Hello, I'm new on here! Basically, a friend of mine who's always made a fuss of my son, (he's four, a gorgeous little boy with a speech + language delay which makes him hard to understand), has started snubbing him in the school playground. (We are both there every afternoon picking up our older children).

When he approaches her now she pulls a face/mutters under her breath. She thinks neither of us notice, obviously my son doesn't but I do. She then talks to him in a patronising tone + makes forced conv. with me.

I've tried everything to destract him from looking out for her, taking snacks, waiting in a different place, etc, (it's a small school so there aren't many places to hide!), but he always sees her + heads straight over, gets very upset when I lead him away.

If she was a mum I didn't know that well I wouldn't be upset, but we've known each other for some years now, + I've always been the first person she contacts if she's running late at work + wants me to pick her daughter up, etc, I've run around for her a lot over the last year, less inclined to now!

Would I be unreasonable to have it out with her, starting to dread the school runs!

She obviously has a problem.

Either have it out with her incase she is annoyed with you for something you haven't actually done or ignore her and don't talk.

Carry on letting him go to her, try and talk to her and if she doesn't respond favourably ask her what the problem is. Maybe even ask her why she is pulling faces at your lovely son.

what unpleasant behaviour
she owes it to you to explain herself

Thank you NOTABANANA, I will have a talk with her.

she sounds vile. (I also have a gorgeous 4 year old boy with speech and language delay so I may of course be a touch biased!). I agree with NAB.

btw there are parents on the special needs board with children with speech delay if you ever feel the need to talk/unload.

We have a lovely little Downs Syndrome boy who comes up with his mum to collect older brother and he always makes a beeline for us.
Some of the Mums who don't know him don't interact that much and i'm always picking him up (when he wants to) to give him cuddles.
He can be a bit rough as he wants to see what hair bobble i've got on my ponytail but apart from that he is a joy.
The mum does have a hands full though, trying to stop him from throwing gravel at the teachers cars .
The op should talk to that (old friend) and see what has changed.