My son has a combination of mine and my husband’s hair, resulting in very wavy, thick hair but not a ton of it. It has a mind and personality of its own! I need some tips from parents who have experience with this kind of hair. It looks great when it’s short but I love his hair and the waves, so I would like to keep his hair a bit longer. After a hair wash if I brush it right away, it looks good. But I can’t wash his hair every day😅

I’ve gone back and forth on this and would love some other perspectives on this situation. I have a 6 year old who is my only son. He went to daycare with another kid, let’s call him Jack. Jack and my son became best friends in daycare and now they go to separate kindergartens. I have hung out with the mom of Jack with our kids a handful of times and have invited them over for play dates, trick or treating, and have watched Jack when his mom needed to get things done. She is a single mom and has had a rough go of it. I know she struggles with mental health and relationships and just the general stress of being a single parent. I feel for her, I know it’s very tough. The thing is every time we hang out she talks and does not ask any questions about my life. I don’t think she could name 5 personal things about me in the few years I’ve known her because her problems are THE conversation. What breakup she is going through, health issues, money issues, parenting issues, work issues. We don’t have much in common except for the boys. Her son is not very well behaved, which I’m not judging her for it just makes it hard to invite ONLY the son over and I don’t think that’s realistic given he is 6. The relationship my son has with Jack goes hand in hand with having a relationship with his mom. I’m exhausted every time we hang out. It’s mentally draining. She cries half the times we hang out. My son asks to hang out with Jack, and I want him to have friends, it breaks my heart. But the mom is a lot. She has gotten very close to asking for money, and I had to change the subject because I know she takes Jack on expensive vacations. Again, not judging but I can’t fund someone and their kid. I feel terrible. I have been avoiding hanging out and she has asked me if I am mad at her or did anything to offend me. I’m not great at handling friendships in the first place, I have always been very shy and so not quite sure how to handle this. My husband agrees that she is a lot. Am I being a jerk? How would you handle it? I’ve just been very “busy.”