One small step...

but a HUGE moment in so many other ways. While Jack and I were sitting at the tennis courts watching Owen be miserable and crabby during his tennis class, a few boys came by, as they do every day at this time, and started to play a game of cricket. After a little while, Jack decided to go upstairs and get his own cricket bat which I had already accepted was going to be a nice trophy in his bedroom completely untouched. A few minutes later jack re-emerged equipped with cricket bat and tennis shoes (flip flops were gone).

Then he played. For the first time since we have left, Jack played with kids his own age. Anyone who really knows Jack, knows this was a huge step outside his comfort zone. I'm really proud of him but mostly I'm just happy for him. He's really missed his best friends and had a very sad moment just last night about this. So, even though he misses his good friends, he knows it's ok to try to make some new friends too.

On a side note, Jack came back up to the apartment later after he was done with a friend in tow. Jack said the boy just followed him up to the apartment and wasn't quite sure what to do about it. It was pretty funny really. They sat and played Jack's DS for a few moments. Cricket and DS - and international meeting of the minds or something like that.