One of the things I've found is that neighborhood kids and homeschoolers are quite good for filling in that social need. But, of course, establishing those friendships takes 1) time, and you've only been at it a month so it can seem a bit lonely as you get going, and 2) effort, because you have to go out and actively seek social contact on a frequent basis. Budding friendships die if not nurtured.
I think dividing your social energies between playdates with old friends and activities to get to know new ones is very smart. This is a transitional period for your family in terms of social contacts. In my experience, there's really no cure but to be patient and to keep putting yourselves in places where people who might become friends are.
Are you in a homeschool group? If not, start there. A Google search of your state or area and "homeschool" will probably find at least some options. Some areas are better than others for groups, so I can't say what you'll find. But most places have at least some sort of homeschool group, and secular or inclusive homeschool groups are much more common than they once were. There are THREE such groups (that I know of!) in my small, midwestern city, and there's even a "school for homeschoolers"--which has been great for the social aspect, along with some creative thinking and even some academics, for a very reasonable price! It's pretty amazing!
As for re-entry to a traditional school...I confess I've pretty much given up on it for DS7, at least until high school, when he would have to go to the GT school in town, and I'm not sure that's even going to be a good fit. If there's a flexible school in town and if your son hasn't outstripped it completely, then it's certainly possible to return to school. I'd recommend trying to "go deep" and "go wide" on what he learns rather than merely accelerating the curriculum and doing everything faster. Have him study a pet subject in ridiculous depth. Have him learn a foreign language he's never have access to--DS7 is taking Arabic, for example. Introduce him to things outside the normal curriculum. That sort of thing. It slows down the child's path through the traditional curriculum without boring them. They still go fast, but there's still a chance they'll stay within a couple/3 grades of their age, and so might be able to return to a traditional school if accomodations are made.
Finally, I've come to the conclusion that my son is having a "normal" childhood
for him. It's not like my childhood was, not like my husband's childhood was...but he's happy, he has friends, he's growing, he's well-adjusted and generally pleasant to be around, and he's doing just fine.
Isn't that really all a "normal" childhood is?
