Introspection .. Aditya's and mine

Yesterday, Aditya had the first ever playdate with a boy from his class. This is the first time he has asked to have a classmate over. We had been waiting for this day since he started Kindergarten last year but had decided to give him his time to WANT this. We had other Son-Rise peer playdates which I arranged with boys outside his class. Last year, he never felt like inviting any child from his class. Last week, as we were talking about kids in his science group, he said that he liked AK, as he was quiet and nice. I wondered aloud if AK would be a good friend. Aditya then said that he would like to have a playdate with him to test it!

On Monday, he actually went up to this boy and asked him if he would like to come to our house for a PD!
When we got home, he told me, "Aai, now do not make us play the cube game, I have now had so many playdates, I know what to do! Can we choose what to play?" (I had made a big dice out of a box, with zip-lock bags taped to the sides. I changed up the games the kids would play on each PD. We had a mix of physical play, board games and pretend play, unstructured yet structured)

Yesterday after school, I picked up Aditya and AK, Shreya and her own playdate. The girls were talking to each other, giggling and having fun. Aditya was talking to me about what he would do when AK came home and how they would have lots of fun, while AK was walking behind us. After a while, I said to Aditya, "I am excited for you! But what about now?"
Aditya: "I am having fun now too!"
I: "I am not sure if your friend is having fun, though. He seems to be bored."
At that, a light bulb seemed to go on in Aditya's head. It seemed to me that he had not realized that the playdate starts right from the moment I pick them up, not after we reach home! Then he started telling AK about the different Beyblades he has and they went on to have a lively discussion about Beyblades and then moving on to some other topics.

At home, they dived into the playroom and started playing Beyblades, followed by Marbles and Monopoly. About 1.5 hours later, as they came out for a snack, I noticed that Aditya had a flat affect and seemed distant and removed. The playdate continued for 30 more minutes where they played Jenga.

After AK left, I asked Aditya how the playdate went for him.
"Good."
"I noticed that you were very enthusiastic at the beginning but did not seem so toward the end. How come?"
"I don't really know, I think I got tired."

I tried asking him a couple different ways to try figure out what could have gone wrong. Later, I asked him to describe one challenge he faced while he played today. And BANG came the reply:
"I had a challenge when we played Monopoly. AK knew how to play it, but his rules were different than ours. I tried to tell him what the rules were, but he kept saying that he knew the rules. I even showed him the instructions that came with it, but he didn't take a look at them."
"Is that why you said you were bored?"
"Yes. And could you please help me with this challenge in Son-Rise? I had a hard time after that!"
"Sure, we will, Aditya!"
Wow! This boy knows exactly what his challenge is and that he wants help with it. He is taking charge of it and wants to find a way out!

Today he went on a field trip without me for the time ever. He went with another parent in their car, carrying his own booster seat.

 I freaked out as I caught sight of him on the playground today! I would have never imagined him on parallel bar! He didn't dare go close to any bars this time last year. Today he was resting on the parallel bars after running around chasing somebody!

He coolly replied to my questions that he began doing this sometime in late September. Till a month ago, he would come running to hug me when he saw me at lunch. Not today. He said "Hi, Aai!" from a distance followed by "I see D. Bye!" and went off to chase D.

Sigh! I miss my little boy! But wasn't this the day I had waited for so long! Hmm ..time to find something else to do?