Our 6-year old has been having problems, socially, or so she says. I’m not sure whether to believe it’s as severe as she says, because we just threw a birthday party and she was very much the center of attention for the kids that were able to make it, and well, the limitations of her age.
But when she has mentioned it, she gets very emotional and says something to the effect that her friends don’t want to play with her; she’s made mention of it a few times.
The problem is, as her father, I’ve been antisocial my entire life, and her mom’s not much of a social butterfly, either. And I feel unequipped and powerless in how to guide her.
Any advice for a way forward would be appreciated more than I could ever convey.
I’ve been in similar situations with my children. Parents can’t be experts in everything, no matter how much we wish we could.
The evidence that you are a great parent is in caring and realizing when you are out of your area of familiar expertise, then seeking input to close that need.
The right thing to do is reach out to a professional or 2 and get multiple opinions, then weigh those opinions up with the child you know and love. Decide from there on what is a good course of action. An outside opinion often helps us with blind spots, but get more than one if you can.
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I’ve been in similar situations with my children. Parents can’t be experts in everything, no matter how much we wish we could.
The evidence that you are a great parent is in caring and realizing when you are out of your area of familiar expertise, then seeking input to close that need.
The right thing to do is reach out to a professional or 2 and get multiple opinions, then weigh those opinions up with the child you know and love. Decide from there on what is a good course of action. An outside opinion often helps us with blind spots, but get more than one if you can.