How do you rid yourself of your sentient automaton?

Taking in another viewing of A.I. Artificial Intelligence, (still one of my all-time favorite movies in spite of its weak box office draw) the thought came to me, in what manner you ordered up the automaton that is the way they will always be. If you ordered a child, he/she will never grow up, though you get much older; same if you ordered a spouse. If you had an automaton child in your 20s and it endured to your 50s, and it could be made to love you, as best as the programing can do it, and you outgrow it, what do you do with it? If the automaton cannot be reprogramed or retaught to love another owner or possessor, but its use for you is outlived, how would you ”divorce” it, for lack of a better word?