Anyone else’s teen have nobody to eat lunch with?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD finds a teacher’s room and just kind of hides during lunch, because she’s so self-conscious about not having anyone to eat with. She said that everywhere she looks, there are groups of kids talking, laughing and having fun. She doesn’t notice anyone sitting all alone like her - she said everyone else seems to have at least one or two friends, even the unpopular kids. It’s so heartbreaking.

You need to take action and help your kid find her people. This can be very sad for her and I can not imagine it makes her feel good. Please talk to the school and help her find a group that meets at lunch or something but no she should not eat alone like this.

I wish it were so easy. I’m fully aware this isn’t good for her, and it pains be greatly. There are no lunch bunches in her high school. The counselor is fully aware she is eating alone. I’m not sure what else to do.

I feel like the key is probably treating her anxiety. Have you looked into therapy and medication for her? Sorry if I missed it if you’ve already looked into this.

She needs help, and I don’t think she’s gonna get it on her own, and it’s not something a parent can fix for her

My DD is like this too but she seems fine with it. I have looked into therapy but they can’t help her if she doesn’t see a problem herself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How are they able to wonder at lunchtime? My middle schooler has to go to the lunchroom. There is not option to stay in a classroom or hang out in library.

Also, from what I hear, they have those long cafeteria tables that hold tons of kids on either side. No one is “alone” because they are all packed in together.

In high school they have open lunch and can pretty much go anywhere, including off campus.
-MCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How are they able to wonder at lunchtime? My middle schooler has to go to the lunchroom. There is not option to stay in a classroom or hang out in library.

Also, from what I hear, they have those long cafeteria tables that hold tons of kids on either side. No one is “alone” because they are all packed in together.

In high school they have open lunch and can pretty much go anywhere, including off campus.
-MCPS

Not ours. Kids must go to lunch room during lunch. Middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How are they able to wonder at lunchtime? My middle schooler has to go to the lunchroom. There is not option to stay in a classroom or hang out in library.

Also, from what I hear, they have those long cafeteria tables that hold tons of kids on either side. No one is “alone” because they are all packed in together.

In high school they have open lunch and can pretty much go anywhere, including off campus.
-MCPS

Not all HS have open lunch where they can go off campus.

[Anonymous]

Gosh I was the same as a kid. I remember clearly having no one to eat lunch with in high school. I'd encourage her to just sit with some kids from her class who have extra room at their table. Once I finally did that, I realized that everyone was somewhat lonely and they liked my company.

[Anonymous]

Check out this article about the Sit with Us app. There is also a Sit with Us movement that kids have implemented at their own schools- an "open" lunch table where everyone is welcome. Perhaps her school would be interested in having one. Brilliant idea.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/teen-creates-app-sit-with-us-open-welcoming-tables-lunch-bullying_n_57c5802ee4b09cd22d926463

[Anonymous]

My son eats alone. I don’t think it is too unusual. He is new and he is a freshman. I stopped asking him about it because it didn’t seem to bother him too much and I didn’t want to make him feel bad about it. Bigger issue is no friends at all at school which does bother him. I think if your kid has friends to socialize with outside of lunch, It doesn’t seem so sad.