u/Fast_Brick9679

My child is graduating preschool this month. For the last year, they’ve been best buds with a classmate, and we’ve become friendly with the parents. We’ve had several playdates and they seemed like nice people, but over the last two months, I’ve seen a side of one parent that makes me want to pull back significantly.

The Red Flags
Overstepping Boundaries: During a school event, this parent directly confronted a 5-year-old classmate who was acting out, rather than speaking to the child’s parents. It was aggressive, inappropriate, and very uncomfortable to witness.

Lack of Social Awareness: At a recent kindergarten info session, they dominated the meeting with an aggressive amount of questions. It was so bad that I could hear other parents around the room whispering for them to stop talking.

The "Cling" Factor: The biggest red flag is that this parent recently switched their child to our specific elementary school district just so their kid and my kid could stay together.

The Dilemma:
I’m now very concerned that this person is going to be the "problem parent" of the grade—overbearing, abrasive toward other parents, and potentially "helicoptering" any kids who don't get along with theirs.

My partner believes that if the kids aren't in the same class, the relationship will naturally fade. However, I’m worried this parent is going to lobby the school to keep our kids together. We plan on being "busy" all summer to create distance, but we are looking at six years of elementary school together.

My questions for the group:

1. How do I maintain a polite "acquaintance" distance without being pulled back into a close friendship?
2. Should I proactively ask the school not to place our children in the same class, or will that make me the "drama" parent?
3. Has anyone dealt with a parent who "latched on" like this? How did it play out?

My child is graduating preschool this month. For the last year, they’ve been best buds with a classmate, and we’ve become friendly with the parents. We’ve had several playdates and they seemed like nice people, but over the last two months, I’ve seen a side of one parent that makes me want to pull back significantly.

The Red Flags
Overstepping Boundaries: During a school event, this parent directly confronted a 5-year-old classmate who was acting out, rather than speaking to the child’s parents. It was aggressive, inappropriate, and very uncomfortable to witness.

Lack of Social Awareness: At a recent kindergarten info session, they dominated the meeting with an aggressive amount of questions. It was so bad that I could hear other parents around the room whispering for them to stop talking.

The "Cling" Factor: The biggest red flag is that this parent recently switched their child to our specific elementary school district just so the kids could stay together.

The Dilemma:
I’m now very concerned that this person is going to be the "problem parent" of the grade—overbearing, abrasive toward other parents, and potentially "helicoptering" any kids who don't get along with theirs.

My partner believes that if the kids aren't in the same class, the relationship will naturally fade. However, I’m worried this parent is going to lobby the school to keep our kids together. We plan on being "busy" all summer to create distance, but we are looking at six years of elementary school together.

My questions for the group:

1. How do I maintain a polite "acquaintance" distance without being pulled back into a close friendship?
2. Should I proactively ask the school not to place our children in the same class, or will that make me the "drama" parent?
3. Has anyone dealt with a parent who "latched on" like this? How did it play out?

Our son is HORRIBLE at sleeping throughout the night. If he wakes up he will be WIDE awake FOR HOURS. It is worse than the newborn phase. Of course will have days where he sleeps throughout but lately (and we will go through periods) where HE WILL NOT SLEEP. We adjust naps. We try to recognize teething. We don’t think he’s hungry - he’s a human garbage can. We absolutely do not know what to do.

My husband is the one who has to put him down because he will flail out of my arms and is strong and will also pull my hair out. This is our second child. Our first one was not like this.

For example. It’s currently 3AM. He’s been up since 1 AM. He also wakes up SCREAMING his head off sometimes or just crying. My husband will rock him, get him calm, put in crib, and then he’s SCREAMING crying again. We’ve done some CIO but he will just not soothe himself. Will bring him into bed with us and sometimes that works but then he just wants to play.

We are desperate and my husband is at wits end because he’s the only one that can put him down at night (I of course try but he wiggles out of my arms and wants to run around or will pull my hair)

Any suggestions PLEASE (other than adjusting naps and teething).