This is an automated archive made by the Lemmit Bot.

The original was posted on /r/AmItheAsshole by /u/Filmnerdofever on 2023-10-05 15:43:49.

I have a 14-year-old cousin with Down syndrome. She is overall a very nice girl but she has one major issue that can’t seem to be resolved: she coughs with her mouth wide open and coughs directly into people’s faces. I see her pretty often as we are a close family and this becomes an issue just about every time. I’ve tried staying silent but it’s a serious problem.

I’ve addressed this with my aunt and she just tells me to get over it because she “doesn’t know any better.” However, I’ve noticed that she is not even taking the effort to try and correct her. She just sits around and lets her do it, does not even say something as simple as “let’s remember to cover our mouth.” I’ve told her she needs to get it under control but she refuses to acknowledge it, continuing to play the “she can’t help it” card.

The final straw for me was two days ago when we were visiting my other aunt who has a newborn. They gave my cousin the chance to hold the baby while sitting on the couch. She then coughed two HUGE coughs directly into the baby’s face. I was terrified. I yelled “stop! You’ll make the baby sick!” My aunt told me to stop being so dramatic and let it go. My cousin then started crying. I responded with “I’ll let it go when you teach your daughter to cover her mouth when she coughs! It’s not that hard!” I understand that raising a child with Down syndrome is not easy. It’s very difficult, I know. I just feel that this is something every child should be taught. My aunt flipped out and my cousin started crying hysterically. My aunt told me I should be ashamed of myself and they stormed out.

Almost my entire family is calling me an AH, saying I was being so rude and ignorant. My grandma even said it was fine if she coughs in the baby’s face because “babies can’t catch anything” which I KNOW is not true. I do feel bad for the way I worded it but this is an ongoing issue that my aunt refuses to help. AITAH?