"Kelly, why are you always telling me about your playdates but not inviting Ava to them? I'm sure you don't mean it this way, but it kind of comes across like bragging."
Anonymous wrote:I'll admit that I don't invite my good friend for play dates because I don't particularly like her child. He's always scaring or pranking my children and they don't like it.
Anonymous wrote:OP, can you suggest initiating an alternating regular playdate between your kids?
There is another family we are close with, and the other mom is gracious about suggesting we join them when they are having playdates. But I only have one child, and she has two. There are times when I want my child to develop her ability to play with one other kid, have a higher-quality and more intimate play experience than just being in a chaotic throng, and strengthen her other friendships. Also, my friend's two kids are a little high-maintenance, and having everyone at the house is more chaos and more work for me than I am sometimes interested in.
OP, do you and your child help clean up at the end of the playdate when you're at your friend's house? Does your child demand snacks and other things? (I have a friend whose kids will announce to me what they want to eat the minute they walk in the door; it's annoying.) Is there a gender difference or income disparity or something else that might explain your friend's failure to invite you over?