At 16, a young mother had her newborn taken from her arms after her parents tricked her into signing adoption papers. That betrayal cost her 24 years with her firstborn. Now, decades later, her estranged father has reached out: her mother is dying and wants to reconcile.
But the daughter, who rebuilt her life and eventually reunited with her son, doesn’t feel forgiveness is owed. Should she grant a dying woman her final wish or is she right to let her parents pass without closure?
A woman, no-contact for 24 years after her parents tricked her into giving up her newborn, refuses their plea to reconnect before her mother’s death
Some wounds don’t scab over. This story is one of them. At 16, OP thought she was signing hospital paperwork, but instead unknowingly signed away her newborn child. That wasn’t a youthful misunderstanding; it was a calculated betrayal by her own parents.
Now, decades later, her mother is dying and wants reconciliation. The timing is convenient. When the power was theirs, they used it to control and deceive. Now that mortality is calling, they want closure. The irony writes itself.
From OP’s stance, refusing contact feels like self-preservation. The anger isn’t performative; it’s rooted in stolen years, in stolen trust. Meanwhile, her husband suggests a different revenge, parading the happy family her parents forfeited. It’s a tempting cinematic ending, but in reality, dragging the children into that theater of regret risks passing old wounds onto a new generation. The truth is, her parents want something for themselves, absolution, not accountability.
There’s also a social layer here. According to a 2021 report from the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute, teen mothers historically faced immense pressure from parents and professionals to relinquish their babies, often through coercive tactics. The “choice” was rarely theirs. OP’s story sits squarely in that painful history.
According to Mayo Clinic, “Forgiveness is not about forgetting or excusing harm. It’s about releasing the hold that the harm has on you, whether or not the offender ever apologizes.” In OP’s case, the question isn’t whether her parents “deserve” forgiveness, it’s whether engaging would bring her peace or reopen scars.
OP doesn’t owe her parents reconciliation. If she wants closure, she could write a letter, set strict boundaries, or send a single photo. If she wants nothing at all, that’s valid too. Whatever path she chooses, it should serve her healing, not their comfort.
At its heart, this isn’t about deathbed confessions. It’s about a daughter who lost a child to betrayal and built a family despite it. Her parents may die with regret, but that’s the legacy they authored. OP’s legacy is different: resilience, honesty, and love that her parents couldn’t counterfeit with a pen.
Here’s what the community had to contribute:
These Redditors, including a birth mother, backed her no-contact stance, citing her parents’ unforgivable betrayal and urging her to protect her peace
This group warned against involving her kids in a revenge meeting, supporting no contact to avoid fresh pain and retrauma
These users suggested a distant gesture like a letter or photos to convey her stance without direct contact, emphasizing her right to refuse reconciliation
This woman’s refusal to reconnect with parents who stole her newborn is a stand for her peace, despite their deathbed plea and her husband’s revenge idea. Reddit’s cheering her no-contact choice, condemning her parents’ cruelty.
Was she right to deny them, or should she consider closure? How would you handle such a betrayal? Drop your hot takes below!
