Birthday Party

Sam got invited to a birthday party for a little boy in his class. Since Jonah and Sam are in different classes Jonah didn't get invited. I was actually very happy that the kids are getting opportunities to get out and be individuals every once in a while. Jonah wasn't in agreement, but I opted to let Sam go to the party by himself and he was pumped!

Tonight I took him to the birthday party which was at a bounce house place and I was a little worried that he might not feel comfortable playing at a new place all by himself. My fears were short lived, however, when Sam said "Ok, bye Mom. I see Joe and I am going to play with him!" and he ran off. He played for 2 more hours without even needing to check in with me. He had such a great time! Then as we were leaving he said (completely unprompted) "Good bye Joe. Thanks for inviting me, I had a great time. Happy birthday!"


I can not even begin to explain how different (and fun) it is to take Sam to a birthday party versus Wyatt! Wyatt is clingy and shy and needs constant encouragement to put himself out there. After Wyatt goes to a birthday party I am exhausted! It is so much work for me to take him to a birthday party that I don't even tell him about the invitations if I can get away with it!

Sam is like Wyatt's social polar opposite! It is so interesting to watch your own family dynamics develop as the kids get older. I suspect that Jonah would be more like Wyatt alone at a birthday party, but Shane may end up being a little Sam! We will see... They all have different strengths and Sam is certainly a little social butterfly!