Friend with autism

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JFSurvivor

Senior Member
Jan 20, 2015
1,184
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0
#1
So there's this girl who goes to my college...let's call her sue. Yesterday Sue and I hung out. I went to class I was a perfect student and then class was over and as I was walking to my car I saw Sue. "Hey sue!" I said.

"Hey," She replied.

"What time do you have class?" I asked.

"Noon," she said.

"Ok wanna go get Starbucks?"

"Sure," she said.

So we went to get starbucks. After getting starbucks she had me talk to this guy. After talking for a bit 11:40 rolled around. "Sue, we should probably get you to class," I said.

"I don't wanna go to class. I'm not going."

Both me and the guy tried to reason with her to get her to go to class but she refused. I evetually had to say, "If you don't go to class I'm going to text your mother."

"I don't care," she said.

So I texted her mother saying this:
Your daughter doesn't want to go to class. What do I do?

She responded:


Tell her no or she is in big trouble.

I told Sue what her mom had told me and she said, "oh fine."

I walked her to class and messaged her mom again. She replied with something Sue thought was funny. She had me walk back to the guy and read the text messages. He laughed and she thought that he thought it was funny. I saw his laugh be more uncomfortable than anything.

"Sue, we really gotta get to class," I said gently.

"Ok," she said sadly.

I walked her back to her classroom. As we were wating for her teacher to arrive this girl named Lexi was waiting there also. "Hey Sue," she said.

"Hey," she replied.

The three of us got talking and Sue began to say some weird things. The way Sue and I met was through this campus group called CRU. I hated it because the girls were not only mean to me but they were also meant to Sue.

"I'm a staff member at CRU," Sue said, "and we talk behind people's backs."

"And that's a good thing?" Lexi asked.

"Umm....no. But I'm just like them," Sue said.

"Sue, it's not nice to talk behind people's back," I said.

"So? Everyone else does it. We talk behind your back and your boyfriends back," she said.

That got me angry. They can talk behind my back all they want but they can NOT talk behind my boyfriends back. Sue giggled seeing my reaction and I calmed down.For all I knew she was just saying this stuff to get under my skin...but I wouldn't put it past those girls to talk behind my back and my boyfriend's.

Class started for Sue and she reluctantly went in the room. I felt lost. I figured why not get some homework done while I wait (I promised her that I would hang out with her after as a means to get her to go to class)? So I headed to the library but then I realized she was going to have no way of finding me because she doesn't have a cell phone. She doesn't have a cell phone because her mom or this pastor took it away because she recorded her mom yelling at her and was planning on taking it to the authorities. The pastor said that it was dangerous for her to have a phone and something happened where she got banned from a church or a church event.

Anyway I decided now would be a good time to call her mom and figure out how to best help her so I did. It started with a simple question of "Sue said she talked behind peoples backs and she thinks it's a good thing. What do I do? How do I respond?"

Her mom launches into this huge back story about her and Sue. Here is what I remember from it:

1) Her mom had to give up a fiance for her. The fiance said that if you don't institutionalize sue then he wasn't going to marry her so the mom said "bite the dust" and gave him his ring back.

2) Sue got her mom fired from her job by contacting her moms boss on facebook and telling him everything that was going on at home.

3) Sue's mom is jobless now and hasn't worked in three months and can't find a job because there are none that are flexible enough so that she can also care for Sue.

4) Despite everything Sue demands that her mom gives her a life of luxury and does everything for her.

5) Sue also gets jealous when her mom will buy a piece of candy like a chocolate bar for someones birthday and not get one for her.

So that's what I remember.

Sue gets out of class and she asks me to text her mom when she was going to pick her up. so I did and her mom said that she was there. Sue wanted to hang out more so I messaged her mom asking if we could hang out more. Her mom said no. So we walked to her moms car. Her mom and I got to talking and as we were talking Sue picks up a needle and begins poking her leg with it.

"Uh...sue," I said nervously.

"Give it to me," her mom said.

"No," Sue said.

Her mom grabbed the pin away and Sue looked very annoyed. We talked more then they left because Sue's mom was on her period and didn't have a tampon. I offered her a pad, she took it and then they left. When I got home I got a message from Sue's mom saying that they are going to be moving within a year because the taxes are too high.

WHAT DO I MAKE OF THIS??? I AM SO CONFUSED!! Also how can I help Sue? Keep in mind I have only been hanging out with her for two days. What I just described is day 2.


