Has it ever even crossed your mind? The reality is that this whole new life chapter comes with many new friendships for your child which by default might just come with some new ones for you too– even if you are not in the market for them.

In your child’s pre-school years you may have been completely unfamiliar with the other parents. In fact, you were pretty unfamiliar with the children too if you are honest. Tales would make their way back to the house each day but you might have struggled to put faces to names.

That’s the culture of pre-school in a way. You are acutely aware that this is just a short phase in your child’s life. A year or two at most. It’s easy to simply drop off and pick up three hours later without needing more than a friendly nod to the other parent standing at the gate at pick up time.

School is a different ball game. Remember the friends you made at school? You might even still be thick as thieves. This phase of life tends to be the beginning of long-lasting friendships. Play dates are suggested more than you might be comfortable with while party invites seem to come flooding in from day one of the school year.

Your child’s social calendar is absolutely exhausting, to say the least. With every play date invite comes the necessary contact to agree or decline. You might have even been added to a WhatsApp group where all the other parents congregate and discuss an acceptable standard birthday present amount for the school year. This is completely new to you but here you are sending a thumbs up and a money emoji to twenty-eight other parents you’ve never met before. This is normal now.

There is something profoundly huge about your child starting primary school. It’s undeniable that they will be utterly transformed between now and the six to eight years that they will spend there. Hobbies will develop, friendships will flourish (and fail) while strengths and weaknesses will suddenly show their faces. It is a time of great change, development and pride for you as a parent.

In the midst of profound pride can come a valley of worries and concerns though. You might wonder if your child’s education is as it should be or perhaps friendships, bullying or peer pressure become your focal point. During these times it is undoubtedly comforting to have the support of the other parents. They may be the sounding board you need, the provider or reassurance or simply someone to make a joke with. They are experiencing the very same journey and perhaps the same anxieties and it’s really nice to know that you are not alone.

Having a good relationship with the other parents at your school has so many positives to offer. It will make things easier for your children’s friendships because it really helps when your child’s friend has a parent that you quite like talking to. It’s also nice to have a positive communication level with the other parents so that you can share experiences and stories about the goings on at school. They might just be a direct link to important issues that affect your child’s well-being and growth.

You don’t have to be meeting up for coffee every week or sending each other funny daily GIFs but having a good relationship with the other parents at school is a positive thing in the long-run so have an open mind about this one.