Has AS affected relationships with your children?

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macushla
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27 Nov 2008, 7:09 am

My first husband left when my children were quite young and I raised my children on my own.
I was unaware of AS as a possible etiology to what was going on for me back then.
I had to figure out my own comfort level and give myself permission to run my house how I needed to have it run. Fortunately all my neighbors just assumed I was some sort of workaholic aging hippy and left us alone.

Looking back, a lot of traditions weren't observed in my family unit because they just "weren't on the monitor".

Now, both my children are in their mid 30s now and have families of their own.

We still see each other but they seem to have closer relationships with their in-laws. I know that because how much that annoys them is a subject they mention when we do talk by phone.
They tell me they appreciate all the space I give them in our relationship. I don't get on their nerves like their in-laws do.

We communicate by email the most.

Visits are usually limited to my being practical when my grand children need a babysitter or when there's a cultural event I'd like to share with them.



garyww
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04 Dec 2008, 1:49 pm

I have four children, 3 boys and 1 girl aged 35 to 29 and since infancy I've had what I call an 'adult' relationship with them which is almost exactly like the relationship I had with my parents but in reverse. When I was small I wanted to be treated like an adult since I thought, felt and even acted like one. When I became a parent I did treat my kids like grownups so we never actually had a Dad/Kid relationship just an adult/adult relationship. Now that they're grown up it is like we've been 'friends' or 'equals' all our lives so our emotional ties are far less deeper than they could be. There is no hugging between us and very little contact between any of us over the past 10 or 12 years except at holidays.
I would certainly raise my kids differently had I known back then what I would be missing now.



EvoVari
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05 Dec 2008, 7:05 pm

Yes, my children are F 21 and M 18. Always felt shame and guilt in relation to not feeling any real closeness. Can't explain the despair this causes me.

Being undiagnosed until 47 has caused immense difficulties for my family. My wife has suffered greatly, not my fault and she acknowledges this premise. The 'Cassandra Effect' has been a problem for wife throughout our marriage of 23 yrs.



sartresue
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05 Dec 2008, 9:56 pm

That AS parent with the NT children topic

My oldest is not as close as she could be. i was probably too young and being AS it was hard on her undersanding I was growing up with her. All my children are quite rigid NTs, and lack the spontaneity that might have made them a tad more tolerant of my differences. I have never met my oldest daughter's significant other. My son does not want me to meet his girlfriend yet, though my ex has met her. My youngest sees a boy now and then and seems embarrassed with me.This is a bit sad but,well, what can you do. Perhaps grandchildren, eventually, might be the bridge. We will see. Oly the youngest two will have them. The oldest has decided to be child-free, which is her right, of course. :wink:


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