Inappropriate Behavior

Since she was 6, my stepdaughter and I have been alone as her mom died unexpectedly.
She is on the autistic spectrum although she is now able to hold down a little part time job, she goes to regular school but will never be allowed to legally drive.
She is fun and funny, not lacking intellect but also rather loud and has other issues that sometimes make life feel a bit less than normal or at least on edge.
She has also been guilty of inappropriate behavior and I've become aware of this fact by certain groups in which she's involved. Since she was a younger girl, she has been known to say things that should be out of bounds to people at the wrong times and has been known to show her body parts to people. Sometimes she does so just meaning to be funny but it's usually her unusual response to simple overexcitement.
Last Christmas, she was part of a group of special students in a particular program that were invited to a large party where there was music and lots of dancing, g*fts, santa and other events. The group was very excited with the proceedings and as she danced on the floor, it was brought to my attention that she was flashing her tits to guys that would dance with her. Fortunately or unfortunately, she does have a very developed and fit body and while most simply try to act like they aren't affected by it, I'm sure there are many guys that like seeing her goodies. I know it isn't necessarily her intention to be sexual but just that reaction to overstimulation, although as she's gotten older I know she has hormones raging like any other girl but lacks the ability to know how to hide or contain those. I have no idea how the men or boys who see her do such a thing react to it.
Over the years, she has gone without panties to parks or playgrounds and doesn't mind if those nearby have a clear view of everything she's supposed to be hiding under clothes.
We went to the beach once when she was an early teen and when I noticed people pointing I realized she had taken off her top in the water and everyone was looking. She seems to understand when I explain to her that that is not acceptable in public but it's easy for her to forget the next time.
Things were easier when she was in grade school but as she gets later on in her teens it's necessary to attempt to explain things to her especially knowing that she has the same thoughts as other teens. As she continued to start asking questions about sex and why people are different and all that, I debated about the fairness or unfairness that she may not have the same human interaction as other girls and wondered how to handle it. I decided to buy her a vibrator and explained what is what for. I further explained that it needed to be thoroughly washed each time she used it and all that.
The next day, she called me to her room where I unexpectedly found her lying completely nude and she was using it on herself and she asked me if she was doing it right. How the hell do you respond to that? I did tell her that the vibrator is NEVER to leave the house.
Lately it has become her way of getting someone to like her as she will meet someone new and she'll ask them if they want to touch her boobs or some similar sexual suggestion.
More and more she is acting out sexually and I know there are those who will gladly join her in that situation.
I'm torn usually between being the overprotective dad or being the helper to assist her in having the most normal life she can have. She's never in a situation other than her workplace where she is on her own to strike up a relationship but I wonder if it's fair to expect her to have a sexless life and what should I do about that? Do I simply hide her away or is this an area where I should act like most parents do by taking her to a gyno and allowing her to go on the pill so that she can have a sexual existence? I am sure that if she continues her flashing ways that some guy will want to join in and make a move on her. It has even crossed my mind to assist her by setting something up for her as I am 100 percent sure she'd want to be with a man if she had the chance.
This was simply my way of running all this through my mind as there is only a small percentage of parents who are in this situation. Please remember that those who don't have full congitive function still have the same types of feelings as everyone else and need to act on them. How to handle it is the question.

Comments

Anonymous

by Anonymous on Jul 23, 2023 at 7:34 PM

Well that is a conundrum, you're absolutely correct on all your points. As a parent it's our job to protect our children, that inate response lasts forever. This however is another level.
You know her best, you know how to communicate with her better than anyone else, so I presume you have a complicated conversation coming soon.
This will require more than random feedback from keyboard warriors to handle properly. Do some research, talk with the Doctors, Female friends, you want to get this right.
Best of luck

(1)  (0)
Anonymous

by Anonymous on Jul 24, 2023 at 5:59 AM

Excellent example of "Ridiculousness"...

(9)  (2)
Anonymous

by Anonymous on Jul 25, 2023 at 6:34 AM

Get her implanted birth control nothing to forget to take. Some boy will have sex with her anytime now to think otherwise is to ignore the 8 Billion humans on this planet.

This is a hard journey more parents have to navigate than you imagine.

Good Luck

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Anonymous

by Anonymous on Jul 25, 2023 at 9:28 AM

I agree with commenter #2. If you don't get her a birth control implant, she is very likely to come home pregnant, and that will only increase the complexity of her already difficult life's journey. Given the fact that her interest in sex already exists, it seems almost inevitable that she is going to experience having sex with another person, and sooner rather than later. If she doesn't initiate it, someone will try to take advantage of her trusting nature. You need to do something to protect her, and simply trying to keep her away from situations where that might occur is not the answer. You can't stand guard over her 24 hours a day, every day.

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