Family or Pets? - Page 6

Pook · ‎03-20-2010

Everyone posting please read my post of OP's post of 10-31 of this year about her hosting Christmas when her son was younger but stopped because their early morning rush to open gifts and get things started and her son having to get dressed and unable to play with gifts for guests he rarely sees so...

Oostende · ‎03-14-2010

Absolutley right, @stevieb! I would skip the dog and the gathering if I were the OP.

As I said, I would also skip the gathering if I were one of the family members the hostess invited and I suspect many in my family would feel the same way. If you need us, we'll be with the autistic kid, not the dog.

But in keeping with Sooner's point, I wouldn't mind a bit. I would find it remarkably easy to exclude the hostess and her doggie from future family events. No hard feelings. Just a personal preference.

Sage04 · ‎07-10-2011

@Effie54 wrote:
I would not tell a family member or friend not to come. Pets are extremely important, as well as family; I would find a comfy, cozy place for the pet to chill while company visited.
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This is family and something should be done to accomodate the son. Unless they don't really want @timeless to be there with her autistic son. Some people can't cope with that.

Also the dog might feel a lot better being away from the crowd. Animals need peace and quiet also.

Trinity11 · ‎11-16-2014

@stevieb wrote:
@Oostende Of course, the option is for the family of the 'petrified' child, of whatever age' not to participate in the gathering. Hence, no one would be cruelly exposing him or her to the situation.

@Trinity11 I'm not sure whether the hosts are 'ignorant', such a judgement laden word, of the situation or have merely expressed an unwillingness to accommodate the request to sequester the dog in their own home.

I own it @stevieb and yes it it is a judgement just like your doing exactly what you are accusing me of when you called me out for saying it.. Anyone in this day and age that has no idea how difficult it is to raise an autistic child is either without knowledge of autism and what it entails or just plain without empathy.

tansy · ‎01-02-2011

@Pook wrote:
Everyone posting please read my post of OP's post of 10-31 of this year about her hosting Christmas when her son was younger but stopped because their early morning rush to open gifts and get things started and her son having to get dressed and unable to play with gifts for guests he rarely sees so...

message 21 on this thread.

goldensrbest · ‎03-10-2010

The op could have changed her mind about going to family get togethers, also could her child had a very bad scare with a dog.

When you lose some one you L~O~V~E, that Memory of them, becomes a TREASURE.

Sage04 · ‎07-10-2011

@Pook wrote:

@timeless wrote:
My child is horribly afraid of dogs. He's had this problem for years and it's regardless of what type of dog or whose dog it is. He refuses to go near them.
Going out in public where dogs are allowed, he steers clear of them...WIDELY.

My question to you is this: If you were hosting a family get-together where you hardly ever see someone who is afraid of a pet, would you find a place for your pet to hang out so your family member can come to visit you on a holiday?

Or would you not ask them to come?

Even if all other family was coming?

Seems like you have your own solution already! You posted this ‎10-31-2023 03:12 PM
For years, I hosted Christmas when my son was young. I finally said no more because we were rushing our early morning gift time with him in order to clean everything up and get the food started in time. He was disappointed because he had to put away his newly acquired goodies and get dressed for relatives he rarely saw.

It has been so much more pleasant to wake up Christmas morning and leisurely enjoy coffee in our jammies and watch each other open gifts. I make dinner for just us later in the day and who cares if the house is a me
ss of wrapping paper and new gifts all over! We visit relatives during the rest of the year and go out to eat. Problem solved

Nobody knows when the family member got the dog.

goldensrbest · ‎03-10-2010

I just don't think pook should had posted, the message that she did,stiring the pot.

When you lose some one you L~O~V~E, that Memory of them, becomes a TREASURE.

Greeneyedlady21 · ‎01-06-2015

I don't believe in people over animals always, animals are living sentient beings too. As for "dominion" that's a religious belief that's not allowed to be expressed here. Frankly most animals are better than many people are, and if a child with autism is not afraid of a dog I bet that dog would show the child more kindness and patience and empathy than many humans do.

I also believe that people with autism deserve compassion and empathy, no one knows what it's like to be the parent of a person with autism unless they are one themselves.

"Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

tansy · ‎01-02-2011

I am wondering if @timeless might have success talking with the owners of the sweet support animals that visit patients in the hospital or in a nursing home.