Buddy

I heard Shaun talking to someone a couple of weeks ago while he was eating dinner and I had quickly run to the bathroom. I chalked it up to him talking with the fat cat that always sits on the empty chair and wills food to drop to the floor so she can nibble on it. Then a couple days ago it happened again; he was talking to someone while I ran down the basement for a moment.

Finally when he turned and spoke to the air yesterday while we were sitting eating dinner together I asked him who he was talking to. "My friend, Buddy, Mum," as if I should have known. Apparently Buddy is Shaun's new friend who sits beside him at the table. So far I haven't seen Buddy appear anywhere else in the house except when we're eating. Buddy is a boy but only talks to Shaun and his favourite food is corn. Go figure, that's one of Shaun's favourite foods too.

I've known for a while that Shaun really needs a friend his age to just be a kid with. His play is so different when he's with another child than with me or Craig. Now that the warmer weather is here we've been spending a fair amount of time outside and he's made friends with a little boy from our complex who is only a week or so younger. I've felt relief that this may be the social aspect of Shaun's life that has been missing. I guess I was wrong because now Buddy has appeared. It's too cute to listen to him ask Buddy what he'd like to eat and encourage Buddy to take "just one bite". That's our rule: you have to take at least one bite of everything that's being served. Buddy doesn't talk much and Shaun hasn't played with Buddy as of yet but I'm sure the more he explores the world of pretend and imagination that Buddy will become a permanent feature in Shaun's life. It's sort of creepy that Shaun has an imaginary friend but it's really cool at the same time. He's only 2 1/2 and already has identified that having a friend is important; and if he can't have a real friend, he'll make one up.

I wonder what Buddy's mum thinks of him eating here all the time instead of at home? I have to remind myself to let this whole story-line follow Shaun's lead and not get too involved. I tend to want to direct play too often and don't let it find its own course. He's awake from his nap right now but playing in his room. I can hear him over the monitor talking about planes and helicopters. I wonder who he's talking to...