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For some people, their connection with their kids is merely biological. They bring a child into the world without accepting the responsibilities that come with it.
This woman decided that meeting with her long-distance boyfriend was a bigger priority than caring for her four-year-old daughter. She then left the child with a male friend and never came back.
The man eventually got close to the daughter and began to seek custody, prompting a complicated situation with the woman’s family. You may want to have some popcorn handy while reading this lengthy post.
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Some people aren’t meant to be parents, but still choose to have children
Image credits: Brooke Cagle (not the actual image)
A woman had plans to meet up with her boyfriend and decided to leave her child with a friend for the weekend
Image credits: josemiguelsangar
However, she failed to show up on the day she promised to
Image credits: EyeEm (not the actual image)
The friend was obligated to take care of the child, who struggled with the new arrangement
Image credits: EyeEm (not the actual image)
The man had no choice but to seek assistance from law enforcement
Image credits: miksturaproduction (not the actual image)
He also contemplated escalating the matter with Child Protective Services
Image credits: freepik (not the actual image)
However, his decision didn’t sit well with the young girl’s grandmother
Image credits: Kidsittingforever
People who abandon their children may also feel lonely
There is no excuse for abandoning your child. You’re giving them lifelong trauma they don’t deserve. However, those who do it may likely be dealing with their own issues.
“Quite often, the parents [who abandon children] feel abandoned themselves in terms of feeling isolated, not having a support system in which they can vent, talk, whatever,” Family Support Center executive director Bonnie Peters told Deseret News.
Regardless of their reasons for leaving, a parent’s sudden absence in a child’s life may cause abandonment trauma. And if it happens at a young age, as it did with Mariana in the story, it may leave her with lifelong scars when she grows older.
A 2021 review published in the National Library of Medicine suggests a link between an insecure attachment and the development of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
The trauma can linger into adulthood if left untreated, according to licensed marriage and family therapist Dr. Luis Ramirez. As he tells Psych Central, it can manifest through the fear of abandonment.
“It will come out like sweat out of our pores as subconscious responses manifest through negative behaviors, depression, sadness, anger, anxiety, or paranoia,” he said.
The devastating effects of being abandoned as a child are likely one of the reasons why the author felt compelled to contact local authorities. Social worker Elaine Totten-Beal says people are typically hesitant to take action.
“Some people say, ‘Should I report or should I help?’ It’s not mutually exclusive,” she told Deseret News. “You can report it to people who need to know while also offering help. You can do both of those things.”
Totten-Beal adds that people reporting child abandonment can remain anonymous, and she encourages people to do the right thing. It’s a good thing the author did, but unfortunately, the unfavorable circumstances that followed were beyond his control.
Commenters didn’t hold back with their reactions as the man answered their questions
The author provided an update, stating the police had been handling the case
Image credits: Ahmet Kurt (not the actual image)
The situation got more complicated thanks to the child’s mother and grandmother
Image credits: freepik (not the actual image)
The author claimed that the girl’s relatives had been criticizing him publicly via social media
Image credits: pvproductions (not the actual image)
He also admitted to feeling depressed because of the messy situation
Image credits: La Miko (not the actual image)
According to him, seeing the girl’s belongings that had been left in his possession had been difficult for him to handle
Image credits: Kidsittingforever
Commenters sympathized with the man and sent their well-wishes
The author provided another update, stating that the situation got even more complicated
Image credits: freepik (not the actual image)
He also expressed sadness about not seeing the girl anymore after exhausting all legal options
Image credits: Kidsittingforever
Readers likewise felt bad for the author and tried to console him
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What do you think ?
Tabitha 2 weeks ago
I hope OP somehow was able to stay in touch with Mariana, and once she’s old enough, a judge will let her decide who she wants to stay with. I do hope for the best for everyone in this s****y situation. People should have to get a license to have kids, nd some should be permanently banned from having, or at least keeping, the children they keep making so irresponsibly.
Load More Replies... Ariom Dahl 2 weeks ago
BORED PANDA I THINK YOU ARE CHEATING YOUR READERS. That date at the very beginning of this article is April 2025. BUT THE REST OF IT IS SIX YEARS OLD. If you post articles from another site could you please do us the courtesy of stating at the beginning how old the item is.
Binky Melnik 2 weeks ago (edited)
First of all, if you wanna tell BP something, you need to contact them. (Tap the “Contact” button.) Second, I assume (perhaps wrongly) that you read Shakespeare, Cervantes, et al, despite them being HUNDREDS of years old. Was this story less interesting to you because of its age? Is it not worth discussion because if its age? What’s your objection to older posts? How do they harm you? What difference does it make whether this happened yesterday, six years ago, or 1969? Why the need for up-to-the-minute posts? I’m confused as to what your objection is. An interesting (and heartwarming!) post remains so no matter how old it is. Why don’t you complain about old compilations of dog photos? What has the age of a post got to do with anything?
Load More Replies...
Rick Murray 2 weeks ago
2% "Her personal happiness comes first"? Whoever those 2% are, you are sh*tty horrible people.
person (i think) 2 weeks ago
I have assistant chosen the wrong option just by scrolling on my phone. We have to hope that is where that 2% came from.
Load More Replies...
Tabitha 2 weeks ago
I hope OP somehow was able to stay in touch with Mariana, and once she’s old enough, a judge will let her decide who she wants to stay with. I do hope for the best for everyone in this s****y situation. People should have to get a license to have kids, nd some should be permanently banned from having, or at least keeping, the children they keep making so irresponsibly.
Load More Replies... Ariom Dahl 2 weeks ago
BORED PANDA I THINK YOU ARE CHEATING YOUR READERS. That date at the very beginning of this article is April 2025. BUT THE REST OF IT IS SIX YEARS OLD. If you post articles from another site could you please do us the courtesy of stating at the beginning how old the item is.
Binky Melnik 2 weeks ago (edited)
First of all, if you wanna tell BP something, you need to contact them. (Tap the “Contact” button.) Second, I assume (perhaps wrongly) that you read Shakespeare, Cervantes, et al, despite them being HUNDREDS of years old. Was this story less interesting to you because of its age? Is it not worth discussion because if its age? What’s your objection to older posts? How do they harm you? What difference does it make whether this happened yesterday, six years ago, or 1969? Why the need for up-to-the-minute posts? I’m confused as to what your objection is. An interesting (and heartwarming!) post remains so no matter how old it is. Why don’t you complain about old compilations of dog photos? What has the age of a post got to do with anything?
Load More Replies... Rick Murray 2 weeks ago
2% "Her personal happiness comes first"? Whoever those 2% are, you are sh*tty horrible people.
person (i think) 2 weeks ago
I have assistant chosen the wrong option just by scrolling on my phone. We have to hope that is where that 2% came from.
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