A Louisiana mother is speaking out after months of silence, sharing a painful and deeply personal account of what she describes as ongoing neglect, emotional abuse, and financial abandonment by the father of her autistic son.
In a widely shared Facebook post, Darilyn Jenkins detailed the daily realities of raising her nonverbal, level-3 autistic son, Christopher, entirely in her own while alleging that his father has failed to meet even the most basic parental and legal responsibilities.
According to Jenkins, Christopher’s father has not seen his son in more than six and a half months, reaching out only twice by text during that time.
She says she has never restricted contact out of spite, but after nearly seven months of absence, she refused a sudden, unannounced request for visitation that came without explanation or apology.
“This is not the first time,” Jenkins wrote, explaining that she believes the pattern of disappearance occurs whenever she does not comply with his demands.
She described repeated attempts to have civil conversations about Christopher that allegedly end in verbal abuse, cursing, and name-calling, despite her being the parent providing constant care.
Jenkins emphasized that caring for a child with severe autism is physically, emotionally, and mentally overwhelming. Christopher does not sleep through the night, leaving her chronically exhausted.
She drives more than 80 miles a day transporting him to and from the Autism Center, along with frequent appointments for speech therapy, occupational therapy, psychology, neurology, and other medical needs.
Because therapy sessions are often canceled unexpectedly, she says she was required to sign documentation confirming she would always be immediately available to pick him up, making steady employment impossible.
Despite these responsibilities, Jenkins alleges that Christopher’s father has failed to comply with multiple court-ordered obligations.
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She states he pays only 45% of his ordered child support, owes over $90,000 in back support, and has not added Christopher to medical insurance as required by the court.
Jenkins also raised serious concerns about Christopher’s safety. As a nonverbal child, he cannot communicate mistreatment.
She stated that the woman Christopher’s father currently lives with has spoken negatively about her son’s autism, making her unwilling to allow her child in that environment.
She stressed that if his father had a stable, independent living situation, her decision might be different, but protecting Christopher comes first.
In one of the powerful moments of her post, Jenkins declared she would no longer protect the father’s public image at the expense of her own peace. She wrote,
“His image is everything to him,” “But my peace is everything to me.”
Darilyn Jenkins
Her post ended with an unapologetic statement of resolve: Christopher may be nonverbal, but his mother is not, and she will fight fiercely for him.
The response from the community was supportive. Christy K. Jones commented,
Love you! So sorry you’re going through all this. Keep speaking up for your baby!
Christy K. Jones
Natasha Taylor wrote,
From a mother to another mother, keep doing what’s in the best interest of your son! We have to be the voice for our children (verbal and nonverbal)! We don’t know who to trust around our children. Your son can’t verbalize how ppl treat him or what they did/doing to him. I don’t know or understand how some men would allow their girlfriend or wife to keep them from their child or even talk about their child especially when he/she is autistic, has a disability, other health issues, etc. You’re not lying about playing behind your soon either. Your mama and Tan don’t either and I know how you are rolling! God gave you Christopher for a reason and he is your priority, so to hell with anyone that has something negative to say or think.
Natasha Taylor
Others acknowledged the unique strength required to raise a child with special needs. Harriet Dione wrote,
Caring for a child with special needs takes a level of strength most people will never understand. Protecting your child and your peace is never wrong. Your voice matters and so does your peace. Period.
Harriet Dione
Amanda Marie Alexis, a Behavior Analyst at Positive Behavior Supports, wrote,
Whew Sista🥴‼️ I’m sorry you are going through this!‼️ I’ve witnessed how great of a mother you are to Christopher 💪🏼‼️ Keep up the amazing work ❤️🥰 Your breakthrough is coming 🙌🏼
Amanda Marie Alexis
