'Crush' on older girl

[Bramshott]

DD1 is 8 and in Yr 3. For the past few years she was very friendly with a girl who left at the end of Yr 6 last year. This girl - let's call her A - was a good friend to DD, although there was definitely an element of 'hero worship' from DD's side.

At the end of the summer term, DD was sad that A was leaving, although A gave her a picture of herself to keep, and wrote her a very nice letter etc. DD has written to A a few times over the last few months, and had one letter back from A.

Now these letters for A keep appearing, and DD asks me to post them. The first few I did exactly that, but I have to admit that the last few, I have 'forgotten' to post. If we bump into A in town, she is always very nice to DD - she's a nice girl, but clearly she is moving on, busy at secondary school etc, and DD is too young to be a proper friend for her. I had thought that DD's 'crush' would dissapear sooner than this TBH.

So, should I lose these latest letters (which is my initial instinct , or just post them as DD has asked me to, and keep out of it (which is what I tend to do with her friendships generally), or talk to DD about how A must be busy with her new friends etc etc?

i would post them if your dd was older but i have to be honest i wouldnt due to the age gap maybe its best to explain to your DD as hard as it might be but say exactly what you say to us shes older and has gone to secondary and is very busy now with extra homework and new friends and maybe invite someone for a sleepover your DD likes in her class/ take them to the cinema to lunch or a girlie shopping spree , we should keep out as much as possible in our DC's relationships yes but in this instance its better comming from her mum than seeing her in town with a bunch of teens or a BF or GF and pass her and (as teens are like this ) maybe ignore her when shes with her mates. it will pass try not to worry to much HTH

Can you encourage her in other friendships a a distraction? Does she hae friend in school? My DD is in year 2 and they chane best friends weekly bt they're always writing little "Love letters" to one another...maybe yor DD needs a closer friend her own age?

I would also "Lose" the letters as yu have done and have a chat abot how her friend is very busy now. Its hard when they hav to learn to say goodbye.

Thanks all for replying.

DD is very sociable, and has lots of friends at school. She is both the oldest at home, and one of the oldest in her class, so I guess her friendship with A was one of her few chances to be 'the little one' IYSWIM.

TBH, I am happy for her to consider A a friend, and we do see her from time to time - it's just these obsessional letters I'm not sure about! I guess I'm worried she'll come across as a bit obsessed if I keep on posting the things. I feel uncomfortable about posting them, but uncomfortable about hiding / binning them as well . Maybe I will post this last one, and then have a chat with DD about whether she thinks A wants her to write so much, or if she might be a bit busy to read her letters . . .