Full-Tilt Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children TPP 018: 11-year-old Asher Shares Challenges and Strategies Surrounding His Social Life
Mar 6, 2026
An 11-year-old talks about real-life friendship challenges and how he keeps connections alive across distance. He shares what happens when meltdowns occur and how he recovers. Strategies for handling mean kids, managing group anxiety, and planning to stay calm are discussed. Practical tips for starting at a new school and finding friends who fit round out the conversation.
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Planned Solutions for Volatile Game Sessions
- Asher described repeated FaceTime Minecraft sessions that escalate when one player abruptly leaves, often triggering intense anger and abrupt call endings.
- He and Debbie made a list of six possible problems and planned solutions, including mindset shifts and communicating limits before sessions.
Tell Friends Your Frustrations Before Playing
- Remind yourself that friendship is more important than a single game to avoid explosive reactions.
- Before play, tell your friend what frustrations you've had and ask to do things differently this time.
Meltdowns Cause Embarrassment But Not Friendship Loss
- Asher says meltdowns in front of friends make him embarrassed and he usually apologizes afterward.
- Despite some delayed forgiveness, his meltdowns haven't ruined friendships because he follows up and his friends stick around.