Try explaining to him that it bothers you when he clings to you, and tell him you also want to be friends with other kids, not just him. I hope that helps.
— A reader
I had a friend for a whole year. We were very good friends and talked a lot. The next year, the teacher sat me next to two very nice girls, and without noticing, I became friends with them. They were fun and also serious about schoolwork, and we became a great group. I tried to get my old friend to join us, but she got very angry and didn’t want me to be friends with them.
Once, the two girls came over to study for a test, and suddenly my old friend showed up. I panicked so much that I pushed my new friends into the closet and shut the door right before she came into the room! I hoped I could get rid of her fast and let them out. The problem was that it made them laugh so hard that we could hear giggles coming from the closet. My friend realized something was going on and opened the closet. When she saw my two new friends, she was very hurt and left quickly. Since then she won’t talk to me.
I’m sorry she ended our friendship, because she was a close friend, and hiding my friends was silly of me. But I understand that if she can’t handle me having other friends, that’s her problem. I think you should make friends with other kids and not give in – and if your friend won’t accept it, that’s not your fault.
— A reader
I had the same problem. I talked to my friend and he was very hurt and didn’t want to be my friend anymore. Then his mom came over and was upset with me for hurting her son. I cried a lot. My mom asked what happened, and when she heard the story she invited my friend over and talked to both of us together. She told him she was really happy we were friends, but that he had to let me be friends with other kids too. Later his mom came to apologize to me. In the end it helped, and today we’re good friends – but he doesn’t boss me around. So the whole unpleasant story had a happy ending. I think you should tell your parents – they can give you advice on how to handle a friend who takes over. Good luck!
— A reader
