DD 14 has chosen to have no friends and seems so happy

[peppajay]

Heartbreaking - when your 14 year old tells you that she doesn't need friends as she has you (meaning me her mum!!) and netflix.

A bit of background she hates hanging around in big groups and is very sensible (too sensible sometimes!!) she has no interest in hanging in the park eating chips trying to flirt with boys!! she hasn't spoken to or see anyone for 2 weeks and she loves it she is so happy but surely it isn't healthy.

While I totally understand enjoying your own company I'm not sure I would encourage the idea that she doesn't need friends. I think friends are important even if it is just one good friend. Teenagers tend to say "I don't care" when dealing with things is too difficult - it's easier to just walk away but it's not always the right thing to do. She is clearly very anxious (my 15 year old DD is similar and it holds her back) which should really be dealt with - does she talk to anyone about it? DD has some contact with CAMHS and they call her once a week to catch up and ask how she is feeling. Hopefully she will find a friend in another group or outside of school who she will click with better. My DD has always been on the periphery of groups and never properly clicked with anyone in secondary (was fine in primary) - she has one good friend now but still doesn't 100% click. DD isn't "typical" in that she has no interest in drinking/drugs/smoking/boys and is a big fan of a band that all her friends have moved on from. It's hard but I think forgetting about having friends is a mistake - why put up a wall around yourself and possibly miss meeting the people who could be life-long friends? Humans are social creatures (even if some of us can only do social for a short amount of time in one go!) and one day she is going to be an adult and move out. Sounds pretty lonely when she is no longer under your roof!