My Little Lover Boy

One evening right after Valentine's Day we were getting the kids ready for bed when S sighed a big six-year-old boy sigh and said, "I just can't stop thinking about her." Brett and I both started in asking who he was talking about and he mentioned his sweetheart from school for the first time this year. He'd had a crush on a sweet little girl with 'yellow hair' named Emma in Springfield but hadn't had another girl steal his heart in the same way until now. 

"I'm in love with her," he said dramatically as I tucked him in to bed. We proceeded to have the longest conversation of his life about how she smiled at him in gym class but didn't talk to him because she's shy and that his friends that know he likes her make fun of him. He asked me how she would know if he liked her and how he would know if she liked him back and I offered up my nuggets of how to treat girls you like. You know, don't hit them, push them, tease them, or ignore them and to say nice things to her like how pretty he thought she was, etc. 

I sat there informing him that it wasn't okay to kiss any girls at school no matter how much he liked them unless he asked their permission. And then only on the cheek. Flu season, duh! Then I remembered getting my very first kiss from our neighbor friend, Robert, behind the couch at my house while my mom was in the kitchen cooking dinner. I think he had a runny nose, too. Gross.

I couldn't believe we were already having this conversation and my heart both ached for the passing of time and exploded for this new territory that allowed my son and I to talk so openly about something so innocent and sweet. 

I felt ever so keenly how important my job is as his mother to teach him how to grow into the kind of man that respects and appreciates women-one that can be both strong and gentle, kind, honest, thoughtful, playful, brave, and steady. I know a time will come when he won't be so eager to tell me that he's smitten with another 'yellow-haired' girl or ask me if he should have one of his friends tell her he likes her. I'm going to enjoy this rare opportunity with a captive audience and do my best to help him maneuver through the treacherous waters of young love. 

I picked him up after school today and the first thing out of his mouth was, " I gave her some lipstick I found." 

"I'm sorry, what?"

"I gave R some lipstick."

"What lipstick? Do you mean chapstick? From home? You shouldn't share chapstick. GERMS."

"No, I found it on the floor. It was watermelon."

He's getting there.

-Rachel 

Comments

[Jess]

awe, so cute! my daughter starts school this year and as much as i am looking forward to it, i am also so scared for her! she doesnt show interest in boys YET but when she does i hope she finds a sweet little boy like S :)

[hollysarah.]

I love this. I can relate, as Simon told me has a GIRLFRIEND just recently. He's 5. I didn't have a boyfriend until I was 16, ha! I am feeling a sudden responsibility to teach him so much.. but am reminding myself that it's a process, and just displaying a good example of a loving and respectful relationship that Ryan & I have in our marriage, is teaching him so much already. It's a good way to keep us on our toes! Sebastian is lucky to have you and Brett as his examples. Boys are so fun, aren't they?? xo

[Kelly]

hahaha....sweetest story I read today :)
thanks for sharing

[Heather]

That is the cutest story I have heard all week :)

[Kate@Flifkin Cottage]

That is so sweet. It brings back memories of when my daughter told me she was getting married - in preschool!
His name was Joey, and the teachers humored them and did a mock ceremony, but she didn't kiss him because "that's gross, Mom."
She's 20 now, and engaged for real. I'm a marriage officiant, so I'm marrying them this summer. I'm pretty sure she's going to kiss this one :)
I have one son. He has four older sisters, so he definitely knows how to treat girls!

[Jess]

Oh my gosh--this is the cutest post I've read in forever! Teaching kids how to navigate relationships sounds like one of the most fun (and maybe intimidating) jobs as a parent. So sweet.

[Rachel]

This story definitely made me smile.

I love how he openly and comfortably came to you to discuss his feelings. Such an important role and relationship you have with him.

He's a handsome boy who's on the right track to being a wonderful man.

All the best to you and your family.

Rachel M.

[ruthie]

Oh Rachel. This is so sweet. I'm so glad you shared the whole story here! He'll navigate the waters of love well with you and Brett to guide him, I'm sure. He's all ready on his way with giving gifts!!

[Whitney]

Hahaha! The lipstick bit kills me - he's so sweet! I think your family is just so adorable. It's so important to have that relationship with your kids. I can't imagine how your heart must have exploded when he started sharing his little heart. :)

[lisa d]

how precious my god im dying over this

[Lindsay Scheele]

How sweet! I love that he found chap stick and gave it to her!

[alison]

This is just the sweetest (and funniest- that chapstick part is gold) story! Thanks for sharing:)

[Bailey]

This is the sweetest thing I've ever heard. What a wonderful job you have done in a raising that little boy :) His future yellow haired woman will be a lucky one.

[Jen@madeinminch]

I loved this, Rachel... It actually made me squeak!

[chanel]

aw this is so cute!!

[sarah kate branine]

Adorable : )

[margot]

ok this is the cutest thing i've ever read in my life. omg!!

[erinkathleen]

so sweet! with a mamma like you, he's going to grow into a sensitive and caring man!

The bit about giving her found chapstick made me laugh. Other than my beautiful wedding ring, my husband has never given me jewelry. He has on occasion though, found some very nice pieces of jewelry on the ground (one silver chain, and one nice metal bracelet) and proudly presented them to me! I guess some boys never grow out of that. :)

[Chelsea]

We're expecting a little boy any day now, and this just melted my heart! What a sweetie!

[Leigh-Ann]

oh my goodness, this was so sweet to read... so precious :)

[Anna B. of annieandm]

How awesome that he feels comfortable enough to talk to you about love & mushy stuff. That kind of topic is brought up almost daily in our home as we have one teenage daughter, a boy starting puberty, a 2nd grader with a new crush every week & a kindergartener that knows girls are off limits because he's too young. Needless to say, conversations about the opposite sex are pretty interesting sometimes.

[Becky Loose From The Zoo]

chapstickaholic here! i think i've been guilty of using floor chapstick when i was about his age. too cute!

<3becky
www.loosefromthezoo.com

[rebecca caridad]

oh my goodness, what a sweet sweet time Rachel! You sound like a great mom and that little boy is going to be such a good partner to some lucky lady one day.

[Cathy]

This post made me cry! It was the part about the passing of time and excited about the future. Isn't life so bittersweet life that! And Sebastian sounds like a true gentleman already :)

Cathy
http://www.turquoiseflamingo.com/

[Jennifer D]

Bless....young love is so sweet. I remember when i was little and lived next door to a Italian immigrant family. they had a little boy, Tony, who always played in his yard in his spider man underwear. He loved my little sister and when they were 3, he tackled her and gave her a big kiss (in his spider man scivies)