A burden is a load someone must carry or chooses to carry. A burden is an obligation put upon someone or taken on by someone. The word "burden" often carries a negative connotation but the burden itself isn't bad. How a burden is handled is what's negative. Sometimes we haven't yet gotten to the point that we can handle our burden's with a positive attitude and feel like no matter how heavy our burden is we can handle it. Abigail isn't a burden, autism isn't a burden, caring for a special needs