Mumsnetters! Your wise words and advice much needed please!
My dd has just started at an a-level college where she knows nobody and is completely new. She’s trying to make lots of new friends and be social. However, one girl she has met has completely latched onto her. She comes and sits with her every break and lunch. The girl seems incredibly socially awkward, so my dd has made many attempts at conversation, for example asking which films or bands the girl likes but with little response.
Whenever my dd starts a conversation with another girl, the girl will be stand around awkwardly, waiting for dd to notice her. Or she will join the conversation without introducing herself or saying anything.
My dd really doesn’t want to be unkind but she desperately wants to try and widen her social circle and get to know other girls before any friendship groups become too entrenched but her association with this girl is seeming putting off any potential new friends.
Also for context my dd was ghosted by her lifelong friendship group in yr11 making GCSEs extra stressful. She was so happy to be somewhere new with a big pool of potential friends but the omnipresence of this girl is really dampening her fresh start.
As someone who was ignored and ghosted last yr she really doesn’t want to cause upset but just wants the freedom to make new friends
So what I’m asking is does anyone have any tips for dd to navigate away from this girl without hurting her feelings? Is that even possible?