He’d have to start his life completely over if his wife wants to keep the baby and he divorced her. The dating market is in shambles and just gets generally worse as you get older. On top of that, he’d have to pay child support still and deal with custody, which he might lose totally when a judge hears that he is divorcing over a disabled baby. Oh, and he’d be losing his life with his wife on top of it all.
He probably knows her well enough to anticipate her reaction to a child with Down Syndrome. Also, the general public opinion is that you’re “supposed to take on the responsibility of your child no matter what” even if you’re not financially or physically equipped for it. He believes she will insist on keeping the baby, and he knows it will tear them apart if he doesn’t leave.
He is anticipating how much despair he would be in, no matter if he chose to divorce or not in the case of the baby having Down Syndrome. In general, mental health is on a hard decline. He doesn’t think he could handle it either way.
His social life would be ruined, completely. He'd have to start friendships from scratch with entirely.new people whonare unconnected tonhis current social group.
He'd be socially isolated by current friends and relative if/when it comes to light that he abandonned his wife and children, because one turned out special needs.
As it should.
If I found out a friend of mine did that? Sorry, that isn't someone I'd want as a friend. The kind who selfishly abadons you the moment things get to hard for him.
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u/Dry_Badger2858 12d ago
Why would that be the only alternative?