1. Health

Readers Respond: Relatives Who Don't Understand or Accept Your Child's Autism

Responses: 2

From , former About.com Guide

Updated October 08, 2010

This content is not monitored by About.com's Medical Review Board.
Before acting on this information, check with your health provider.

From the article: Autism and Family Support
Every family includes at least one relative who just doesn't understand or accept your child with autism. Share your story!

they dont want us

my experience is totally different! no one in my family even wants to invite us to christmas! im a single mom so when i have my son on holidays, his dad and i switch off, we dont get invited anywhere. this year i called my brothers wife and tried to get us invited for thanksgiving but she hasnt gotten back to me yet! its a very lonely time for me the holidays. i have come to hate them.
—sammysmom47

Christmas Woes

It's wonderful when relatives want your child to be included, but when they PUSH it can be painful. One Christmas my son hid in his room the entire time, because every time he poked his head out an entire room full of people turned, looked at him, and said "Hey, come on in sweetie!" He'd immediately turn and run away. I wound up spending most of Christmas hiding away with him so he wouldn't feel overwhelmed; meanwhile the rest of the family felt slighted and frustrated. We had a small, intimate Christmas the next year!
—LJRudy

©2012 About.com. All rights reserved.

A part of The New York Times Company.

We comply with the HONcode standard
for trustworthy health
information: verify here.