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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]How old is DS?  What is it that you want your parents and siblings to understand?

Are there special needs at play?[/quote]

15 yo DS. No special needs, just an introverted boy with a small circle of friends who share his interests. My parents want him to be "like them". "Why doesn't Larlo ever do this (play a sport, watch a game,play with his cousins, talk to his cousins)". Just a long list of "why is he like this?" I tried explaining what being an introvert is like and they don't seem to get it. I want them to understand that it is OK to not always wanting to be around people. They see him as being rude,  "he treats us with disdain".[/quote]

Oh man, much love to your son.

That was me at 15. I had different interests than most of my extended family but was constantly asked to go to family events where people would get annoyed with me for just not being what they wanted/expected. They are/were really into teasing as a form of humor, loud arguments, playing very competitive board games. None of that stuff is for me and I'd have to just run and bear it.

It's particularly frustrating with a family like this because there is no meeting you halfway. They think their way is "correct" and anything else is a problem to be fixed. So if you are quiet, you must be questioned and made to talk. If you take some time to yourself, you must be involved in a group activity. If you ask for space, you're "standoffish" and need to learn to relax. And so on. It would have been amazing if my parents had stood up for me or if anyone, even just one person, had been like "just leave her alone, she's doing her own thing." It was not permitted.

Please give him an out, OP. No one should have to spend a whole weekend, much less a holiday, being made to feel like a bad person just for being themself.[/quote]

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