Family Reactions

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All my family was alright with it and we went to a few events related to Aspergers not long after learning that I have AS.

My mother wasn't surprised. She always called me eccentric, anyway. The only thing is, nobody has taken any time to understand AS enough to learn how to modify their reactions or words. They still behave as if I'm an NT, getting mad at me when I don't sympathize or do certain things.

Yesterday my grandmother's brother died, so she had to leave suddenly to go pick up her sister. I was asleep. She called me twice, but I never answer the phone when I'm trying to sleep. Then my mother calls. I finally answer. My grandmother left the oven on, so I had to go turn it off. 15 minutes later I'm told to turn it back on. I mentioned that to my mother and she said, "get over it. her brother just died." I realize this, and I know people are upset, but I feel nothing. The only thing on my mind was being aggravated from being woken up. Guilt trips do nothing but make me angry. What she could have said is, "I know, but consider the situation. She's not thinking straight right now."

When I want to do something like move out of state, I get a lot of negative feedback. "Where are you gonna go? How are you gonna get there? You know I can't help you." I don't need to hear all of that. All I need to hear is, "sounds exciting. go for it," or something to that effect. I'm not an idiot. I'm also 28, so I really shouldn't be living at home. I get absolutely no motivation here, which alone is motivating to want to leave even more, but on a sour note.

The only real support I get here is financial, and I really don't want that anymore.

Well, my family knows.

My dad is really supportive of me in this. I can talk to him about it. In fact he's the only one I talk to about it in my family.
With my mom and sisters it's hard to say. They know about it. I explained Aspergers to them in a family meeting, but since them...no change. I mean I didn't notice any change in their behavior towards me, good or bad. I haven't really asked any of them.

Some other family members know (aunt & grandparents) and they're okay with it.

Last edited by Sarafina7 on 26 Aug 2009, 4:27 am, edited 1 time in total.

I only found out that my parents knew this year, but I had an assessment done around the time I joined WP... so I guess I needlessly waited 22 years to find out. Thankfully that doesn't seem to happen as much now.

voted neg, but it's kind of a neutral thing. When my son was diagnosed it was a big deal, family got special games to play with him, ways to work with him and all... but they completely ignore me in talking about it at all. I can mention my AS and problems I'm having with it all day long, and it will be unheard by anyone...

My family were all pretty supportive. My grandad doesn't know though, because he never keeps his gob shut and would probably tell everyone he knows and the ironic thing about it is, if he isn't an aspie himself I will eat my hat