“Mom, did you have a crush on someone when you were eight like me?” he asked, his deep blue eyes searching my face as we drove down the road. This question came on the heels of our visit to the store where we gazed at the heart shaped boxes of chocolates and talked about when it’s appropriate to give someone a love card.
“I did,” I answered. “I liked a little boy named Brandon when I was in elementary school.”
“Well, is it okay to have a little crush?” he asked. If I could bottle the innocence that hung between us, I would fill up a thousand jars.
“Sure, it’s okay to have a little crush,” I answered. “But it’s better to just stay friends. You don’t need a girlfriend for a very, very long time.”
He nodded then grinned, the bliss of puppy love washing over his face. I know who he is thinking about. I saw her chasing him on the field while they played capture the flag.
“When did you start to have a boyfriend?” he asked slyly.
“Well, I dated a couple of boys in high school, but it was never too serious. There’s no reason to get serious when you’re young.”
“And then you had crushes in college, too?”
“Yep,” I answered. “I had a couple of crushes and one boyfriend in college before I met your Daddy.”
He was 25. I was 21. *sigh*
“And then HE was your crush, right?” Tia yelled from the backseat.
“He sure was,” I answered, smiling at her big, round eyes through the rear view mirror. “And you know what?” I asked in a hushed voice.
“WHAT?!” three little voices shouted back.
“He’s still my crush today.”
“You mean you’ve never had another crush?” Sloan asked.
“Nope,” I answered. “Your Daddy is my only crush and my only boyfriend forever and ever.”
“And your only husband,” Landon piped from his seat.
“Yep. That, too.”
Always and Forever.
Happy Valentine’s Day.
Lee’s Sun-In hair is slaying me. Happy Valentine’s Day….so glad he chose you to be his bride!
Yes, those were the days of too much sun in and too much goatee. But look how cute he is?!?!
I’m glad, too. 😉
I’m so glad to see there is another parent out there that discourages their VERY young children from having boyfriends/girlfriends. Rachel, who is 10, comes home at least once a week and says “girl and boy are dating” as if they know what that even means. Then she says I am the only old fashioned mom out there that thinks 10 is too young for a boyfriend. sigh. I understand puppy love, but encouraging it?
Happy Valentines to you both!
Yeeeeaaaahhhh…I’m not a fan of children playing boyfriend/girlfriend. That’s just silly. I can’t stop puppy love, though, and it’s so sugary sweet that I have to grin. Us old fashioned mama’s will have to stick together on this one. 🙂
Happy Valentine’s to you guys!
Tell him to enjoy it now cause one day with a girl with cooties will need a valentine’s day gift and flowers! 🙂 (I admit that I do love watching my boys’s model their dad’s example by giving the girls in their lives very thoughtful gifts!)
Dave and I celebrated yesterday….it was our 26th Valentine’s Day celebration. Here’s praying for at least 26 more!
Happy Anniversary! I pray you DO have 26 more years! 🙂
Precious! Happy Valentine’s Day! Wen
Thanks Wendy. Back atcha. 😀
So cute, Kelli! Hope you enjoy the day with your forever crush and your little valentines! Love you!
Love you too Stef!
well I’ll have to break the news to my kids that I have a serious crush not only on their daddy but Ryan Gosling too 🙂
Ha! I didn’t mention celebrity crushes cause they don’t count. Ryan Reynolds and Zac Efron are my version of puppy love. Someday they’ll understand that. 🙂
Aw! I love the innocence of your conversation! 🙂
Me too. It was super sweet.
Oh my goodness, your oldest looks so much like him in that picture.
Haha! You’re right. The older he gets the more he favors his dad. 🙂
I second the notion of being an old fashioned mommy! My boys all fight over me. Jeremy will say “Mommy’s MY girl” to the boys and they get all offended. Sigh…it’s so fun. HE he he he he he! Sloan is going to be quite the catch….someday.
Yeah…dont tell him that.
On second thought never mind. I think he already knows. 🙂
You haven’t changed much! Happy Valentine’s Day!
This is why you and I are going to be BFF’s forever. 🙂
Happy V-Day to you!