 

JFSurvivor

Senior Member
Jan 20, 2015
1,184
25
0
#2
Also today I can't make it to school to be with Sue and I'm worried that she'll think that I'm abandoning her. I don't want to do that to her. The reason I'm not going to school is because yesterday was a lot for me and I need to take time to process everything and to get stuff done. I need me time. Is that selfish?
 

kodiak

Senior Member
Mar 8, 2015
4,995
290
83
#3
It sounds like CRU is not the best environment. I would say if you, Lexi, and Sue are all in this group, you could either use that time to go do something together and discuss what CRU is meant to discuss or try to convince the group to not talk about others behind their back. I know what the group is, it is at my college too, but I never went. As a commuting student, the meetings were never at the right time for me. If you have classes, you might want to go. Is it similar to why your friend did not want to go? Let me tell you this, if you can go, I recommend going, it is hard to get back into school if you get out of going.
 

JFSurvivor

Senior Member
Jan 20, 2015
1,184
25
0
#4
It sounds like CRU is not the best environment. I would say if you, Lexi, and Sue are all in this group, you could either use that time to go do something together and discuss what CRU is meant to discuss or try to convince the group to not talk about others behind their back. I know what the group is, it is at my college too, but I never went. As a commuting student, the meetings were never at the right time for me. If you have classes, you might want to go. Is it similar to why your friend did not want to go? Let me tell you this, if you can go, I recommend going, it is hard to get back into school if you get out of going.
I have no classes today. Lexi is not in CRU. Sue likes CRU because she can talk behind peoples backs...or so she says...I think she just wants to belong somewhere. I tried convincing Sue not to go but she wouldn't listen.
 
May 3, 2013
8,719
75
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#5
You did things well!

In case she leaves you (which is her right) let her get you cared for her, although it will take some time to be understood.
 
S

Siberian_Khatru

Guest
#6
I think, like she did to you, you should talk behind her back now about how she stole a pad from you (kidding, but seriously, why did you include the part about her mom's period??).

I'm kind of at odds about what to make of this too because, honestly, I am at a loss as to what the situation actually is.
 

JFSurvivor

Senior Member
Jan 20, 2015
1,184
25
0
#7
I think, like she did to you, you should talk behind her back now about how she stole a pad from you (kidding, but seriously, why did you include the part about her mom's period??).

I'm kind of at odds about what to make of this too because, honestly, I am at a loss as to what the situation actually is.
I'm as confused as you lol. I think both mom and daughter are very hurt in their own ways and both think they are in the right. I think they both could use some work.

I put in the part about the period because I thought it was weird how she just came out and was like "I'm on my period and bleeding through my pants!"

The day before yesterday I was at a grocery store with Sue and her mom. Her mom was explaining to me about why she was so angry sounding on the phone because she was on her period without a tampon and she showed me the blood that was seeping through her pants and I'm like "it's not even that noticeable!"

So yeah I dunno what to make of this.
 
S

Siberian_Khatru

Guest
#8
I'm as confused as you lol. I think both mom and daughter are very hurt in their own ways and both think they are in the right. I think they both could use some work.

I put in the part about the period because I thought it was weird how she just came out and was like "I'm on my period and bleeding through my pants!"

The day before yesterday I was at a grocery store with Sue and her mom. Her mom was explaining to me about why she was so angry sounding on the phone because she was on her period without a tampon and she showed me the blood that was seeping through her pants and I'm like "it's not even that noticeable!"

So yeah I dunno what to make of this.
Wow.

Maybe she'll save money when they move by paying lower taxes and, then, stock up on some feminine products. ;)

And maybe you're right; both might have a martyr complex. From what you described, Sue sounds like a little bit of a brat. I'm trying to give her the benefit of the doubt since you mentioned she's autistic in the thread title, but to be fair, I've seen autistic kids that were still relatively well behaved and respectful. So yeah, martyr complex, maybe?
 

JFSurvivor

Senior Member
Jan 20, 2015
1,184
25
0
#9
Wow.

