Complicated!

Ben has this sudden interest in having a social life and seeing friends all the time outside of school.
I'm excited about this because it's kind of a first. And he has made this friend who seems to like Ben as much as Ben likes him... which is a rare find, honestly.

I really want and NEED to encourage this because Ben needs this a LOT... like really, really REALLY needs this.

There are multiple issues in play here though, the biggest of which is, what the heck do I do with Simon? When I so much as mentioned to Ben that maybe we could bring his friend home from school with us tomorrow, Simon immediately burst into tears. "What about me? What will I do? I won't have anyone to play with."

I asked Ben if he would mind if Simon played with them if this playdate happened and he was okay with it. (though I wouldn't make him do this every time, of course) Simon wasn't into it though and just cried and cried.

Sigh. Simon actually has really clicked with one little boy in his class lately, but he doesn't have the kind of mom who is just going to let me bring her kid home from school with me. It will have to be a mom/kids playdate and that doesn't really work for a Friday evening.

Argh.

So complicated. I feel like Ben is having to sacrifice because I don't know what to do with Simon. It stinks. I should be able to say, "Yes! We'll bring your buddy home for a few hours! Absolutely!" But it's just not that simple. I SO wish it were that simple, for Ben's sake.

Multiple kids... especially close in age ones who are the same gender and each others' main playmate... it makes things complicated. Really really does.  What do you do?