Ooh, everyone got in before me while I was composing. It looks like we're all on the same page.

Now THAT is the question!!! I wish I knew. I honestly just don't know. Perhaps it's perfectly normal for any kid with two older siblings.

I should say I almost deleted this post earlier, but am so glad I didn't. I cherish all the feedback.

I should add that my first gut reaction was "you canNOT be upset over this...especially with ME!!!" While he was pouting in his room though, I did try to think this through from his perspective. And everything seems to have a new slant when "GT" is considered.

Thanks again for the great outside POV.

I don't really see this as a gifted thing, in my opinion. I think it is more of an age thing. Did your girls do as many social things when they were 9 as they do now? My 9 year old does not have near as many outings as his older brothers. Much more parental involvement is needed for friendships at that age. His older brothers call and e-mail their friends and set things up on their own, the nine year old can't really do that yet. (Nor are any of his classmates or friends on the friends only chat sites like ALL of his brothers' are!)

I think the problem you most likely are going to be facing is the "disimilar age friends" issue that we are now having with DS11. Due to the skips, all of his classmates and friends are 13 and up. Thirteen year olds generally have more freedom than 11 year olds, and that can sometimes be a problem when he is at their houses or out with them.

That surely could be the case CFK...I tend to stew over things in my mind, and they always work their way around to "is this a gifted thing?" eventually. I probably spend too much time on these boards, LOL! My girls have always had these opportunities though, and are pretty closely spaced. It could also be a gender thing, a personality thing, as well as an age thing. Thanks for the thoughts. I feel better prepared for the (inevitable) next time!!!!

Sorry I missed this post. I wasn't online last night. But I think you got great advice. Anytime parents can encourage kids taking responsibility for themselves, I'm all for it. "Woe is me" doesn't go very far with me, I'm afraid, LOL!

But I think you're 100% right that gender and age probably factor in, too. 13yos & 11yos are just a lot more given to those sorts of opportunities than 9yos.

So, yeah! What they all said!

Dottie,
I feel for you from a slightly different perspective. DS is also 9 and while extremely social does not do well at maintaining friendships. He is great friends with someone for a few weeks and then they won't play with him anymore. We keep working on the social graces. BUT, according to his Psych, his teachers and the school staff, DS is interacting well. None of us can quite figure out the problem. We suspect that DS might just be a bit too intense about his interests and loses his new friends in the depth of his interactions. Interestingly, he has manged to keep 1 very good friend now for almost a year. The funny thing is they really don't have anything in common

As the younger sib in my family, I know I spent a decent amount of time pouting that my older sib was going and doing interesting things when I had to stay home!

BTW, I also read at stop lights...I thought I was the only one

Dottie-

I'm not sure of I have anything new to add to the conversation. But I want to say that you're a great parent to be so concerned. Maybe you can get DS to open up a bit about what his social needs are, and see if he is really feeling lonely or if he just wants to do more "fun stuff" like his sisters.

If it's more the activities than the friends, then you can probably help him to line up a few things and see if a neighbor or someone can be invited along. If he is yearning for a close friend, that's something harder to fix.

Books on tape are the way to go!

Today's Lego drive will be JUST DS and me, so hopefully we'll have some good bonding time, . (Yesterday's meltdown came after too much oohing and aahing over DD11's art camp portfolio, .)

Being in PA though, I just hope I don't come upon ELH at an intersection, with both of us reading our books, ! (Seriously, it's good to have that crazy company!)