After reading quite a few “school gate” threads recently I was wondering about how parental influence affects children’s friendships longer term. I know some parents tend to organise playdates with other parents that they like (totally reasonable, not criticising that).
I was thinking specifically of one mum I know who seems to specifically select children for her child to play with, what happens if your parents curate your friendships for you? Do you struggle later to form relationships independently if your friends are all presented to you? Like in secondary school, your parents can’t really schmooze you playdates or does it not really matter in the long term?
I remember being made to spend time with someone I really disliked for years because my mother knew their parents, happened to my siblings too. Apparently we were best friends but she was a horrible person who was a real bully. Do parents not notice this or is their relationship with the other parent more important than if their kids actually like the other kid?