Is it just me or is this a bit weird?

[annie0000]

My son was very excited when I picked him up from school as his best friend had asked if he could go over to his to play tennis after school (in the street, they don't have a tennis court!). Anyhoo, he gets changed, has a snack, grabs his racket and races of with instructions to be back by 5. 10 minutes later he reappears with a sad face because his friend had forgotten that it was his dogs birthday so they were doing some sort of treat for that. What sort of treat could it be that they have to disappoint an 8 year old kid for! Am I just being an overprotective hypersensitive mother here, or do you think the dog knew it was his birthday?

[aniani]

It's not you!!

[annie0000]

Thank god for that!

[afcjan]

poor little fella, what a dissapointment. why couldnt he have gone to the dogs birthday as well.

it sounds like an excuse to me.

[Whickerman]

no, definitely not just you

Seriously - what kind of backward.... A birthday treat for the dog, rather than playing with his friend? Your son really needs new mates, so he can stay away from the bizarre freakish future serial-killer he's hanging around with...

[sara3]

it's not you, people are strange. try not to let it spoil his friendship with the other boy, they could be great mates still x

[KingChain]

Afcjan,of course its an excuse,aniani,are you naive? do you know annie0000 personally and know all the history between the 2 familys? Or maybe its the doggy birthday family that have the problems,eitherway,sounds like they have some grudge against you annie,my advice to you would be to invite all the kids from the school to your "goldfishs's" birthday one of these days to catch them back.

[sn�gs]

Maybe the dog wanted to play tennis... and as it was his birthday...

[HillyHugger]

There's some sad people about

[annie0000]

I think he does need more friends - he is pretty shy and this by has been his best friend for the last 3 years - I know his parents pretty well, they have been round for dinner etc. I just think that if it was the other way round, I would either has involved their son or waited until he went home.

I am sure that it wasn't his friends fault.

I wouldn't get into tit for tat, as they are only little boys, but opportunities to make a point usually arise and I will make the most of it when it does.

But it is duly noted!!!

[puddicat]

annie thats unbelievable a dogs birthday a celebration!!

[annie0000]

Actually when I think about it, that's not the first time they have excluded him, which is strange because to be honest they are the ones that have pursued the friendship between them but it obviously suited them at the time and doesn't any more.

They invited us round for dinner when we barely knew them and we thought that it was a bit strange.

If it was me, it would be water of a ducks back, but I hate to see my son sad when he is not big on confidence anyway. I think we will need to sort him out another best friend.

[puddicat]

annie they have to chose themselves, i know you are hurt but you wont be doing him any favours for the future!!

[Polly1958]

I have a friend whose mother in law said at Christmas i'm not buying for the kids as they're both working now but i'll buy for the dogs instead !

[sara3]

it's better for him to have a group of friends rather than relying on just one. can you not invite some other kids over some time?

[annie0000]

I know that puddi, but it is difficult when they are shy and not confident, you so much want them to just join in and have loads of friends, but his nature is such that he will only ever really have one or two close friends that he feels comfortable with - it has only been this last couple of weeks that he has actually plucked up the courage to over to his friends without taking his little brother with him as a crutch. To be honest, his friend is not that much different to him, so I have never been sure whether it was a good thing or a bad thing for them to team up together, but they do get on remarkably well. I just think that he needs another friend to widen his options.

His teacher has sat him next to the class chatterbox in an attempt to bring him out of his shell a bit, so we will see what happens there.

[annie0000]

Hi sara - yes we do, my other son is only a year younger but is very fickle, so we tend to have a procession of boys through the house all the time and he is happy to play with anyone that is here, and I used to have a group of 3 boys including his best friend round for tea once a week, but he finds it difficult to continue a friendship outwith anything that is arranged for him. He also goes to swimming, cubs, judo, art club, sports club and is happy to join in, but he would struggle to even name any of the kids he goes with. I think the problem is that the other kids have other friends as well and as he wont take any initiative to go round for them or phone them, they go with their other friends.

I don't think he is going to be a party animal somehow!!