Kid Friend Breakups
b'By the time our kids finish middle school, many will have suffered the sting of being left behind by a formerly \\u201cbest\\u201d friend. Many more will have struggled with how to create some space between themselves and the playmates they have simply outgrown. Lots of kids end up on both sides of that equation (or at least ours have). Neither side is easy\\u2013 but we\\u2019re here to figure out how to make it less painful for all concerned, whichever side our kid is on.\\n\\xa0In this episode we discuss:\\n\\xa0\\n\\xa0how not to over-identify with the rejection our kids might feel (as Eileen Kennedy-Moore puts it, \\u201cdon\\u2019t go lioness\\u201d)\\nthe difference between someone bullying your kid and someone just really, really disappointing her\\nhow to support older kids through the heartbreak\\nhow best to help our kids when they\\u2019re the ones who might need to say \\u201cI need more space\\u201d\\n\\nHere\\u2019s links to some great writing on the topic:\\nEileen Kennedy-Moore for US News and World Report: 3 Ways to Help a Child Cope With Being Dumped by a Friend\\nDr. Carl Pickhardt for Psychology Today: Adolescence and the Loss of a Best Friend\\nKJ Dell\\u2019Antonia for NYT Motherlode: When Another Child Wants To Be Friends And Yours Does Not\\nWhatever you do, maintain perspective! Don\\u2019t dismiss or ignore your child\\u2019s feelings, but don\\u2019t go lioness either.\\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices'