My daughter is 10 yrs old and the oldest of 2. She was born in August, so she is one of the youngest in her grade. She has always had social issues and very little friends. She has inattentive ADD along with PDD-NOS. These 2 things together make it near impossible for her to sustain relationships. She will be heading off to middle school next year and we are very concerned. She does not understand how to communicate effectively and is very anxious. We went years without the phone ever ringing for her and yet my son - total opposite. He is very involved in everything. He can walk into a room and make friends immediately. He was also tested for the gifted and talented program this year. It is very disheartening for my daughter to see "things" to come so easy for my son. She is in therapy. It helps with some things but the school environment appears to me to be so cruel it is hard for the therapy to be put into practice. Luckily, she has 2 girlfriends this year. Both of these girls have issues of their own but they complement and support each other. I am not looking forward to next year and am doing anything I can to nurture the relationships. I sometimes feel like a cruise director for my daughter. Then the guilt hits about my son - who does not need or get as much attention. It's very hard and I sympathize with you.

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Kids with learning disabilities and social inhibitions often struggle with low self esteem. It is hard enough being a teenager, being different doesn't make it easier. The best thing you can do as a parent is encourage and support your child and accept her/his differences. You are in a perfect position to inspire confidence and help your child build self esteem. Your unconditional love will go a long way in helping your child feel good about herself.

Check out this exercise designed to help you child build self esteem. And love her just the way she is -- you are lucky to have a very special child.

Good Luck, Dena

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After being singled out for being different, ( he also has Turrets)he responds ina verbally agressive manner. He has limited his friends and only feels accepted by family and even then he lashes out on occassion. He never forgets bad treatment and no matter how long it takes, he will verbally assail them when he gets the opportunity. this has become a real problem for me as he allienates my friends as well as his own acquaintances. I don't knowhow to deal with this anymore and don't want to isolate him further, but it has become a problem for me. Are there any suggestions+

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