What do I tell my kid when his new friend’s mom won’t respond to arrange a playdate?
My son made friends with a boy at school and they get along really well. They both really want a playdate. I managed to swap numbers with his mother, and she initially replied, but when I directly try to arrange a playdate, she just doesn’t reply.
I don’t want to spend hours over-analyzing why she hasn’t replied. (Maybe she is rude. Maybe she is forgetful. Who cares? I am very polite, get along with other parents, and my son is a well-behaved student at school, so if she doesn’t want her son to play with mine, that’s her problem.)
I just don’t know what to say to my son. I don’t want to say anything bad about his friend’s mom, and nor do I want him to take the situation personally. I’m planning on lying and just saying “they’re just too busy”. What would you say?
Another problem is my son’s birthday is coming up soon and he really wants to invite this friend. It’s going to be so awkward trying to invite him when the mother ghosts me. I feel bad for my son.
(Honestly, screw these fully grown adults who behave like this. Kids just want to play with their friends, and in this age of screens and social isolation, kids need these positive friendships more than ever before. These adults are literally ruining important childhood memories with their antisocial behavior. If you’re a parent, get over yourself and help your kid and your school community by being polite and responsive. If you really must, make up a lie about why your kid can’t do a playdate, but don’t ghost other families and leave their innocent kids feeling bad.)