My eldest son has severe autism, and of course it effects the amount of attention I can give my younger son. We do go on family outings but they do have to be planned meticulously around my eldests needs and we need to be able to leave quickly. I feel so guilty that my youngest doesn’t get the same amount of attention and recently have attended birthday parties etc with just my youngest and left my oldest at home with his dad. I have been honest about why, that he finds events like these difficult, it often means leaving early which isn’t fair on my youngest and my son at the end of the day is much happier at home in his own environment. I have had quite a lot of judgment from people about this. “But you need to socialise him!” “He’s missing out on a lot!” Tomorrow I am taking my youngest on a day trip with friends. I know it would be too much for my oldest as it’s going to be a very long day and a lot of travelling in public which he doesn’t like (public places when crowded freak him out and he lashes out, just last week I walked out of Tesco’s with blood pouring down my face from being scratched while trying to carry him to the car) so his dad and me agreed he would stay with his dad and if he is in a good mood he would take him to the local beach instead. My mother was so judgmental when I told her, and said I am excluding him and how would that make him feel and he might enjoy it and I found myself snapping at her well sometimes my youngest needs a break and to be honest so do I!! She said I should be ashamed and I feel so guilty. But I also feel guilty for my other son. AIBU for wanting to have some days just for him?