Please don't flame me - I am sooo not trying to offend anyone - just the opposite so if I use the wrong terminology please tell me.
Hanging around at the village hall for whilst DD's did her ballet class and a new mum was there. We got chatting a bit and the subject got onto the fact that her DD (nearly 4) was being diagnosed with/had been diagnosed with low level autism.
I got the impression this was all fairly raw for her and I did not want to say the wrong thing. I siad it must be tough and as tough on her (the mother) as her DD as she was probably having to do a lot of fighting the corner. I mentioned I had a DF with a child with SEN (genetic condition) who had to fight to get statemented. I also said well done to her for having the strength to get stuff done/a diagnosis so DD could be helped.
But really, oh bugger I did not want to make stuff worse, be patronising or upsetting. Was all that OK? Is there something I should have said. Is there something I should utterly avoid saying. We may well be spending several hours together waiting for ballet classes - I don't want her to dread seeing me!
I did also mention that my DF found MN very useful.
Please help (and again sorry if I have offended)