more birthday tidbits

It's been a week now since Elias' birthday BBQ, and I'm finally getting to posting a bit about it.,

I think it went really well:  lots of people came and they seemed to be enjoying themselves.  Some of the kids were shocked that we had cake and ice cream BEFORE dinner.  Elias liked it too, but usually played along the fringes with one or two other kids, which was just fine.  I was very proud seeing him at one point get very mad at another little boy for stealing his train, and instead of throwing a fit or fighting for it, he just got up and stomped away, muttering, stewed a couple seconds, then went right back to the train table and started calmly and happily playing alongside the same boy again.  Way to go on the coping skills, Dude!

The hit of the party were the chickens.  Trying to find something they'd eat was a challenge many took on, but when they became outnumbered my 4 hens prudently retreated to the cover of the pine trees.  They'd eat corn offered them, but were generally careful to keep an escape route open just in case.

After most people left, Elias and two of his friends played in the sprinklers while their mom and I got to relax and talk a bit.  At one point she went to get something from their car, and Elias asked "Where's Mom going?"  to which I said "I'm right here, Elias!" and he said "No, I mean the other mom."  Then he and one of the brothers--the corn buddies--finished off all the many remaining ears of corn.

Elias said something quite striking at the very end of the day.  When everyone was gone and we were coming in from putting away the chickens, he said "I had fun with my new friend J today.  J and I are the same color."  "What'd you say?" I said.  "J and I are the same color."  Oh.  Well, yes (he's from Ethiopia also), but I hadn't thought it mattered to Elias.  Well maybe it doesn't matter in any big sense, but in his eyes it is noteworthy.  Hmm.  Actually I thought he was having more fun playing with J's brother, who is white and nearer his age, but at that point I guess he was recalling his kinship with J more strongly.  It's another reason I'm thankful we're in Madison; opportunities to interact with kids that look like him (and those that reflect the whole spectrum of mankind) are much more plentiful here than in most places in the country.  It's a good thing.