Maybe she'll save money when they move by paying lower taxes and, then, stock up on some feminine products. ;)

And maybe you're right; both might have a martyr complex. From what you described, Sue sounds like a little bit of a brat. I'm trying to give her the benefit of the doubt since you mentioned she's autistic in the thread title, but to be fair, I've seen autistic kids that were still relatively well behaved and respectful. So yeah, martyr complex, maybe?
A very high possibility. I think Sue is just EXTREMLY EXTREMLY hurt and that is where she gets her martyr complex. She has no dad, her only family is her mother, she is treated like crap on a daily basis by the general public. It's not good. She has a LOT of issues. And the sad thing is that I don't know if she WANTS to get better. I think she is just so stuck in her hurt that getting better is out of the question in her mind. :'( Like this is soooo sad!!!
 

kodiak

Senior Member
Mar 8, 2015
4,995
290
83
#10
I have no classes today. Lexi is not in CRU. Sue likes CRU because she can talk behind peoples backs...or so she says...I think she just wants to belong somewhere. I tried convincing Sue not to go but she wouldn't listen.
If she just wants to belong, you could easily get a small group together so she belongs somewhere. It is ultimately her choice, but I will be praying for you all.
 

JFSurvivor

Senior Member
Jan 20, 2015
1,184
25
0
#11
If she just wants to belong, you could easily get a small group together so she belongs somewhere. It is ultimately her choice, but I will be praying for you all.
I have no friends though....except for Sue and one other girl who I dunno if you could call a friend.
 

kodiak

Senior Member
Mar 8, 2015
4,995
290
83
#12
I have no friends though....except for Sue and one other girl who I dunno if you could call a friend.
I know what that is like. I will be praying for you.
Really the best thing you can do for her is to pray for her, and just be a friend.
 

JFSurvivor

Senior Member
Jan 20, 2015
1,184
25
0
#13
I know what that is like. I will be praying for you.
Really the best thing you can do for her is to pray for her, and just be a friend.
How can I be her friend though? I feel more like a babysitter.
 
May 3, 2013
8,719
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#14
I have no friends though....except for Sue and one other girl who I dunno if you could call a friend.
I hope you learn to cope with that! When person get old (or poor) that part of life seems to be pushing but everything is our choice: We have what we´ve got (love or friendship is a blessing, so we´d better nurturing)
 

kodiak

Senior Member
Mar 8, 2015
4,995
290
83
#15
How can I be her friend though? I feel more like a babysitter.
Don't babysit her, just treat her like you would any friend? You can't force her to act a certain way, just tell her it is not a good idea to do that, unless she is hurting herself like with the pin? I don't know how to explain it, so I hope you understood what I was trying to say. Do you think that would help?
 

JFSurvivor

Senior Member
Jan 20, 2015
1,184
25
0
#16
I hope you learn to cope with that! When person get old (or poor) that part of life seems to be pushing but everything is our choice: We have what we´ve got (love or friendship is a blessing, so we´d better nurturing)
Umm...I didn't choose to not have friends...go read my testimony. I'm socially awkward because for five years i was around people who had no clue how to cope with the real world so I learned from that. Now I have to re-learn everything.
 

JFSurvivor

Senior Member
Jan 20, 2015
1,184
25
0
#17
Don't babysit her, just treat her like you would any friend? You can't force her to act a certain way, just tell her it is not a good idea to do that, unless she is hurting herself like with the pin? I don't know how to explain it, so I hope you understood what I was trying to say. Do you think that would help?
eh...what about not going to class? She is failing almost all of her classes....
 
May 3, 2013
8,719
75
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#18
Hmmm!

I will read it, one day (thanks!) I´m still learning to cope with people, not your ways, of course.

Last weekend, by the way, one of those few friends I have kept appeared to visit my hometown and he was shocked there, because he had 15 years since he visited the town the last (he is a pilot and travels alot, elsewhere).

Ha! Ha!
 

kodiak

Senior Member
Mar 8, 2015
4,995
290
83
#19
eh...what about not going to class? She is failing almost all of her classes....
I honestly don't know if forcing someone to go to class is a good idea....It may be a matter of the heart, which then the best bet is prayer. If her heart is not into wanting to go to class, she may not learn even if forced to go. I know it is hard to see a friend struggle, but we can only do so much. I would recommend giving it over to God and letting him use you.
 

JFSurvivor

Senior Member
Jan 20, 2015
1,184
25
0
#20
I honestly don't know if forcing someone to go to class is a good idea....It may be a matter of the heart, which then the best bet is prayer. If her heart is not into wanting to go to class, she may not learn even if forced to go. I know it is hard to see a friend struggle, but we can only do so much. I would recommend giving it over to God and letting him use you.
what if she is so hurt that she doesn't want to change though?