My DD (9) is really struggling socially. She moved schools in Feb this year because one child was particularly difficult and is well known for it. My ex and I agreed that she should move to another school and when she started it was great, she made some friends and seemed to thrive there. Fast forward to now and she’s really struggling socially and I don’t know how to help her.
Her father (an unkind narc who is a coercive arse - side note I left him 7 years ago and ended up in a refuge, court saw fit to push us into 50:50) says no one likes her because she wears second hand uniform (wanker) which I have to buy because he keeps everything and there’s no point getting £20 jumpers and so on if they never come back to me and I have to keep buying more. That’s by the by. She lives with both of us and we have a DS (13) who has SEN and that is a bit of a battle for her too as he needs help a lot and her life is shaped by his needs somewhat.
I think she might be a bit intense sometimes and I think she craves attention so always talks about herself and what she likes and what she’s done etc etc….I see it a bit and I get why she does it. I also think she shouldn’t have to hide her light under a bushel as she’s bright and sparky and has a lot to offer, and I see her light fading at the moment. I have talked to her about everyone being equal and that their interests and opinions are just as important as hers so there needs to be more of a two-way thing. I don’t want her to dread school as she loves it but she makes friends and then they go off the boil and she can’t play with them any more. She’s not horrid and I am just so worried 😩
Any ideas on helping her navigate friendships and the playground? I’m getting her counselling as she doesn’t want to go to her father but there’s a CAO in place and I haven’t got the funds to have it altered (he’d never agree anyway). She’s having a hard time with that too.