Shy 15 yr old dd, no real friends

[Rosirose]

This is my first posting so forgive me if it's not quite right. I'm desperate to help my 15 yr old dd. She started at her very academic school in yr 7 knowing nobody. Since then she has had trouble making friends and when she does they seem to disappear soon afterwards. It is always her who makes arrangements and often she is let down. She has spent the half-term week doing homework and with me. She has joined a netball club out of school but hasn't really made friends, she went on a summer camp last year but again didn't really make friends. We are thinking of changing schools for sixth form but why should a new school be any different? She is 15 but spends every weekend at home (she also hates sleepovers). She always had friends in her junior school. I just don't know what to do for the best. Has anyone got any suggestions I'm so worried.

[shadypines]

oops here not hear ( you can tell I'm tired!)

[shadypines]

Just want to send hugs to all on hear worried about their DDs DS's. I have a DD 13yrs who is similar to the ones mentioned on here. I dread the six week summer holidays. I live in hope that one day she will have a few good friends. I think we just have to love them, be there for them and try and get them involved in things they enjoy but not force, they have to be themselves, reinforce that there is nothing wrong with being the quieter person.

to all and OP I hope you've found some comfort and help.

[AmysTiara]

Zombie thread

Rackle I would start your own thread if you need advice

[AlanPacino]

Just another thought into the mix although it is a bit 'left of field'. My dd seemed okay in primary but was obviously not mixing, making or maintain friendships in middle school. Because of this I pursued an ASD diagnosis which she was given after assessment. It helps because the school have to make allowances and plans so that she can be as happy as possible.

[chrome100]

Oh God, your DD sounds just like I was at school. I used to borrow books from the library about how to have self-confidence and would write lists and practice all the suggestions, but to no avail. Things changed massively for me when I left school and my social life opened up. My confidence also grew and things got a lot easier. I know that's no help for your DD now, but school can be a tough place with a very limited social circle. I think a new 6th form might help.

[junebirthdaygirl]

Is there a local church youth group she could join? My dd now 22 never drank and when all the girls began going out drinking she hated that scene. She joined local church youth group. We don't attend . It's totally just her. The kids don't drink so they are constantly organising fun things to do which dd loves. She has made so many like minded friends boys and girls. When she went to university she immediately joined a local one there and was straight into lovely group . Just now she moved to a new city for summer work and told me last night she is invited out by few others she met at a church group . She has never drank. She is quiet and studious but the close friendships she has are just brilliant and the constant fun activities dinners trips are unreal.

[racklecrackle]

Thank you ladies, I'm also in the same boat with my DD, she is 15, a lovely girl but for some reason the "friends" talk about her in their little groups and ignore her. She is very lonely and suffers with anxiety and this is just having a negative affect.
I'm just so worried for her, it's a difficult environment as we live on an Island and people are quite judgemental if you're not from the area, she wants to go to sixth form elsewhere, but it looks like some of these "friends" are wanting to go too I just want to protect her and help I'm any way I can, but she doesn't want me to go to the school about it. Any advice out there? TIA x

[exoticfruits]

I don't think that the alternative to being alone is hanging around street corners! It is perfectly possible to have similar minded friends. She is an academic DD, at a highly academic school, doing well-I can't see it is any help to be at home, trying to do it without teachers.
As a shy child the very worst thing that could have happened for me and my self esteem was to opt out and be at home full time-and I certainly wouldn't have mentioned any problems if I thought that would be the suggestion to it.
She needs suggestions for getting out and about. The part time job, once old enough, is a much better one.

[SugarMouse1]

Yes, but maybe HomeEd would boost her self-esteem IFSWIM?

Btw, many boys of this age don't have a social life- they just play computer games all the time!!!

I'm not saying that this is a good thing- but they tend to be perfectly normal socially once they grow up a bit.

Anyway, this has surely got to be better then her hanging around street corners like many of this age group!

When she is 16 she could maybe look for a part-time job, and this may help a lot!!!

[exoticfruits]

Sorry to hear about your experiences SugarMouse - but the last thing she needs is Home Education. She is OK in the classroom, she is not getting bullied - she merely needs a social life outside school and if she can't get it with fellow pupils she needs to look elsewhere.

[SugarMouse1]

Hi,

I just wanted to tell you about my experiences and that my life was/is a bit like your DD's.

Has she said why she hates sleepovers? Anything in particular about them?

Did she have any friends at primary school? Could she get back in touch with them?

Do you think she could possibly have a problem with reading signs/ misinterpreting people or any annoying habits? (Not suggesting this is ur DD's fault btw).

Could you pull her out of school and home-educate? At least then she may keep some of her self-esteem. When I was at sec.school I remember an overwhelming sense of dread that I would be left on my own at lunchtime, no-one to work with for pair-work, picked last for teams etc. It dominated those years.

