Hello,
I have concerns with my almost 10 year old daughter. She is a very social young lady who seemingly on the outside loves to talk and people.
She has been struggling for a few years in school to find “her group” of friends.
She never did have a best girl friend Or even a group of girls she is comfortable with or close friends with. She never gets invited out by girls outside of school for activities even though I have tried with moms to schedule a few things here and there, it is clear they are not interested in maintaining any sort of friendships with her.
This is now showing itself in different ways. She told me on several occasions that no one likes her and none of the girls really care to befriend her or sit near her at lunch, recess. At times have gotten up and moved. She really tries hard to be liked and is often times I would say overly forceful to be seen or sit/participate near others. I can tell her confidence is pretty low because she says she hates recess and gym. At recess she brought her book outside several times because she said she has no one to really play with everyone has “ a group”)She mentioned when she tries to join often times she doesn’t feel like they want her there. The one “mean girl” as she calls her is always making her feel small.
I’m not sure what to make of it. I know sometimes she can be a bit of an extrovert and a bit too overt with people so it may put them off, but she is also a a very sweet and a good kid.
but it is clear to me her self confidence is getting worse. Her neighbor and probably closest friend told her recently (becasue my daughter asked) Why she didn’t invite her to her bday party? The neighbor told he because all her friends do not like her and she didn’t want to make them uncomfortable by inviting her. She proceeded to tell her not many likes her because she is bossy sometimes but a fun girl. I know she wants to be homeschooled now b/c she didn’t love school becasue of the kids, which is a shame b/c she absolutely ADORES learning and answering questions and engaging in school with teachers. I’m wondering if this lack of confidence is something I’ve in advertently created because I myself have tendencies to be over controlling with her & an authoritarian parent? I feel like I’m always trying to keep her in line because she has tendencies be compulsive in her words and actions. I don’t want to be this way but feel like she won’t choose the right choices at times and and trying to help.