Im 25F. I work as a teacher and absolutely love my job. I get a tremendous sense of purpose from it and love my students. I am also earning my master’s and had a 4.0 last semester. I also am learning harp, and wrote a short story that was a finalist for a relatively prestigious award recently. I’m also autistic and was diagnosed when I was 8. I stim by flapping my hands and know an uncomfortable amount about Ancient Egypt. Regardless, I have friends, a job, and interests and I feel like I’m doing pretty alright for 25. Also full disclosure, my dad and I have an acrimonious relationship but I still talk to him for my mom’s sake (wanted to be upfront in case of bias). My dad doesn’t like Taylor Swift because she doesn’t have kids (I’m not like a mega swiftie, but that’s a glimpse of his mindset).

Recently, my dad told me that I shouldn’t shake my hands anymore because “the autism is a turnoff.” He doesn’t want me to be alone. I told him that even if I do wind up alone, I have a pension and will be able to support myself. He said that he wants me to be happy and I said I would be happy with a partner who embraces my autism, rather than someone I constantly have to mask around. I also got pretty angry and said that I don’t care what’s a turnoff to him, that I don’t want to hear his constant input on my life anymore, and that I love him, but I’d rather be alone than with someone like him.

The last part seems to have really gotten to him, and I understand that it must have been devastating to hear. It’s just that I’m so exhausted that I don’t care at this point, and I feel like it’s true. My mom asked that I apologize because she says he loves me (I know he does, but he’s just a flaming dickhead and it’s hard for me to care). Out of principle, I don’t want to apologize (especially since he hasn’t apologized to me), but I understand it might have been extremely unnecessary and sometimes you have to give an inch to keep the peace.

AITA?