Friendships don’t always look the way we expect.
I used to watch other children form easy connections and wonder if my child would ever have that. Playdates that didn’t quite work. Invitations that never came. Conversations that felt one-sided or misunderstood.
It hurt in ways I didn’t anticipate.
Over time, I learned to release my own expectations. My child didn’t need many friends. They needed the right connections ones that honoured who they are, not who they were expected to be.
Friendship for my child might mean parallel play. Shared interests without small talk. Comfort in silence.
I’m learning that friendship isn’t defined by numbers or appearances. It’s defined by safety, acceptance, and joy.
And sometimes, the most meaningful friendships arrive later or in unexpected forms.
