Woman Won’t Stop Making Remarks About Cousin’s Son’s Eating Habits, Blocks Her When Asked To Stop

Trying to help your neurodivergent child navigate eating challenges that are less about preference and more about survival can be stressful. However, what might be more stressful is having someone close to you act like their quinoa-loving toddler is some kind of mealtime messiah.

Today’s Original Poster (OP) opened up about the heartbreak of setting a simple boundary and being cut off for it. In the story, the OP tried to protect her mental health and her child’s dignity, only to be met with silence, judgment, and a block button.

More info: Reddit

Motherhood is a team sport, but sometimes your teammates might keep subtly knocking you down while pretending to pass you the ball

Woman sitting outside with her son who has autism, sharing a tender moment while embracing and smiling together.

Image credits: senivpetro / Freepik (not the actual photo)

The author has an autistic son, which comes with eating challenges, as his eating habits are more tied with how he sees the world

Woman shares how food talk triggers her stress due to son’s autism, and cousin reacts by cutting her off in conversation.

Text on white background stating how conversations around food became triggering due to woman’s son with autism.

Woman shares how food talk triggers her due to her son’s autism and how cousin reacts by cutting her off.

Image credits: CreditUnhappy899

Young boy eating a doughnut in a home kitchen, illustrating food talk triggers related to son’s autism challenges.

Image credits: freepik / Freepik (not the actual photo)

Her cousin would often send pictures of her kids’ food, hinting that they eat healthier and better and that her son’s choice of food is rather gross

Woman shares how food talk triggers her due to son's autism while her cousin reacts by cutting her off in conversation.

Text of a personal message explaining how food talk is a hard subject due to her son’s autism, setting a boundary.

Text excerpt about a woman sharing how food talk triggers her due to her son’s autism and her anxiety.

Image credits: CreditUnhappy899

Young children eating pizza, illustrating challenges related to food talk and autism triggers in family dynamics.

Image credits: freepik / Freepik (not the actual photo)

She decided to set a boundary with her cousin, telling her that it would be best if they left anything food-related out of their conversations

Text excerpt showing a woman explaining how food talk triggers her due to her son’s autism and causes family conflict.

Text on a white background expressing surprise about being shut out after setting a personal boundary related to food talk triggering due to son’s autism.

Woman looking concerned while sharing how food talk triggers her due to son’s autism, cousin reacts by cutting her off.

Text about setting a clear boundary on food talk triggering a woman due to her son’s autism, cousin cuts her off.

Image credits: CreditUnhappy899

The cousin didn’t take it well and responded that she would stop visiting them before proceeding to block her

The OP started by explaining that her young son has autism, and with it comes significant challenges around food. For her son, eating isn’t just about nourishment; it’s more about how he processes the world. The OP has been working with professionals to support her son, but admitted that it is still causing a lot of stress and anxiety.

Now, the OP and her cousin were once close. However, as time went on, her cousin’s text messages became a source of tension. She frequently sent unsolicited tips, made moralizing remarks about the food the OP’s son chose to eat, and praised her own child’s diet in ways that felt more like comparisons than support.

After a lot of inner turmoil and therapy sessions, the OP decided to protect her mental health and clearly asked her cousin to avoid discussing food. She emphasized that it wasn’t personal, but rather it was about reducing anxiety and preserving their relationship.

However, instead of understanding, her cousin responded defensively, saying maybe she shouldn’t visit anymore. She further distanced herself and eventually cut contact before blocking her for months.

To better understand why the OP’s cousin reacted so strongly to a simple and respectful boundary, Bored Panda reached out to clinical psychologist Florence Okezie, who explained that boundary-setting often threatens the familiar patterns people are used to, which can cause discomfort or even defensiveness.

“For someone emotionally dependent, it may feel like a loss of access or privilege,” she noted. In some cases, resistance may stem from misunderstanding the intention behind the boundary and seeing it as rejection. Okezie also pointed out that, at times, negative reactions may be “manipulative in nature, meant to induce guilt and maintain control.”

Two women having a tense conversation on a couch, illustrating how food talk triggers her due to son’s autism.

Image credits: prostock-studio / Freepik (not the actual photo)

Given the complexity of the child’s eating habits, we asked Okezie why children on the autism spectrum often have such intense reactions to food. She explained that sensory sensitivities like texture, smell, or even the visual appearance of food can cause strong aversions.

“What looks like picky eating is often tied to how these children process the world,” she said. Routine plays a major role, and disruptions can feel distressing. Even seemingly small elements like clinking cutlery or the sound of chewing can overwhelm a child with heightened sensory perception.

When asked how extended family can be more supportive instead of unintentionally piling on pressure, Okezie emphasized the need for psycho-education, stating that “families who understand autism are more likely to respect boundaries and stop offering harmful, unsolicited advice.”

Involving a professional in this learning process can also help, as it reassures relatives that the parents’ choices are informed and necessary, not just personal preferences. “It’s not about favoritism or excuses, it’s about accommodating a different neurological reality,” she said.

Netizens showed strong support for the OP, with many affirming that she was not wrong for setting a boundary to protect her mental health. They pointed out that her cousin’s reaction revealed her true intentions, suggesting she enjoyed the subtle superiority of comparing her child to her son.

What do you think about this situation? Do you think Kelsey’s reaction revealed something deeper about the relationship—or was it just a misunderstanding? We would love to know your thoughts!

Netizens showed strong support for the author, insisting that her cousin’s actions were passive-aggressive, and that she was a bully

Woman shares how food talk triggers her anxiety due to son’s autism, cousin responds by cutting off communication

Screenshot of a Reddit conversation about how food talk triggers a woman due to her son’s autism and cousin’s reaction.

Screenshot of an online conversation showing a woman sharing how food talk triggers her due to her son’s autism.

Comment discussing how food talk triggers a woman due to her son’s autism and a cousin’s reaction cutting her off.

Reddit comment explaining how setting boundaries helps a woman manage food talk triggers due to her son’s autism.

Reddit comment discussing food talk triggers related to son's autism and cousin cutting off communication.

Screenshot of an online discussion where a woman shares how food talk triggers her due to her son’s autism.

Comment explaining a woman’s experience with food talk triggering her due to her son’s autism and sensory processing issues.

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