We have been struggling the past several weeks with friendships and self esteem. Our 9 year old (soon to be 10) PDD daughter has started to cry a lot when she is home with nothing to do. She says “ I don’t know how to do anything.” And “I can’t find anyone to play with.” I haven’t been able to decipher if it’s puberty or difficulty with social situations at school.

Her only friend since kindergarten is a twin girl in her class, they have grown up playing together pretty good to this point. It seems the friend has become overwhelmed, tired and embarrassed by our daughter and her behaviors. I don’t know this for sure but I have a good feeling that’s what is going on. Weekends have become agony trying to find her people to play with. For a while she could at least convince another kid to come and play for a few hours now people won’t answer their phones when we call. My husband and I had a BBQ with some of our kids playmate’s parents and kids last weekend, none of her friend’s parents came or called back.

Friendship support is so critical for anyone and even more so for people on the spectrum. I am researching sib shops for our family and am planning on talking to the parents of her friend just so they don’t end the relationship and have a little better understanding about our daughter.

I guess we haven’t overcome this hurdle and I thought it would be helpful to write about it for myself. Please comment if you have had any success helping your child get through the loss of someone. Social skills classes are also on my list of things to do…