I know it is not easy on Cole being an only-child. He loves to play and wants someone to play with him! However, Dave and I cannot accept his every invitation to build, race, kick the ball or play hotel. Playdates as plentiful as I have tried to maintain them are more difficult now that everyone has varying activities and schedules. So sometimes grudgingly, Cole retreats to his playroom to find something to do. The guilt I feel when he frowns and stomps off is relieved when I hear him ten minutes later using his imagination and creativity to entertain himself. This is a crucial life skill which in my opinion is becoming lost in his generation with over scheduled kids and too much TV/computer/device time for many of them.
I believe Cole has a nice balance of alone time, sports/activity and electronic media. Sure, some days, it leans towards one more heavily but overall, I'm glad to know he can find his own way out of being bored. I love that he will run through the house playing various football positions giving a play-by-play analysis. I revel in the prolific artwork that adorns my desk, the refrigerator and his playroom walls. I smile when I hear him lower his voice in "conversation" as he talks to the "other" superhero/ninja.
I have no doubt that Cole would prefer to have a real person engage with him but I also have no doubt that the fact that he can't all the time makes him work different areas of his brain that would otherwise go dormant and that can only be a positive thing in this world that grabs for our attention 24/7. We all need a little "alone" time.
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