>>4413841Am I a bit pissed? Yeah, but even with how candid you're being, I don't know your whole situation and I won't pretend to. My dad always taught me, "There may be more than you know." You NEED time away so that you can not lose your mind. With as unstable a house as this boy seems to have, he needs a strong, stable mom.
Can I assume you're around the Chicago area, considering Acen?
http://www.theautismprogram.org/This is in and around Illinois. One of the best things for you to do right now is to reach out to other families with Autistic kids and see that you aren't alone, and that there are things that can help both you and your son.
You definitely need breaks. You need them to be healthy. But they need to be more frequent than once a year, and possibly not as expensive or time-consuming, with cosplay and being away from your son. The manga and anime are a good start, but it sounds to me like you need something interactive. There are free community programs around to let you socialize and enjoy your hobbies. Hobbies are very important in these situations. But it just isn't financially wise to drop all that money on one event when it needs to go to other things. Networking with other families who understand what you're going through might get you the connection to get a job. If you can craft, there are often charities that allow for making crafts/clothing/fun things in exchange for money to help with Autistic kids. Especially since you're a single mom. Use materials you already have, be creative and honest with what's up. Autism is on the rise in the US, and you are certainly not alone.
We're not trying to be the No Fun Allowed police. But there may be places time and money might be better spent.