concernedm
concernedm asks:
Q:
Should I encourage my daughter to cut ties with this unloyal "friend" once and for all?
My daughter who is about to turn 13 has been friends with a neighbor girl, 11, for about 4 years.  This girl is a lot of fun and very outgoing.  The problem is that when her brother, 15, is around, if he says something derogatory about my daughter, she will go along with it instead of being loyal to my daughter and taking her side.  This neighbor girl seems to not understand loyalty and tends to go along with whoever she happens to be with at the time.  Once, on purpose, this girl kicked my daughter's ball all the way down the street and it went around the corner and she refused to go get it.  Tonight this neighbor girl, her brother, and a few other kids were outside playing at 9:45.  My daughter heard them and was looking out the window.  Then the kids started talking about her saying my daughter was spying on them, as if there was something wrong with her looking out of her own window.  I went outside to speak to the kids, and the older brother said, "Well, she looked out her window 8 times."  I told him it's her window, she can look out of her window if she wants, and told him to stop looking at her window.  These are just a couple of examples.  Am I being too sensitive or is it time to encourage my daughter not to be friends with this girl anymore?
In Topics: Friendships and peer relationships
> 60 days ago

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Expert

EdieRaether
Apr 14, 2011
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What the Expert Says:

As a family counselor and the author of Stop Bullying Now, I will say that while not
warm and caring behavior, it is a point where lessons can be learned.  Do know that her friend is loyal....to her own brother. But she is loyal.  Blood runs thicker than water and he is older and bigger.  
I do think parental intervention is important, but for these type incidents, I would encourage my daughter to learn how to not to buy into it.  These are teachable moments where she can learn to develop some emotional immunity and problem solving skills.  
Take care,
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Additional Answers (1)

Karenmom
Karenmom writes:
Hi concernedm,

This is a tough situation and a good question!  The neighbor girl was about 7 when your 9 year old daughter befriended her, and at 7 she may have been grateful to have a 9 year old take interest in her and happy to have a friend.  However, at 11 the true personality may be showing now and it may not be the best situation  for your daughter, especially with the older, more influential brother being 'not quiet so nice'.  As neighbors it makes the situation even harder because naturally you want to maintain a good relationship with the people you are near the most, but if the relationship is not a positive one, it may be best not to spend quiet so much time together.  

I sympathize with you and understand your concerns and wish I could offer more helpful advice, but this seems like one of those situations that you'll just have to "play it by ear" and hope that it works out.

Best Wishes!
> 60 days ago

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