I was like that growing up. I just had no patience for too many people. Information overload.
I am not sure how much is ADHD and how much is a kid who has social clumsiness and just cannot relate to every other kid. It's tough when you simply don't get it - the cues that everyone takes for granted go right over your head.
One friend is better than none. I hope he is getting therapy so he doesn't sabotage it - I did and lost my real good friend. two of them over the decades. Makes me sad to think of them both - good people I screwed over big time.
My son is 9 and this weekend my husband commented on something that has been troubling me slightly.
Our 9 year old becomes very fixated on one friend and that is his sole friend through out the time, he is social with others to an extent but he has only this one friend. He only talks about this one person, he only wants to invite this one person places (and wants him with him all the time - everyday, every afternoon its can so&so come over), also makes this person presents, etc.
Is it normal to become fixated on a single person like this? Is this part of the ADHD? I thought I had read somewhere about this but not sure. Any insight?
Melissa
my 4 year old had a fixation on a boy called shawny at nursery,talked 24/7 about him,attacked other kids who wanted to play with this little boy,had complete meltdown if came home without him,school had to put ds in a separate room towards the end of nursery for peace.
this went on for month,but suddenly he started to get fixated on callum but now he alters between the 2.
he does have what we called little fixation but we were told he was not on the autistic spectrum so it must be the ADHD.
I saw the pettiness of groups and only wanted one best friend that I could trust. I wouldn't worry about it at all if it were my child. I"m an adult who sitll chooses my friends carefully. I don't see it as a bad thing. ONe good friend you can trust is worth it's weight in gold. Scotsmama, keep an eye on him. Most high functioning autistic kids are diagnosed at older ages. We kept being told my son didn't have it too, but he does and it's more obvious as he ages. Good luck to all. OlderMom38867.4099884259This is ok as long as the kid is a good influence.ME Mom,
I think that this sounds pretty common for kids like ours, because they have such a hard time making friends and fitting in. They find someone they click with and then proceed to smother the relationship until it dies. Social skills training, in any form, should really help with this. Meanwhile, try to express to your child that you know they like so-and-so a lot and that it's great to have someone that you can play with who really likes you, too, but that sometimes people feel pressure when others want so much of their time. This happened to someone I know recently: the little boy made friends with a very bright child with Aspberger's. The other child clung to him so tightly that the little boy felt like the friend was a burden. So, their friendship was fast, intense, and flared out after only about a month. You might feel bad about the idea that you are telling your child that their friend might want a little space, but your candor will only help later on, when subtle shifts in friendships can mean so much in the high school years. Good luck!
My daughter (9) also fixates on one or at most two friends at a time, and always has.