The last thing anyone would say is that I was a cold mother. I'm very affectionate with my children. That said, I don't want to be touched by anyone else, except them or my husband. With people I'm attached to I'm very warm. Interesting too, is that I was a vet tech myself but felt bad for the people losing their animals, because I'd been through it. I relate better to animals and always have. People I've become friends with usually had to spend a lot of time with me first, (co-workers, people that boarded horses with mine) to get that I mean well and want to get to know me. My 3 kids are autistic and highly empathetic like me, but not unless we first understand that a person is upset. There are no services for someone like me here in the Beehive State. Plus, in all the states in US I've lived in, this is absolutely the most intolerant for anyone who's different. Social services have investigated women just for being autistic and having kids. I don't dare ask them for help. And if you need to leave an abusive marriage? Count on losing custody of your kids if you have an ASD diagnosis.