Arranging meet ups for daughter

[againstalloddsss]

Hi All

I’m a single dad to my gorgeous 11 year old girl. However, My wife died suddenly earlier this year and I now realise I am rubbish at the socialising side of things. With senior school starting soon, I thought I would try and arrange a meet up for my daughter (whose confidence has been really knocked) with a local parent and their daughter. What’s best for a social first meet up? A cafe, park? I’m probably over thinking it, but like I say, I am a rubbish socialiser.

Check out what your daughter thinks,
it may be that her peers aren’t meeting up with a parent and are going to cinema or shops or cafe by themselves ???

Kind of thing my DD enjoyed at 11 was cinema, theatre, trampoline park, shopping, sometimes bringing a pal along, sometimes I’d drop her and pal off and pick up afterwards,

I’m so sorry for your loss. Cafe and a park or a bit of a look round shops. Or cinema?

Thank you for the quick replies. Being they haven’t met before and my daughter has really regressed, I was thinking of being there to help things along a bit, so just wasn’t sure if I should keep it simple and low key and that cinema etc., may be a bit much on their first meeting with each other?

Thanks sevenamcoffee. Think I’m leaning towards Cafe and Park.

I'm so sorry for your loss and it sounds like you're doing your best for your daughter. At 11 I would say either invite her over to your house and they can mess about at home / in the garden if you feel you have enough games/music etc to keep them occupied. Otherwise then I'd say take them to the shops and let them wander around a couple of shops and go to a cafe but you stay nearby in a cafe and wait for them for an hour or two. I'd tell them which area they can wander in and limits of where they can go. You could also try a trampoline park or inflatables park? Or roller skating?
You are doing the right thing. Your daughter will be reliant on you for a social life for a while yet, especially if she's not walking distance to friends. It doesn't happen without a bit of effort so well done for stepping up!

Thank you for those kind words. You’ve hit the nail on the head. Being rural she does rely on me for her social life and will be for some time to come. This has certainly opened my eyes into how much effort my wife had to put in organising meet ups. Some great suggestions, thank you.

I’m so sorry for your loss OP. Park sounds nice, maybe a nice hot chocolate in a nearby cafe too? Hope it goes well 🙂

Thank you.