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Are you friends with your children's friends on SM?

11 replies

CurlewKate · 04/04/2024 10:30

I always made a point of never asking when they were younger, but accepting if they initiated. Now they're grown ups I suppose I could ask-but I'm still a bit wary. I don't want to put them in the position of having to say yes. However-I'm not sure what to do about ds's partner. They live together, and it's a lovely solid relationship. We live quite close and we see each other quite often-initiated about equally by them and us. We have fun and I'm pretty sure she likes us. But I don't have her number or FB or anything. We do communicate-but always through DS. Even trivial things like he'll message "X says Wordle made her laugh today-it made her think of you!" "X says can she have your recipe for gingerbread" "X says have you got time for a coffee to talk about her essay" (those are real examples from the last couple of days) Is this usual? Would I be pushy to ask for her number? I am as sure as it's possible to be about another person that it's not him being controlling. Which I would probably think if someone else told me this story. But she spends time with his sister, who has first hand knowledge of controlling, so....

Is this

OP posts:
CurlewKate · 04/04/2024 12:12

Anyone?

OP posts:
pleasecallmeback · 04/04/2024 12:26

It sounds like she wants a friendship with you. I have adult children and am friends with some of their friends on Facebook. It's only weird if you're intending to spy on what your adult children are doing.

Meganmeccano · 04/04/2024 12:27

No, this is a safeguarding risk.

Rebootnecessary · 04/04/2024 12:29

Meganmeccano · 04/04/2024 12:27

No, this is a safeguarding risk.

To be friends with an adult childs partner? How is it a safeguarding risk?

MrsMitford3 · 04/04/2024 12:31

I'm not sure if it is a safeguarding risk if they are consenting adults?

I am friends with some of adult DC friends on instagram- some are from a sport where pics were shared, some after being at parties/bbqs at our house, outings, visiting them etc.

It took a while for one DS's GF to have an independent relationship with me but evolved very naturally and now do what's app etc.

I think it is fine-

SBAM · 04/04/2024 12:31

I wouldn’t ask for her number, but maybe next time you get an ‘X wants to know what loo cleaner you use’ text, tell your son he can pass on your number so she can text you herself.

VivienneDelacroix · 04/04/2024 12:31

Meganmeccano · 04/04/2024 12:27

No, this is a safeguarding risk.

Prime example of reading the title and not the post! 😂

OP - I would say to your son that he can give your number to his partner. That way she can choose what to do with it.
I wouldn't want to be on their social media - that's her space for her friends.

Rebootnecessary · 04/04/2024 12:32

I always made a point of never asking when they were younger, but accepting if they initiated

This was always my attitude too, still is on the whole even though they are adults now.

In the situation you describe, next time you see her I would say 'feel free to contact me directly if you want to, here's my number'. She can either use it or not.

Singleandproud · 04/04/2024 12:33

I don't have them on social media all though they are still all teens, I don't really add anyone on FB any more and use it more for photo storage and to find out what's going on in the area.

I do have all of their numbers though and they have mine. Dd's best friends happened to be in the car with us the day we witnessed a teenager gets hit by a speeding car and in that moment they all exchanged parents phone numbers so they can all get in contact with any of us in an emergency. And we have one group chat on WhatsApp of parents and girls so they can put in there any requests for sleepovers or to let us know where they are going if out and about.

I think next time you are with them just say "oh Sally, I've just realized I haven't got your number, do you mind - just in case I need to get InTouch" it doesn't have to be a big deal. Phone numbers are easy to delete if they break up.

exexpat · 04/04/2024 12:44

I have adult DCs (early/mid 20s). I didn't accept FB friend requests from them or their friends when they were at the annoying teenage silly comment stage, but now they are adults I am connected with my DCs on various social media, and also have a few of their friends.

I definitely have the phone numbers of their long-term, live-in partners - it would seem rather odd not to be able to contact them in an emergency.

CurlewKate · 04/04/2024 16:12

Thank you all. I think I'll give her my number-then she can still choose. It can be a mine field, this parenting adults thing!

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