Don't know what to do! - Autism Spectrum Message Board

Kempsmom · 09-09-2005, 10:10 PM

Hello everybody. I need advice on how to handle my husbands family. I don't typicaly take Kemp around them because I hear "he is fine" or "just let him be a boy" or "he is just spioled". grrrr! I have my youngest daughters birthday coming up and had to invite them (my husbands fam) and needed advice on what to say or what to do. The party is Sunday so any thing would help. PLEASE!

Kempsmom · 09-10-2005, 02:33 PM

It is nice to hear that I'm not alone. My in-laws are to clueless about autism! My sister in-law thinks she know, she acts like she knows and she soooo doesn't and can tell by what she says. I am going to try my best to enjoy myself. Hopefully they won't say anything to stupid to me. I just know Kemp isn't going to talk or look at them and that turns in to I let him be rude. Oh-well. Thanks for the time Ausomemom2.

Kris

jeffreys mom · 09-10-2005, 05:41 PM

I feel for you. It isn't easy being a mom let alone a mom to a child with Pdd. If that were my situation and I felt one of my family members were being critical of something they just don't understand, I would try to educate them with print outs off the computer of the diagnostic criteria for PDD.

When they mention rude or spoiled, have a highlighted copy of something in print that they can look at to see how wrong ( uninformed) they are.

It's so hard to bite your tongue when someone that has NO IDEA what it's all about passes judgement.

I hope the Birthday party goes well !!!! Happy B-Day to your daughter

Jana2676 · 09-14-2005, 11:42 PM

Sorry to hear they are in denial! I taped as many shows about autism as I could find and plan to send it to my husbands family. I hope it will wake them up and see what a tough thing it is to deal with.

MBourne · 10-03-2005, 06:04 PM

Sounds like an issue many people have to face. Ignorance is not easy to cure.
I would make my husband deal with this before (or after) the party. They may take this better from him and you are'nt put in an uncomfortable position where they are able to further hurt,anger of even dismiss you. The invisability of Autism makes it too easy for people to dismiss as being rude. I have found in confronting this kind of ignorance you must realize that only good souls are open to truth, and others will never be. I find sometimes I must consult the Serenity Prayer and bite my tongue. Sarcasm can sometimes allow me a small outlet towards these closed individuals. Enjoy the celebration of your child's birth. No one should be allowed to darken this joyous occation.

Good Luck.
MBourne