If I was seen alone, idiots would shout, 'LONER! LONER!' at me.

And some of the teachers weren't much better, a spanish TA, once said to me one lunch-time, when I was doing some work in a classroom, (I had a lovely tutor who let me stay in there at lunchtime), 'Why don't you have any friends?', I didn't know what to say :(

The overwhelming thing for me has been the sense of shame surrounding it. I never told my parents and tried to pretend things were fine, etc. Is your DD quite open about discussing her lack of friends?

Because I really wish I had been more open and honest about it- I may have solved the issues easier.

BTW, things got worse for me, I did stupid things to try and get friends- I drank to excess, started smoking etc, as an attempt to be more accepted (only worked temporarily).

I also put up with horrible friends and boyfriends who used me basically, cos I just wanted to have someone.

Good Luck

[Rosirose]

Onedev has a point about my dd seeing me upset. I do try and hide it but when something new happens I know she can see it on my face. Which I think also puts more pressure on her. (I have also worked very hard at not asking her who she sat next to at lunch on a daily basis - paranoid mum or what!). It is so nice to read onedev that you got a fab job, married and have kids. I just want her (and my ds) to be happy.

Virtuallyarts, she did go significantly quieter at her large secondary school and I do think you are right about the sink or swim etc. But she was definitely going quieter towards the end of her primary school. She also gets so anxious about her work and gets so upset when she thinks she hasn't understood something, even though we tell her all the time it doesn't matter. She does have a blackberry and she does use it which as you say is good in some ways but not others. She also has the computer etc.

Nickstmoritz you are so right about the thick skin for teenagers. I'm so pleased I won't be going there again, I remember so well the mood swings and the friendship issues! I also know that even those with good friendship groups (like your dd2) have problems. I really hope that the change at year 12 will be successful and it will be clear it was the environment that was wrong for her. I just hope that things don't stay the same because not only will she need to deal with the harder work she will also have new teachers, new environment and new kids.

[onedev]

I'm sorry your dd is going through this & I imagine it must be so difficult to watch, however I would say that I was exactly the same from about 13-17 & the worst part for me was actually seeing my mum upset about it. I felt bad at not having many friends & desperately lacked confidence (think it started when I got braces & glasses at age 13) & concentrated on studying. I got a part time job in a shop at 17 & that massively helped from a confidence perspective but I didn't truly come into my own until uni.

Don't know what changed then really, but I got my confidence back, made loads of friends & had a ball there.

I did go on to get a fab job, am married with 3 gorgeous boys & have tonnes of friends (I'm 36 now). I'm not meaning to sound big headed, more to say that I'm sure this will pass. Hard as it is, please try not to stress yourself (& therefore your dd) as it will all turn out ok & others will appreciate her for the fantastic girl you know she is. All the best.

[nickstmoritz]

Rosirose. I think that the fact that your DD has a good sense of humour and is fun to be is a really positive thing. It would be worse if she was getting depressed. It makes me think that she is just in a situation where she hasn't managed to negotiate the friendship cliques at school. It also gives me hope that she will come out of herself given the right circumstances, so at college perhaps.TBH she might actually be too nice. Sounds odd I know but it takes a lot of resilience and a thick skin to get through school years and if you haven't got a thick skin or a loud mouth it can end up making some people go inside their shell somewhat especially if you have been unlucky enough not to find a close friend or couple of friends. That can just be bad luck and that is what we said to our DD when she was upset and lonely. Our DD has had 3 really crap years at school but finally some of the girls seem to have matured and broken away from certain groups. Can't quite believe this but DD went to a cafe after school yesterday with some frends and today a group of 5 of them have gone on the train to Bath. I am hoping that finally even if it is just for these last few weeks DD will have a bit of fun and start to rebuild her self esteem. My advice is keep talking to your DD and having some fun together. Let her know that she has a great personality and other people are missing out on spending time with her. Look out for any opportunities to extend her life outside school..work, sports or hobbies. I am sure it will come right. It is just a crappy few years for loads of teens. Plus the so called popular ones sometimes are hiding troubles of their own. Ye gods DD2 has told me what some in her Y9 get up to!! Be glad your DD hasn't gone down that road. My DD2 is very sociable and popular and even she has had to negotiate some friendship issues (name calling for not having a boyfriend..called a baby and virgin Mary!) Quiet or vivacious..it can be a nightmare for anyone! Keep going and make sure DD keeps her sense of humour and fun and she will be ok. New start new people for Y12.

