I am fond of them, of the inferior beings of the abyss, of those who are full of longing. - R Wagner

[anastasiav]

The family that lives across the way from us has about six or seven kids. I think the youngest must be around 7 years old.

E desperately - DESPERATELY - wants to go out and play with these children, who often ride their bikes around our intersection in a big pack, and some of whom were today building some giant track-related contraption off their porch and down into their garden.

As often happens, E saw them outside and ran and got his shoes and put them on himself and got his jacket, and took me by the hand and dragged me across the street to see the kids.

Who won't talk to him. At all. He'll stand on the sidewalk and say "Hi" "Hi" "Hi, My name is Evan" to them, but they never respond with more than a cursory "Hi" in return.

He's heartbroken, and I can't explain it or make it better.

Their house has been for sale since around Christmas, and I can't wait until they sell it and move away, so I won't have to deal with this particular heartbreak in E's life any longer.

Comments

[cvirtue.livejournal.com]

Is there any obvious reason the kids won't even say hi?

[palegreyminion.livejournal.com]

She said they do say hi. "never respond with more than a cursory "Hi" in return."

I'm guessing because E is 4 and the others are much older. Has E ever tried progressing from "hi" to "can I play with you?"

[anastasiav.livejournal.com]

Has E ever tried progressing from "hi" to "can I play with you?"

Oh yes. Even yesterday.

He actually has played with them a couple of times, but only when their parents were around to enforce the idea.

Is there any obvious reason the kids won't even say hi?

I think its a combination of a) the age thing - they're all much older than him, and b) the fact that there are so darn many of them, they all already have playmates and aren't interested in any more.

*shrug*

[tonypatriquin.livejournal.com]

We get a version of this, too, though gentler than yours. Especially with C, *everyone* he sees are immediately designated "friends". This includes the kids on the playground, kids playing in their own yards, adults mowing their lawns, etc. He's not hurt when someone doesn't want to engage him, so much as simply mystified. They're *friends* after all.

[anastasiav.livejournal.com]

Having grown up as an only child, I feel deeply for him. Danger and Moxie are fortunate in that they have each other for company - even when its not exactly what they want - but I know from experience that part of what is driving E's wanting to be friends is that he'd much rather play with other kids than play with us.