I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was 22. Up until that point I had a terrible time at school, I just do not learn as other people do. My grades were usually low even though I tried really hard. All of many family is different they usually have great grades and an easy time studying.

Sometimes my siblings would tease me even bully me I would say because of my low grades, specially my brother. He would ask me math questions out of the blue and laugh and call me names when I was not able to answer correctly. My mom and uncle specially enabled this behaviour and laughed along with him.

After my diagnosis I started using different studying/comprehension techniques and I was able to get my bachelor and masters degree. I was and still am really proud of myself. I have built a solid carrear and own a steady growing business 9+ years. Before opening my own business I was a teacher at the local university, a very good and recognized university. I gave that up to focus on my business.

My cousin is 11 years younger than me so we have always been friendly but not really close. She might not even know about my diagnosis. I believe my uncle doesn't know either.

At my cousin's rehearsal dinner, I got sat next to my uncle (cousins father). He was telling everyone how my cousin became a math tutor during the pandemic when she was laid off from her job. He seemed really proud of her resilience and how she got back on her feet due to her "good brains".

Some other relative started talking about how his daughter is going to college and working as a math tutor as a part time job.

I was feeling great hearing all of this and really felt proud about my cousin who was struggling during the pandemic and managed to make her way.

Suddenly my uncle turns to me and says "apparently you are the only one who has never been able teach anything, you could never be a tutor".

Everyone was really silent and looking at me. Words just came out of my mouth without second thought.

"No, I haven't been a private tutor, I have only been a uni teacher. And since we are comparing I have never been laid off, not even during the pandemic."

My uncle just brushed it off and kept talking about something else.

Later on I went to use the bathroom and found my cousing crying, she said she felt humiliated. I apologized and she said she was not mad at me because she has always seen how our family can be mean and rude to me when talking about acedemic achievements. She said she was mad at her father for being rude and triggering my answer and for talking about her private issues.

I kept apologising and reassuring her I spoke out of anger but that there is nothing wrong with being laid off and that she has nothing to me ashamed off.

We hugged it out but I still feel like an AH for not thinking before speaking.