Is it ok to make friends with child’s teacher?

[Sharrison88]

Just wanted some opinions please 😃
my child’s (year one primary school) teacher is due to go on maternity leave soon and we have struck quite a ‘friendship/bond’ (can’t think of the right word but lots of chatting at drop off/pick up etc). I have two children myself and we seem to have a lot in common. This is her first baby and she has asked for my advice on certain (baby related) topics. I was going to suggest meeting for a coffee when she goes off on mat leave (she is new ish to the area and so not many friends in the area).
but now I’m feeling is it awkward to suggest that? I would have to suggest swapping numbers/following on Instagram to keep in touch and now wondering if that’s pushing boundaries?

Personally, I wouldn’t.
It’s a lovely thought though OP.

Oh go on. Teachers are people, too...

Will she ever be his teacher again once she goes on mat leave?

If not I don't really see the problem

Why not ask her if it would be OK to meet for coffee while she is on maternity leave? There may be guidance from the school about friendships with parents, or she may welcome a new friendship.

Thanks everyone for your advice! I haven’t ever been in a situation with any other teachers/pre school teachers as I didn’t ’click’ with them and wouldn’t have any reason to.

Just want to make it clear I don’t feel the need to follow teachers on instagram on a normal scenario 😂

@SquashedGrape1 no she wouldn’t be his teacher again but someone mentioned that as he’s my eldest my youngest could potentially have her in the future but that’s a couple of years away and obviously is not for definite based on if she even goes back, if he were to be in her class etc!

DD was in the same year group at school as the children of two different teachers. They seemed to appreciate it if you treated them the same as you would other parents but also acknowledge that some thinks might be a bit awkward and that you wouldn't take it personally if they said no. For example, we had a Christmas drinks party which I invited them both to along with a lot of other parents and they both declined but when I suggested to one of them that we went for a coffee, she was happy to do that and we did that a number of times over the years. The other one I never really got to know but she was very much part of another mum friendship group in the year.

I was friends with some of my kids teachers but that's because they had kids in the same year groups as my kids and also I'm a teacher too so that might be bit different

Thanks for your replies! On reflection I think I will leave it in case it creates an awkward situation where she says no to exchanging numbers because of rules. It is a shame as I think we would get on really well otherwise.

I am very good friends with 2 teachers. One is a bit different as we were friends first and then she moved to my daughter’s school and is now her gcse English teacher and head of year. Parents evening is awkward!

The other is a more similar situation to the one you describe as she was my daughter’s year 2 teacher. I had a really bad health condition diagnosed in that year and she was kind to me over that. I can’t really remember how we became actual friends now, but she’s one of my closest friends 9 years later and I was even round her house today.

This is the 3rd thread about this I've seen for you. Frustrating!