Do you share more intimacy with your pets than you do with your kids?

How many of them are teens? How many of them are neurodivergent?

Despite cats' reputation for just seeing humans as walking can-openers, mine (the ones I have right now at least) see me as more than that. A bed. In fact, a heated bed. One of them is almost frantic about demanding I cuddle w/her at certain points in the day. One day my wife was just about bewildered that the cats were hanging out w/her, until she realized that was because I was in the garage (so they settled for 2nd best).

My daughter's only 11, but she's had a teenage mentality for a few years now and she seems to only see me as a walking credit card. I've tried to find common interests with her, but all she wants to do is be on her tablet and computer and talk to me when she wants to order a plush or something cosplay. We used to play Roblox a lot together, but it was quite some time ago that she decided I was cramping her style. I wonder how much of that is ASD and how much is acting like a teen and how much is just good old bad parenting... 🤷🏻‍♂

mossyboots · 51-55, FNew

No, of course not. I have two teenage boys I spend a lot of time with and they have their social lives too as I do. But we all love our cat. She certainly acts as though we are more than beings with tin openers - she is very loving and affectionate.

tiltawhirl · 36-40, F

Maybe find some sort of hobby to do with her you could both enjoy. You’ve moved on from Roblox so try and find the next thing. Maybe start by making a list of ideas and run them by her and see if any of them would be interesting to her. Also, car talks work very well. Go get some snacks and just go on a drive and talk about anything and everything.

Coralmist · 41-45, F

Perhaps it's a bit of both ASD and being a pre teen. Maybe you could go to dinner together, no tablet. It could provide some time to catch up together.