A 29-year-old man shared that when he introduced his now-wife, 28, to his parents, they couldn’t see her kind heart, her great personality, or her beauty. All they saw was that she was deaf. When he asked them how they could be so ignorant, they argued that she might pass her disability on to their children. In the end, they told him they wouldn’t accept her into the family.

He stood by his wife’s side and fought back, telling his parents that if they couldn’t accept her, then they wouldn’t be accepted in his life either, and they would never know his children. His wife Jessie cried when he had to tell her that his parents weren’t coming to their wedding, and he admitted that it made him resent them even more. Only his sister, who is also 29, came to the wedding, and she is the only family member he still speaks to. He hasn’t seen or spoken to his parents since.

Now, years later, the couple has twins—a boy and a girl—and both of them can hear. His sister came to visit and told him their parents had found out about the children. They asked her to see if he and Jessie would allow them to meet their grandchildren. He immediately refused, reminding his sister that they rejected Jessie first, and he wasn’t going to let them around his kids. His sister later texted saying their parents wanted to apologize, but he told her it was too late.

When he told Jessie about their request, she suggested that maybe they could reconsider and take things slowly. A friend also told him this could be the closure and healing he needs. Still, he’s unsure. He wonders if his parents only want to meet the kids because they are hearing and questions whether he’s being selfish by refusing.

People who read his story online largely supported him. Some pointed out that letting his parents back in might expose his kids to harmful comments about their mother. Others suggested that if his parents were truly sorry, they should learn sign language and apologize directly to Jessie first. Many agreed that his parents’ interest seemed conditional—they rejected his wife and him for years but suddenly changed their minds once they realized the grandchildren weren’t deaf.

The man is torn, wondering if holding firm is protecting his family or if it’s stopping possible healing. But many believe he is right to set boundaries and that any reconciliation should happen on his and Jessie’s terms, with real apologies and respect.