jeanettec_99

I have a five year old (my oldest) that keeps saying that he wants a
five year old friend. He has lots of kids to play with from our
preschool co-op that meets 2 times per week and about 8 friends in our
neighborhood that he plays with in the afternoons. The trouble that
he sees is that none of them are five, even though many of them are
within days of turning five. His other complaint is that none of them
like the things that he LOVES: Star Wars, LEGOS, video games, movies.
My DH and many relatives play all of these things with him.
I think that he really wants a buddy to do the things that he loves
and someone that "gets" him (he likes having serious conversations,
but he also has a great sense of humor and loves to be silly). Most
kids that we're around are nothing like him except maybe similar in
emotional levels. I don't think that he always needs to be around
people just like him, but one similar friend would be nice.

The other day my husband insisted on visiting a school to be sure that
unschooling was the best thing for Braeden. His concern is that since
Braeden is so social that maybe he'd be happier in a school. We
visited the school and to my GRAND surprise Braeden LOVED it. It was
a Montessori school and after the 10 minutes we were out of the room,
we went back in to see Braeden leading a pack of kids around the room
showing them the Egyptian statue and teaching them about Egypt. All
day he kept saying, Mom I'm so HAPPY! and singing "school, school" to
the Star Wars tune and said "now I'll be like a normal five year old
because I'll go to school". I really want to do what Braeden wants,
but I don't think that school is the best option for him and that the
friends are the real issue.

I love unschooling and all that it has given our family-a chance to
travel, unique, strong, opinionated, loving, intelligent, fun kids and
a chance to really know my kids. I just can't come up with any other
ideas to help him meet friends. He is not interested in any kind of
classes where he might meet other children. I think that what he
liked about these children was that 1. they were mostly five 2. many
of them were highly verbal and thoughtful(as he is) 3. they were
willing to listen to what he had to say 4. some were boys (but who
knows if they share the same interests). No one else that he plays
with meets these "requirements". It doesn't seem like it would be so
difficult to find children like this, but we have really struggled!!
First I need more ideas on how to meet better friends for him, second
I need ideas to encourage him to try new activities and third I need
thoughts on letting him try school even though it will be difficult
financially and I don't think it's a good fit.

Thanks for any insight!!
Jeanette