Certainly not my popularity.  No, Noah is the cursed one.  He is by far one of the most sought after kids in his class to play with/be with.  Please do not mistake this for parental bragging.  Being popular can be very isolating.  As some of the kids are forming these bonds with one or two kids–Noah has a host of kids who want to play with him all the time.  He is being pulled in many directions and he doesn’t seem to get to really spend time with a core friend or two.

His one teacher today talked with me a bit about how she often sees Noah being pulled in several directions and wondered if I had noticed him being stressed out or anxious at home.  I told her not really, but that there was an issue and that Noah didn’t seem to understand why he couldn’t be everyone’s friend.  OMG–already cliques in pre-school.  He has a three different kids who want to play with him often–they are three kids who don’t play together and often as soon as Noah walks in  he is smothered by all three.  The kids all want to be his friend a don’t quite understand that he is everyone’s friend and that because he plays with one doesn’t mean he doesn’t like the other.

“Mom, B says S isn’t my friend.”

“Is that true?”

“No, S said we have to keep it a secret so B doesn’t know”

“You can be everyone’s friend”

“I know by B gets mad when I say I am S’s friend”

How I wish the world was easier for my little man.  Noah negotiates these issues well and splits his time.  I can’t believe I just wrote that my son is splitting his time amongst other 3/4-year-olds.  His teacher assures me that they are keeping an eye on the situation and step in to help when they need to.  Is it sad to wish my son was the shy one and not the one everyone wants to be with.

I don’t know what I’ll do when Zoë starts school.  They both can’t be popular can they?