Note that I said I hate autism, not my autistic child. Earlier this afternoon my mom stopped by to pick up Alyssa for a sleepover. She thinks nothing of taking Alyssa for 1-4 nights every few months, and of course Alyssa loves it and looks forward to going, since my mom takes her out, makes special meals for her, buys her cheap pieces of women’s personalized jewelry, etc. She has been taking Alyssa for sleepovers since she was two year old, and of course she babysat her on occasion since she was little more than a newborn.
Then there’s Ryan. My mom doesn’t feel comfortable taking him for a sleepover or even for the day, and she is always reluctant to babysit him. It’s not that she doesn’t like or love Ryan, she does. It’s just that he makes her nervous — her words. She doesn’t know how to handle him, because of his autism and related issues. It’s kind of funny that she is like that regarding Ryan, seeing as how my brothers are both autistic. But their issues as young children didn’t seem to be as significant as Ryan’s, and my brothers are 12 and 14 now, so yeah… it’s been a long time/long way for my mom.
Anyway, after my mom and Alyssa left this morning, Ryan started crying and asking to go with Guh-mom and Wissa. He started rocking, roaming around aimlessly, and finally settled down in his bed. I laid next to him for a while, and then snuck out when he fell asleep. I just felt so horrible for him, you know? And my mom isn’t the only one who is so nervous about caring for Ryan for any length of time. Dan’s brothers, sisters and aunt are the same way. It really seems like no one other than myself, Dan, Jason, and nurses in women’s lab coats are comfortable with watching him for any length of time. And as far as the nurses go, they’ll only entertain him a short time while I’m filling out paperwork or talking to the doctor, then they hand him right back over!
On a good note, I called my mom after Ryan woke up and explained how upset he was; she got on the phone with him and asked if he would like to go out to lunch tomorrow. He immediately perked up and asked for Applebee’s (his favorite restaurant, especially since Jason has taken him several times). I told him my mom would also take him to Lowe’s (his favorite store, haha) and possibly to the park, so that made him even happier.
But still, lunch out while his sister gets the opportunity to spend the night hardly seems fair. 
I’m sorry, baby.
My name is Jenn, and I'm 27 years old. I'm happily married to my best friend and soulmate, Daniel. Together we have a six year old daughter named 
Name: Alyssa
Name: Ryan
Yeah, that is heartbreaking. Poor baby.
I’d take him! 
But I don’t live close enough to do cool stuff like that.
At least your mom did something to perk him up and try to make it better.
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