Firstly I’d like to say I’m usually a level-headed person who doesn’t get offended/upset easily, but I feel a bit upset and down this morning regarding the parent of DS’ friend.
DS(6) is Year 2 and thanks partly to covid he’s only ever been on two play dates with school friends ever. He has mostly only played with Muslim children whose parents say they do not do playdates (he has been invited to their birthday parties though), so before anyone wants to flay me for it that is what they have told me. So with covid and being told no play dates he has on ever been to two of them with other children.
He has now been friendly with another boy for a few months but his DM is very standoffish with me. I initially thought it was because her English is limited but I have seen her freely chatting to other parents. I always say hello and I get a mumbled hello or vague smile and then she walks away or turns her back. Quite a few children play in the playground for 5-10 mins after school and this mum will chat to others but deliberately turns her back to me, or will answer a question and then turn away. I absolutely do not harass her before anyone suggests that, however I am friendly with so many parents and no one else has ever responded like this. I chat to parents in other classes/Year groups and we have no idea who each other’s child is, just have a friendly chat while waiting in the queue to get into the class pick-up points. So, clearly she doesn’t like me which is of course her perogative.
This morning I didn’t realise she was walking behind me down a short cut alley after drop-off which takes a few mins to go through, until she shot past me as soon as I stepped back out onto the street. It just hit me then, am I really so horrible that you couldn’t even say hello as you went past, let alone have a brief chat as we walked along the alley? Our sons are becoming good friends, and her son seems like a lovely friend, and he will come and talk to me as does her younger Y1 DS. I’ve asked the teacher prior to Xmas how DS’ friendships were and she said he is well-liked, kind, friendly etc so it can’t be that she thinks he’s a bully etc. It must be me.
I just feel so shit that no one wants a play date with my DS, and it’s probably because of me. I’m feeling quite stressed these past few days because of something else, but this just felt like the icing on the cake of rejection 
. I don’t know what I’m even asking, has anyone felt similar?
Fwiw DS has quite a few friends outside of school that he sees regularly, some from nursery and activities.