Guilt over turning down a gettogether with some of my family

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This morning, as I had wrapped up my weekly grocery shopping trip, I got a text from my brother-in-law. He said that he had seen me on Foursquare (My profile, if you have it and are interested in following me), and wanted to get together with her wife and (presumably) my nephew at a nearby Panera Bread restaurant (boycott them next month, BTW). I thanked him for the invite, but politely turned him down especially as we'll be seeing each other next Sunday for a family portrait shoot. I've come to feel guilty about it in the interim, and something inside of me says that he might bring it up next weekend. Question here: should I really feel guilty about all this?

No you should not feel guilty. I never feel guilty about turning down invitations because I know I have done so to avoid stress.

Don't feel guilty. You did what's right for you.

That's as may be but when I mentioned it to my parents, my Dad thought I had made a selfish decision while my Mom shared your opinion. The initial guilt, such as it is, has since faded.

ROFLMAO

My best friend asked me to come with her to St Patrick Days celebrations but there were a cou-ple of things

1.) I didn't want to spend the entire day drunk
2.) I needed time to myself
3.) I didn't have much money

And once I decided I wasn't going to go I felt a weight lifted off me mentally.

I don't think NT's will ever understand we need extra time alone compared to them. My friend was angry but I am going to explain to her I need that time alone. Its not that I don't like her or I am avoiding her company its just more important you have time to yourself at the moment and then you can see them at the family portrait feeling mentally recharged.

Remember your own needs are extremely important and you can't be a good friend/sibling/son if you aren't taking care of yourself first and foremost.

This sounds like my family, a bit. My sister is lower-functioning compared to me, and fades in and out socially. I've had times where I was exasperated trying to plan around her social phases, and sometimes that anger has carried over into situations where she didn't deserve it.

And, just like yours, another member of the family always reminds me that she lives her own life and it's her choice how much she wants to make the rest of us a part of it.