Feeling Guilty & Down

[MumofOne1789]

I just feel so lonely. I spend days with my DS, 5, just us two. Don’t get me wrong I love spending time with him but feel so guilty I feel like I’m not meeting his social needs and are therefore damaging him - I don’t want him to be like me.

He’s a social kid and makes friends so easy. I have no friends and don’t provide any social simulation for him eg play dates etc. I try and take him to social settings like soft play.

Ive had a couple of his school friends round to play but he hasn’t been invited to theirs. I feel like it’s because I’m not social and don’t click with the mums.

I think I just feel lonely in general and I’m so scared of creating the same life for him.

Anyone else felt like this or have NT kids who haven’t been negatively affected by your own anti-social tendencies.

Try not to feel bad. If he is already forging his own social life at the age of 5, I don't think you need to worry that he will want for friends in the future.

Hopefully someone with experience of NT children will be along soon, but from the little I know, as children get older they move more and more towards independent friendships rather than friendships with their parents' friends DC.

It sounds as though you are doing everything you can by taking him to social places in the meantime.

No need to feel bad. When my DS was young I had no friends with children. I worked with women who were older than me and we had little in common. The little spare time I had I took him all over but it was just the two of us. I too worried he’d grow up like me but he hasn’t at all. He’s friendly, gregarious and independent.
You mentioned feeling lonely and I still go through phases of this too but slowly I’m beginning to make a few friends. I’m now part of a volunteering opportunity and keep myself busy with this and work. You are doing all the right things OP, please be assured of this. Take care.