AIBU ask school to place DS with his best friend when they start in Sept? (PFB alert)

[Stickwithit]

My DS starts primary school in September. He has developed a close friendship with a boy who lives in our street- will call him John. They attend playgroup together (John goes every day, my DS goes twice a week). I am also friends with John?s parents. We often share the playgroup ?run? between us and they play at each other's houses a lot.

They generally get on really well. I know John comes out of his shell on the days that my DS attends preschool. They tend to be stuck together like glue when they are there.

I think in general they are good for each other but the negative side is that if one of them cannot sit with the other they sometimes get upset. Also although DS is the more confident of the two in new situations, once they settle in he tends to follow John?s lead and perhaps does not get the opportunity to do things his way, as he seems to want to be exactly like John. I have had chats to my DS about everyone being friends and that although John is his ?special? friend he may not always be able to sit with him etc..

I feel they would settle into school more easily if they were in the same class. I am tempted to contact the school somehow to request that they are put together (will double check that John?s parents agree). I accept that arranging classes must be a difficult task for teachers and I am quite prepared to be overridden by the teachers if they do not feel my request is reasonable or practical.

However, I am not sure if this is me being ridiculously PFB?! I know DS (and John) will be heartbroken if on their first day they are separated. I feel that I would be letting DS and John down if I don?t at least make the teachers aware if their close friendship. However, I realise there might be some benefit to separating them in terms of making new friends and developing as individuals.

So two AIBU really! Firstly, AIBU to think they would benefit from being together? Secondly AIBU to contact the school and ask that they consider placing them together (goodness knows how I will do this- by email maybe)?

Also an apology for the ?trivialness? of this post. It must seem ridiculous to experienced mums with DC at school. I am going to need to toughen up!!

[JamieAgain]

Sorry, did not mean to worry you, OP, about the playground

He will be fine

[mumblechum1]

Wait till they're teenagers

[JamieAgain]

mumblechum. Not helpful

[SootySweepandSue]

I don't think you are being unreasonable. I say this as I was split from my best friend when I started school and I found it very hard (my mother confirms this BTW). I was very small and a bit shy and got bullied in the first year by both a girl in my class (the biggest one) and an older boy! Needless to say I am absolutely fine but I just think it is one of these situations where you could if you requested just make things that little bit easier for your DS. It is likely there will be some others perhaps that already have friends in the same group by luck so why not ask?

I think it's rubbish to just say it's fine he will make other friends. Just think would you rather go to a party alone or with a friend? Everyone wants a friend closeby no matter what your age or circumstances are so why not ask the school.

[CocktailQueen]

YANBU! I did ask for ds to be put in the same class as a couple of other children he already knew. It helps them to settle in.

[ForYourDreamsAreChina]

What happened then?

Did she or not?

Presuming the children started school a month back.

[startail]

YANBU but don't school will do the exact opposite.

[SoupDragon]

zombie thread alert!