Pat's Answer
My best friend is picking on me about having a new friend
Your Question
Your best friend is picking on you about having a new friend and they’re turning into a mean person but you don’t wanna tell you parents ?
Answer
Hi, you are welcome to Ask Pat,
Thank you so much for reaching out to us.
You have told us that your best friend is not treating you kindly since you have made a new friend and that you don’t want to talk to your parents about it. This sounds like a difficult situation for you.
We may have different hobbies and interests from our current friends and sometimes, this will mean that we can make new friends in the various domains of our lives. This can be tough for our “old” friends as they may feel they are being replaced and losing their friend. Perhaps you could have a conversation with your friend to ask what is going on for her/him/them and to explain how their actions are making you feel. They may need some reassurance that you still care for them. You do not have to put up with meanness though; in our friendships, we should be respectful, kind and understanding towards one another. It is important that we allow our friends to be their own people and that they do the same for us.
It can be difficult to balance new and old friendships. It may be helpful to chat with a trusted adult about what you are experiencing at the moment. This trusted adult can be an older sibling or cousin, aunt/uncle, teacher, or coach. They may be able to offer you a space to express your feelings and allow you to be seen and listened to, and they may be able to help you come up with a plan to deal with the situation you are facing with your friend.
Remember, you can always phone Childline on 1800 66 66 66 to talk about what is going on for you if you don’t feel ready to talk to someone in your life quite yet. We are here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our text service which can be reached on 50101 and Web Chat service through www.childline.ie are also available daily. While we will not tell you what to do, we are here to listen to and support you, and to help you to explore the options that are available to you in your life. We are here to help you in a way that suits you.
We hope that you have found this information helpful.
Take care of yourself,
Pat.