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AIBU?

Not to want my brother round for meals

137 replies

FrauMoose · 28/01/2014 11:11

It's a tricky one. I've recently worked out that my late father had Aspergers and that my brother - in his late 40s - also is 'on the spectrum.'

He lives alone and has a habit of ringing up and suggesting visits that are around lunchtime or the time when we eat in the evening.

Because on Sunday, two relatives on my husband's side of the family were visiting - one of them elderly and senile. So I put my brother off when he suggested a Sunday visit. He said he would come after work on Monday, but ring first to confirm.

When he rang my husband invited him to eat with us. He duly arrived at exactly the time he knows we eat. He didn't have wine/fruit juice/chocolate/biscuits with him. He didn't say thanks for the invitation. He walked in as if he owned the place, sat down and ate his food - without complimenting us on the rather good meal. He didn't offer to clear or wash up. He didn't say thanks when he left.

It's just very frustrating and draining. But also hard to instruct adults in the social cues/norms. (He also drives my older brother mad, but I haven't discussed the Aspergers/autism thing with him yet. My older brother and mother are much more into wanting to pretend everything is normal. 'X is just X and that's the way he is.' That sort of thing.

NB He has not invited us to his house - twenty miles away - for food for ten years. Nor has he ever taken us out to eat. We have probably fed him once every month or two over that period.

Any ideas?

OP posts:

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TheProsAndConsOfHitchhiking · 28/01/2014 20:59

ok fair enough, I make dumb statements and know nowt.

I just think it such a shame that ops brother probably doesn't know he is doing anything wrong, No one has told him he is doing anything wrong and most of all I don't think he is doing anything wrong.

I feed anyone who walks through my door, invited/uninvited, Family or friend.

Thats just how I roll

I do not have any AS siblings (I am the eldest of 9) I have no AS offspring but I completely agree that if I did I would be making sure they would be looked after when I was gone.

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SpecialAgentFreyPie · 28/01/2014 21:06

OP, my parents have a similar attitude as your older DB and DM. They're thrilled DB got a label in his mid twenties, as 'now we know, everyone is okay!'

Uhm. No. Still 25 years of memories for me, and I swear he's gotten worse as he now uses it as a justification to be rude. My parents get very antsy if I so much as sigh in his general direction.

However he is your brother and I'm sure you love him even if he isn't too likable. There's lots of good advice earlier in the thread, go with that and see if things get easier. Just ignore the lecturing posters.

Good luck.

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bialystockandbloom · 28/01/2014 21:12

"a label slapped on"?? You mean a diagnosis of a disability, presumably?

Fair enough, you don't like your brother. No law against that. But it sounds like you have more of an issue with your parents. As a parent of a child with sn yourself, you must be able to imagine their position, especially as a diagnosis came so late in life for him.

It was the comment about parents of children with autism not "drilling social graces" into their children that has really upset me, tbh. Look at the SN board here, all it is is filled with parents spending every moment of every day of their lives doing nothing but trying to improve the life of their children for their own sake and that of those around them. I have spent tens of thousands of pounds (no exaggeration) over the last 3 years on therapy to do precisely that for my ds, who has high functioning autism. I spend every moment I am with him teaching him the rules of society, how to communicate, to interact to the best of his abilities. Do you really think parents of children with autism don't do this?

I also get where you're coming from about siblings - mixed in with the relentless teaching etc is the guilt and stress of how to ensure that my dd does not suffer because of her brother's autism, while trying to accommodate it at the same time.

This whole thread has upset me more than any other in 6 years on MN actually. The OP said in her opening sentence that she believes her brother to have autism. Yet people are still piling in to say what a rude wanker he is.

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lurkerspeaks · 28/01/2014 21:12

Have you actually spoken to your brother?

I have a friend who behaves like this. Once we explained rounds to him the frustration of him never buying a drink went away.

Once I explained hospitality rules eg. help clear up and bring a gift that frustration has gone.

My friend genuinely doesn't get it without being told but he doesn't WANT to be different so when he is told he remembers faithfully. Almost to the point of being irritating. Sometimes I think I'm just never happy.

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SpecialAgentFreyPie · 28/01/2014 21:21

Bialy

I'm sorry, I'm speaking emotively and hypocritically. I'd be heartbroken if any of my DC spoke about their DB this way, and you're right. My issue is with my parents. I use the term 'slapping a label on' bitterly, because that's exactly how my DPs view it. He's been labeled, good now he can be comfortably put in a box like a 'normal' person, let's never speak about it again.
I don't know if I'll ever be able to forgive them for burying their head in the sand my whole life, and deep down I know my issue is with them. But 25 years of hurt from a sibling doesn't just go away, even if technically it wasn't his fault. It is complicated (obviously!)

I worded myself badly. I do a lot of lurking on the SN boards. I projected, I found it very difficult to read posts lecturing the OP and saying how their very young children already know they're expected to take care of their sibling. It got my hackles up. Again, hypocritical because I don't want any of my DC to resent their DB!!

I like to think at least I know what not to do with my DC from my own childhood...

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bialystockandbloom · 28/01/2014 21:31

That's fine specialagent I probably overreacted to that specific phrase, and it wasn't really fair of me to pick you out like that. I can see your situation being hard. Feeling a bit sensitive today (maybe cos I'm on a 5:2 fast day so reeeeally hungry!).