My 14-year-old son said his girlfriend's autism is cute

[ThatElatedRubyCat]

I'm not British.

My 14-year-old son is a freshman in high school. He's on the popular side. He started dating this nice 14-year-old girl in his class. This school year is her 1st school year in America as she's from Japan. She's autistic.

With my own ears, I heard my son tell his girl that her autism is cute. He also said she has an adorable way of looking at the world and explaining things. She looked and sounded geniune when she thanked him.

I don't know I should feel about this. I don't know much about autism. I don't know if he should be saying that. I might be overthinking things.

Even if she's okay with it, what if she told her parents he said that. What if my son were to let her parents hear him saying things like I that. I really don't know what I should do or if I even should be doing anything about it. Any advice?

I had talked to him to tell him to make sure to see her as a whole person. That autism can be challenging. That autism isn't the entirety of who she is. To make sure she's comfortable with that kind of talk. To make sure her parents would be comfortable with that kind of talk. To pay attention to the words she uses for herself. And all kinds of stuff.

They hung out at my house after the talk. I didn't hear any of their conversations but she looked happy. After she left, my son has told me some stuff. According to him, she said she liked that her called her autism cute. That being cute for her traits is far preferable than being weird or annoying. Also according to my son, she said she had already told her parents that he called her autism cute as she has that kind of relationship with her parents and they are okay with that comment.

I'm especially proud of my son right now.