Probably, but it does make the situation different. Now that hubby and I are in our 70's, I do have to imagine that we will be leaving our grown children at some point, to make it without us. Since they are independent and doing well in their lives, we are not worried about them living on without us.I can't shake the feeling that if Jeffrey wasn't autistic the tone of comments suspicious of "self harm" would be different and not sympathetic towards the parent.