One of the mums in the playground (who I don't speak to much) asked my dd(7) to her dd's party at the beginning of term. I thought it was odd because dd didn't really play with her child much, particularly as there was a sleepover element, but I got nagged into agreeing and dd went along.
Not much happened til a couple of weeks ago when the mum asked dd to go around and play. Although our kids don't play together much at school, they get on o.k. so again, I said yes. I was later told by a friend that dd was being asked to play/had been invited to the party because this womans daughter has 'gotten in with a bad crowd'. My daughter is thought to be one of the good kids (not bragging...it's just how she's perceived), she's bright, polite and generally well behaved. But you have to say....WTF????
Firstly...how can you have a 'bad crowd' of 7 year olds? We're in a fairly middle class areas and though we have some exuberant kids, they all have redeeming features imo.
Secondly...this woman has made it plain that she wants my dd to play with hers so that her own daugther will start to behave better! Surely people don't really think this way?
Thirdly...why do people feel the need to choose their child's friends for them? I know that friendships are a big part of determining how our kids develop, but surely, letting them choose their own friends is part of the growing up process? Part of the life skills you need to equip them with? Part of being independant?
Are we all really so wrapped up with our kids development though, that we feel the need to pick our kids friends? Am I being unreasonable in being shocked about this? Or should I get with the program and start being my dd's friends for her???