[Rosirose]

Thanks, for all your postings. I would say that my dd life is a bit like exotic fruits pnt 6. I also (in my more rational moments!) realise that everyone has their own issues with being a teen. MrsMushroom it is good to hear that you came into yourself at about 17 and she is very keen to move at sixth form which is def something to look forward to. My only concern at the back of my mind is that my dd was incredibly popular when she was younger. I remember clearly that in yr 3, her teacher said everyone wanted to be her friend, sit next to her, be her partner etc. She also said that without being rude, she couldn't understand it because whilst she was kind and lovely she did nothing to warrant the attention she was getting. She then said that if she remained so popular my dd would need help dealing with it but if she lost the attention she would also probably need help dealing with it. Later that year, she was bullied a little (but we ignored it) and by the time she got to year 5 she had friends but she was def not one of the 'in' girls anymore and the friends chopped and changed and she remained in contact with no one when she left the school. Since then she has got quieter and quieter. I would love for her to have fun with her cousins but she is the youngest and all the others are pretty loud so she stays quiet (I have asked my brother and sister-in-law to ask their kids to help but I really don't want it to be a pity party. Also, my daughter is lovely so it shouldn't have to be.) Consequently, sometimes I actively avoid the full on family socials. Which leads me back to is it just her environment or is there anything I have missed? Btw she has a great sense of humour and is fun to be with. She is also completely open with both myself and my dh. She also adores her older brother who is 17 (when she sees him - he is always out)

[nickstmoritz]

Rosirose I could have written the same message as you and I sympathise I have worried so much over the years. DD is also 15, almost 16. It has helped her to visit some other options for 6th form and she will be leaving the all girls state grammar to go to art college and do a level 3 diploma instead of A levels (cue sniffy opinions of others but I don't care because we think she will be much happier). There are some mean girls around and quiet shy types are easy to be unkind to..making plans and not inviting DD, personal comments etc You all know the drill. However DD has remained her quirky arty self and strangely enough lately she has finally got friendly with some girls at school (in year above and another form). I totally agree with others that it is the situation not your DD that is to blame. I believe school is rubbish for some people and they come into their own later.

The things that helped us were..planning some things to do esp when you know that there is something on that they might have been left out of. Meeting up with family because the cousins always have a great time together. Talking it through (we had a look at the Queen Bees and wannabes book which helped us talk and laugh about some of the girls at school) and just generally keeping her spirits up through the worst bits of school. In some ways GCSE year has been good because we say put your head down and get your exams and you can get out of the school and move on. She still feels she has missed out on some of the teenage fun times but she would never have felt that comfortable with some of the things that have gone on anyway.

DD has set up her own ETSY shop and has sold some of her work and has got a few pen pals through interests in bands/books/movies and art.

I agree with others who have said about helping your DD to tap into what she is good at and enjoys and see if that opens up some socialising opportunities or maybe a PT job. (I had a great social life when working in a book shop because the other people were interesting and funny). Sending you and DD all the best. I am seeing some light at the end of a tunnel and I hope you will too.

[MrsMushroom]

Coat I'm not a Blogger but Mumsnet has a section where there are a lot of experienced bloggers....it's a case of writing the blog and building up contacts I think...so they comment on your blog and you get more followers.

That's simplified...but basically the gist. Also there are groups such as Tots100 set up to help people get further ahead and through them you hear about awards etc and how best to promote yourself.

[exoticfruits]

You can't even say it was the school. Another girl moved with me from the same school, but the year below, she didn't appear to have many friends there, but she was a great hockey player (she became a games teacher) and she broke into a clique easily.
As MrsMushroom says, an interest is the key. I hated being a teenager - life was much better when I got older. I have had some pretty traumatic times, but the one period I wouldn't really want to do again is 12-18- they can be very difficult for a shy person. Now that I am older I can say that I would much rather go on a fell walk than a party, but as a teenager it makes you seem odd!
When you look around everyone seems to be getting on better e.g when I was a widow weekends seemed to be made up of families out and about- however scratch the surface and it isn't the case.
Anyway- very best wishes to her- she sounds lovely.

[coatonarack]

oooh, MrsMushroom - how do you get on the blog circuit? Do you just set up a wordpress blog and hope for the best or are there specific websites you link to so that your blog is read by the wider world?

[MrsMushroom]

I was very like your daughter...and like someone else said, I had an enormous change aged 17...I just grew into myself and felt more comfortable speaking and mixing.

I can't advise much more than others have....but can I ask...what is she especially good at? Can she write well? She could begin a blog about her experiences....this can be very fulfiling and can also lead to blog awards, meet-ups and social events.

As she's academic, I just thought that this might be an option.

[exoticfruits]

The problem is that I would have wanted the floor to swallow me up if my mother went in to sort it out, especially since you can't rely on the school to be understanding and diplomatic. In the 6th form I would have said that I was reading in the library at lunchtimes, or getting on with homework, because that is what I liked doing! I must have told my brother because after I left school my parents moved to the other end of the country and he had to go to a grammar school single sexed school, he was fine, after a shaky start, but I remember him saying ' I thought it was going to be like you in the 6th form'. And yet my friend's HEed DS who has never really had many friends, having trailed after his brother's interests has joined a 6th form and has a very active social life. It is very much luck.