re: #139 Eclectic Cyborg

Question: Close friends of mine have a 3 year old. Most adults familiar with this boy feel he is very much on the Autism spectrum but his parents don’t see it and so the child is not getting the kind of support he probably needs.

My wife says it’s not our place to tell the kids parents (our close friends) about this so I haven’t said anything.

Is this the right course of action?

Sadly, I think that your wife is correct.

Trying to intervene, over-ride, or correct your friends is not going to help the relationship. Offering support, as you can, to the parents once they indicate the need for it, is likely to be a more successful approach.

I understand that there is an old Quebec saying: “You never know what is in your neighbor’s stewpot”.