I'm heart broken

[kmc33]

Hi Tiiiigergirl -

I found this thread and it made me very sad. I had a feeling that there was a problem from the message you posted to say that you had changed sailings. I was bummed when I saw you wouldn’t be sailing in January because I was looking forward to meeting you. In fact, I am sorry that I didn’t invite you to sit with us. I didn’t think a boy your son’s age, would be interested in eating with a 4 year old (my DS) and a 5 and 2 year old (nephew and neice) when he could be with kids his age. I am sorry that you switched sailings, although it sounds like there is good news about the new school for your son. And it sounds like a good way to celebrate your birthday

 

[Tiiiigergirl]

Sent ya a PM. I hope you have a great time!

 

[GeekChic]

((((((((((hugs and pixie dust))))))))))) for you!!!

"Friends" often have funny ways of showing their true colors...I cannot believe that they didn't think of this situation before they decided to cruise with you in the first place...or that they expected it wouldn't hurt your feelings.

Dr. Phil (one of my favorites!) says that "Real friends are walking in the door when everyone else is walking out." I know that even as an adult, after my MS diagnosis I've had friends who dropped me like a rock just because they "couldn't handle" my diagnosis or "couldn't bear to watch me struggle" when it acts up. Well whoopdedoo! If they had really been my friends, it wouldn't matter. I try to keep a positive attitude as much as I can, and it rubs off on some of your friends, but others just walk away, and it's their loss!

I am so, so so glad that it worked out better for your son for school and for your family for the trip...and I hope you have the best trip ever!

And I think it would be hilarious (and some great karma) if the folks who didn't want to dine with you, ended up in the middle of a restaurant between two tables of (ha!) "normal", but badly behaved children LOL!

Give your sweet, special boy an extra squeeze today from all the folks out there who care, and understand. Many in the world just don't get it.

Have a great cruise!!!

 

[SueM in MN]

Originally posted by GeekChic
And I think it would be hilarious (and some great karma) if the folks who didn't want to dine with you, ended up in the middle of a restaurant between two tables of (ha!) "normal", but badly behaved children LOL!

LOL

 

[Poohnatic]

Tiiiger,

I'm surprising my DH with a cruise in May and we're taking our 7yo autistic(Asperger's) son and 4 yo son. Perhaps we'll be on the same cruise, and we can put the boys together.

I'm so sorry you had to experience such small minded people and I'm glad that you've changed your cruise for his school. If it were me, I would have gone on that cruise, made sure they saw how charming and adorable son really is most of the time and seen how you handle a meltdown swiftly and with much less hoopla then most of the parents with a 'normal' child handle a tantrum!

Suzanne

 

[Debbart]

I have an 11 year old autistic son and I feel your pain. It's hard not to take it personally...although when most people say or do things like that (not commiting to sit with you at dinner) they would probably be shocked to find out how much it hurt you...people don't understand that it's like a personal rejection. I love my son so much it turns me inside out and no matter what the rational part of your brain tries to comprehend when things like that happen, emotions tend to take over...that being said, we are going on the Nov 20th 3day cruise and I have requested that we be seated alone (me my son and daughter) because I think sitting with strangers may make my son uncomfortable and I don't want to spend my meals on pins and needles wondering if he will have some sort of negative reaction. Whats really hard with autistic children is that they tend to look so "normal" (as someone else said and for lack of a better term)...people give you dirty looks and just assume you have a badly behaved child.
I would love to start some kind of "co-op" for parents taking autistic children on a cruise or Disney vacation for the purpose of meeting each other, learning a little about how to redirect or avoid meltdowns for our individual kids and take turns watching our kids to give each other a break for a few hours. It's really hard to use a service at Disney and the cruises don't have in room ...I know it might so a little far fetched ---but wouldn't it be awesome???People on these boards have already managed to coordinate and do some really cool things