Looking for friendship opportunities for my 14-year-old son in the North West ❤️
I’m posting this as a mum who would really love some advice, or perhaps to connect with other parents in a similar situation.
My 14-year-old son has had an incredibly difficult few years since starting high school. He was bullied and, unfortunately, I feel massively let down by his school. Things became so difficult that for around two years he was on a two-hour-a-day timetable and became extremely socially isolated.
He’s an only child, and his one really good friend eventually moved to another school, made new friends and lost contact with him. This had a huge impact on him. His confidence and self-esteem have gradually disappeared, and my once happy, funny, outgoing boy has become a very quiet and withdrawn version of himself.
He has recently started a new school and is doing really well, which I’m incredibly proud of. ❤️ However, he finds it much easier to talk to adults than children his own age. I think after everything that has happened, he struggles to trust that other kids are genuinely being nice to him and is always expecting to be rejected or hurt.
I’ve tried encouraging him to join clubs, but his anxiety and lack of confidence make that really difficult. He tried jiu-jitsu last year and actually did brilliantly, but unfortunately there were hardly any children his age in his class, so he felt like the odd one out.
He loves gaming, horror films and collecting horror figures/DVDs, and he used to love skateboarding but stopped because he had nobody to go skating with.
I know you can’t force friendship, and I’m not expecting someone to magically become his best friend. I’d just love to find opportunities for him to meet other teenagers who have similar interests and who might understand what it’s like to be a little different or socially anxious.
It breaks my heart knowing how isolated he has become, especially when I remember the funny, confident little boy he used to be. These are years he can never get back, and I desperately want him to have some happiness, experiences and hopefully eventually a few genuine friendships.
Are there any parents in Greater Manchester/the North West with teenagers around his age who are in a similar position? Or does anyone know of any suitable gaming, horror, film-making, skateboarding, martial arts or SEND-friendly groups where he could meet other young people?
I’d be really grateful for any advice, experiences or recommendations. ❤️