Social aspects - friends an hour away?

[Anonymous]

It's a pain. The families farthest from school end up driving the most if they want their kids included socially.

[Anonymous]

Keep in mind that people will live within a radius around the school. Living an hour from school doesn't mean all your friends will be an hour away; some might be in your neighborhood and car pool with you, some will be a mile away or 3 or 5. The toughest is if you happen to make a BFF who lives at the polar extreme, one hour from school in the exact opposite direction, but IME that doesn't happen much.

[Anonymous]

I am curious to hear from parents of introverts here. My son is definitely an introvert, but now (in middle) he has several friends who are close and does the impromptu meet ups—at Starbucks etc. Often he doesn’t initiate, but sometimes. He also has a couple of activities that overlap with school friends because we are all geographically close. I wonder about socializing though when it will take an effort—aka planning/time. Any thoughts on dispersed school peers from other parents of introverts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am curious to hear from parents of introverts here. My son is definitely an introvert, but now (in middle) he has several friends who are close and does the impromptu meet ups—at Starbucks etc. Often he doesn’t initiate, but sometimes. He also has a couple of activities that overlap with school friends because we are all geographically close. I wonder about socializing though when it will take an effort—aka planning/time. Any thoughts on dispersed school peers from other parents of introverts?

By the time your kid hits HS, it's really going to be up to them to build and maintain their social life/connections. You can push your kid, reach out yourself to other parents, etc., but it's just going to be increasingly awkward as your kid progresses through HS. Better to have them involved in school sports, clubs, and other activities where there's a bit more forced structure and interaction, and hopefully they take it from there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am curious to hear from parents of introverts here. My son is definitely an introvert, but now (in middle) he has several friends who are close and does the impromptu meet ups—at Starbucks etc. Often he doesn’t initiate, but sometimes. He also has a couple of activities that overlap with school friends because we are all geographically close. I wonder about socializing though when it will take an effort—aka planning/time. Any thoughts on dispersed school peers from other parents of introverts?

By the time your kid hits HS, it's really going to be up to them to build and maintain their social life/connections. You can push your kid, reach out yourself to other parents, etc., but it's just going to be increasingly awkward as your kid progresses through HS. Better to have them involved in school sports, clubs, and other activities where there's a bit more forced structure and interaction, and hopefully they take it from there.

Yeah we’re mostly already at that stage. We’re debating if finding something closer to home (even public) might be better socially for him.

[Anonymous]

My kids are introverts and have made great friends at school, particularly because of the smaller social circle and the acceptance of pretty much everyone in clubs and sports -- no chance of being left out unless you opt out. Where the kids live made no difference at all.