen again."
However, Gil Martin was less sympathetic. She said: "If you think an 11-year-old hasn't figured out or hasn't been told by his mates that Father Christmas isn't real, you're being pretty naive.
"I also can't see why a boring rant from Ken Barlow's long lost brother over the 'real' meaning of Christmas should cause an 11-year-old to have a sobbing fit or ruin the day.
"Yes what his wazzock of a step grandfather said was stupid and crass, but he wasn't told that he wouldn't be getting any presents, only that in his opinion, nonbelievers shouldn't celebrate.
"Did telling him, 'of course you're getting presents, step grandfather is talking rubbish' not quell the tears?"
While Two Gun Slingers wrote: "I think you are being unreasonable to still be bothered about something that happened days ago which had zero consequences aside from a sobbing 11-year-old.
"Your SFIL expressed an opinion...the horror."
While Bluntless 100 felt the others were missing the real issue. She said: "I'm not sure going for a drive can be construed as entertainment for a child.
"I know people used to do it years ago, but it's just time cooped up in a car.
"Far better they actually go and do something, which gives them another focus and something else to discuss."