Why did my son do this?

[Anonymous]

OP, I can see that you found this odd but I can also see many normal kids doing things like this. It doesn't necessarily mean your son is troubled. It may mean, very positively that he's highly imaginative, creative, and has a lot of fantasy. 6 is really not too old to have games of imagination.

I really don't think this bears much more thought at all. Let it go.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Yes you're right, I probably read too much into it. I feel quite a bit better since it happened thanks to the many positive posts.

My son is verbal btw. He is creative for sure but very very socially anxious. I hope one day he can find a few friends.

[Anonymous]

OP, I went through a very bad stage socially as a child, about age 7-10, without friends. I grew out of it. Many children pass through socially awkward phases. Perhaps a change of school, or an afternoon class with a different bunch of kids?

[Anonymous]

OP, if the other mom had been a high school drop-out would you have cared so much about her reaction? Why or why not? Your kid sounds pretty normal to me. I wonder if you did more harm by harping on the wood if both boys were okay with it? Also, if you told the other child's dad about your son's issues, I can bet supereducated Mama already knows. In any event, sounds like the dads and the boys are a better match, why not let them go have fun and you go do something else for the day?

[Anonymous]

The only reason I mentioned that the mother was a research scientist is because if I explained to her my son's issues I thought she might understand. But because we just met her recently it felt like too much information to explain to a new person in our lives. Regardless of the mother's occupation or educational background, I would have cared.

And yes, I'm sure I didn't help matters by asking my son about the wood later. That wasn't lost on me and I felt awful later on.

The other child's dad did not know about my son at all.

The dads and boys are indeed a better match. This time, however, dad could not tag along. He had to go to work. Of course we'll try to make sure it's a dad/boys play date next time.

Thanks for the advice.

[Anonymous]

You are not alone. My son, who just turned seven did the same thing at recess last year. Instead of playing with the other kids, he would play with sticks and call them his "friends." He seems to enjoy playing with sticks more than with other children. I find sticks in my car, and even in his bedroom! He has been diagnosed with high functioning autism, and struggles with socialization. I am guessing he enjoys sticks because they are more predictable than people. Still, it is disconcerting.

[Anonymous]

PP, the fact that he is engaged in symbolic play is actually, to me at least, very encouraging. Many ASD children have a very hard time engaging in symbolic play. His anxiety might be preventing him from socializing with other children. Is he verbal?

[Anonymous]

PP here . . . . my son can be verbal when he wants to (and when he is really comfortable). It is rare that he chooses to engage with other children, but mentions that he would like to have friends.

[Anonymous]

OP, FWIW, my mom never stops reminding me about when I was four and found a 14-inch log that was in our backyard, tied a rope to it, and declared it was my dog. I couldn't go anywhere without my dog. My mom was obviously horrified but played along. For months. Until the log was basically so gross that one night my dog "ran away," never to be seen again. Admittedly, I remember nothing of this. That being said, I've always been horribly shy and moved a lot, so I suspect that was my way of securing a friendship as well. I turned out fine (at least by my standards), so I wouldn't necessarily worry about it. I'm sure the parents in our neighborhood thought it was completely weird that I dragged a log around all the time (and that my parents let me do so), but there have been no lasting repercussions, except having to listem to my mom repeat the story...