My brother who lives in another continent is over with his kids. He always disappoints me in his selfish behaviour. My parents particularly my mother look to me to always keep the relationship going so there is lots of emotional pressure. I have had a hell of a year with separation, moving to a new area, getting ehcp for my son with asd and place in school etc etc. My son has very verbal very anxious and intense autism. He is an absolute joy and wonder but his obsessive need to label things and have me repeat them and his anxiety related to this means my life is very hard as I cannot have any mental space or rest and we cannot do anything normal . Everything is a struggle including msnaging others reactions. We are very isolated. We saw my brother and his kids today and as his daughter was giggling at some of my sons behaviour I tried to tell my brother about some of my sons anxious labelling and what it means and how he and his kids might react in a helpful way. I thought perhaps I shouldn’t as he always disappoints me but I thought I would try . Stupid me. He laughed as I described my sons behaviour and then when I was upset at this reaction which also stopped me continuing to tell him how he might help, he told me laughing was “ better than being miserable” and he was laughing just as you do at the funny things kids do so it was ok???? They have now all gone to the fair- the fair we can’t go to because my sons behaviour is too difficult.