Hi,
My DD has always struggled to maintain friendships. She has the occasional friend, but it usually fizzles.
She's likely on the autistic spectrum (no diagnosis currently) and often feels like she just doesn't fit in and very much on the outside.
Recently she had to move schools, as she didn't make the grades to stay on at her old schools Sixth Form, which was her strong preference. Anyway, I know it's only been a week, but she hasn't made any friends and it sounds as though she isn't being included at all. She is trying, but by the time they get to this age they have all built up their friendships for years and DD is a complete newbie and a quirky one at that, so this was always going to be tricky.
She really threw herself into this and I was/am so proud of her courage and determination, but I have a horrible feeling she'll be spending the next couple of years completely on her own and feeling constantly not good enough. Under the circumstances, it feels like if it doesn't happen quickly, it's probably just not going to happen. I know that will sound defeatist, but I really do.
She said she'll just get her head down and work and "try not to be too sad" ☹️ but I honestly can't stand that. She has a lot of free periods now, so there's so much time potentially, for her to feel completely rejected and excluded.
She said that when she goes to sit somewhere, her classmates will sometimes stand up and move away. Again, I can't stand the thought of this. It must hurt her so much.
I'm not sure Sixth Form will be much help, as I suspect they'll just tell me they can't manufacture friendships and if she isn't actually being bullied, there's not much they can do.
Can anyone offer any advice? I know I will have to contact the school, but I don't really know what to say, which isn't like me.
TIA