My son, X, is 6. He has a friend, Y, in school who is from a less stable background. I don’t know the ins and outs, but he is always in clothes that are dirty or too small, he also has very immature behaviour for his age. His parents keep to themselves, but when they have spoken, the dad has been quite verbally aggressive to a fellow mum with a SEN child, among other, more minor things.
I have no real feelings about the family either way as I don’t know them, but my son is BBFs with this boy. I don’t feel like his behaviour is always appropriate & what I want my son to learn, but that I can correct at home.
today his gran chased me down after school asking if I was X mum. She said it was Ys birthday and he doesn’t get many treats. He would love X to come for tea at weekend, at her house. My husband & I spoke and we both agreed we didn’t feel comfortable so I politely declined explaining that we had plans, but also I wouldn’t feel comfortable with a child that age going to a house of people I don’t know. I have passed on my number if his gran wants to arrange play dates with me present, but she kept explaining how Y had so little opportunity for social interaction (hinting at problems at home) & how much he loved X. Obviously my main priority is my son, and he has a SEN sibling so the father’s reaction to another SEN child hasn’t helped how I feel. I don’t want to stop my son being friends with him, I just want to monitor it & correct as I feel appropriate ..