Nothing makes Ivan happier than a good stick for his stick collection.

We stayed after school on a sunny Monday and played. Ivan mostly chased Eli around the yard chanting “ELI! ELI!” and then mock fighting with him. Eli is an Ivan-tolerant first grade classmate of his big sister. Their mock battles go better since the day Eli punched Ivan in the stomach and he crumpled crying. Eli completely shocked said, “I am sorry. I thought he was invincible,” and looked near tears himself. I seem to remember Ivan chanting on that day “I AM INVINCIBLE.” Anyway, that was fall and the battles that rage now rarely end in tears though I have prohibited Ivan from using sticks in the battles. I also remind him to listen to Eli and stop when Eli asks. Ivan is not afraid of Eli’s hissing cackle like other kids pretend to be. Notably, a girl who screamed and was heard to say, “Eli is trying to kill us until we are dead.”

Last year I was always Ivan’s playmate on the playground while his big sister ran around with other kids. Now, he’s looking to the kids to be his playmates. It’s nice to see him making some friends his age and I am less likely to be asked to pretend to be a Wookiee or a cheetah these days.

Looking forward to spring days on the playground . . . still plenty of winter left.