Wareham Boy Moves to New Bedford and Is Looking for New Friends

A New Bedford mother decided to use the power of social media to find new friends for her seven-year-old son after moving to a new area, and my heart aches for him. I moved a lot as a child, and I know what it feels like to be the new kid in town. Keith deserves to know that he’s not alone.

Amber Alexander and her family moved from Wareham to New Bedford back in March. Alexander decided to keep her son, Keith, in the Wareham school system for the time being, which has presented some positives and negatives. It provided a sense of normalcy for Keith, but it has created obstacles when it comes to making new friends in the neighborhood.

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“My 7-year-old son Keith has asked that I reach out to those in the area, to see if there are any other boys his age looking for a new friend!” Alexander wrote on Facebook.

While social media can be a scary place, this post was one of the purest requests I have seen in a while. This little boy is finding his way in a new neighborhood, and that was me not too long ago. So here is my advice to him:

Dear Keith,

I know what it feels like to start over. When I was young, my parents divorced. My mom and I moved a lot when I was in grade school, and while we always stayed in Rhode Island, new neighborhoods meant new people. That was scary at times.

I want you to know that you are not alone. Experiencing new things at a young age will only help you as you get older. It will help you come out of your shell and be open to new opportunities. You will thrive in the face of adversity because you faced challenges early in life. And as long as you stay true to who you are, friends will always come. Dr. Seuss said it best. 'There is no one alive who is youer than you' and you are worthy of strong, lasting friendships.

Best of luck in your new town, my friend. Here’s to hoping this finds you some new neighborhood pals.

Your friend,

Maddie

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There's pizza, and then there's South Shore Bar Pizza. Birthed in Brockton (and to this writer, perfected in Randolph – Lynwood Café is the true G.O.A.T.), it must meet certain qualifications to be considered "SSBP," which include: it's a 10-inch pie; it has a thin, cracker-like crust with minimal "flop;" the cheese is a blend that features more cheddar than mozzarella; and bonus points if you take it home between two carboard-type plates wrapped in flat brown paper bag. They also usually come with "laced" or "burnt" edges (terminology depends on where you are ordering), which is when the sauce and cheese are extended all the way to the edge of the pan, creating a crispy, flavorful coating to the crust. We reached out to the hugely popular South Shore Bar Pizza Social Club Facebook group to ask the experts to share the best of the best (in no particular order).